Fleece or Felt for small bean bags?

[Ann-Marita]

I need to make some small (4" x 4"?) bean bags for use in my dance and music classes. These would probably be considered for "commercial use" - they will get more use than toys at home, and need to be sturdy in the long run.

Which do you think will be more durable - fleece or felt?

Thanks!

[E.V. Lowi]

Wool felt is more durable than acrylic, but neither one is as durable as fleece. The felt is a non-woven and doesn't stand up well to the beating that beanbags take. A woven fabric such as denim or twill would last the longest, IMHO.

[LaughingHyena]

ITA with the previous poster, I'd use a heavy cotton of some sort over felt or fleace, Rip Stop nylon (the fabric used for kites and some waterproof coats) also holds up well but I find it hard to sew.

Also when I have made beanbags for group use I put the filling into a plastic bag and tape it shut before putting it in the cover. That way if/when the cover splits the beans stay contained.

[Ann-Marita]

Oh, nice ideas! I was thinking fleece or felt because I need the beanbags to stay well on children's heads (like, while walking along a low balance beam).

But denim or twill WOULD be more durable. And I don't think it will "grip" the kids' hair that much less than fleece.

Nice idea about the plastic bag inside the cloth bean bag.

What do you use for the filling?

[Kari_mom]

What do you use for the filling?

Beans of course.


Really, I use beans or rice, I put them in the freezer for a few days to kill any bugs. If you want to be able to wash them, I would use the little plastic bead filling you can find at the fabric store.