The Pi Pouf

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Difficulty:

Category: Sewing

Type of item: Functional

For: Home

Style: Hipster, Traditional, Mod, Funky, Classic

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Materials

Cotton Duck (for inside), Home Dec/Upholstery for outside, 1 - 5" zipper (for inside), and 2 - 28" zippers for outside, polystyrene beads (ordered from Uline).

What was your inspiration?

I've seen these in magazines and have checked out similar patterns. But I didn't like what I found - none could be laundered. So I designed a Pouf with an inner pouf made from cotton duck - with a small zipper that can be opened to fill/refill with bean bag beans. The outside has a zipper that goes around the middle (circumference) that works like a hinge. The outer pouf can be unzipped and laundered as desired, then replaced. I also made a cover that just slips over it when I want a different look.

What are you most proud of?

I'm a communication professor - and haven't had geometry since 1980 - but I was able to calculate pi (plus seam allowances) to get the side measurements correct - so they fit perfectly when sewn to the circles. The pattern was very difficult to write - and I'm still fine-tuning it.

My students love this class - I can only handle four at a time (due to space) and it takes most of a day to make it. I've been getting requests to teach it again. BTW, kids and animals LOVE it!

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

Take your time cutting and sewing- everything really needs to line up. Although I don't pin when I sew circles, I highly recommend that most do. And baste the side panel to the circles at four points. If you are even 1/8th of an inch off at each of those points and don't work in the excess fabric, you can be 1/2" or even 1" off when you complete the circle.

I need to teach this one more time before I put the pattern up for sale.