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How to… Make Juggling Chooks

February 11, 2020

If you love Sewing with Kids and are looking for a cute Easter Craft for kids to make, check out these adorable Pyramid Bean Bag Chickens. They are super easy to make, use up some fabric scraps and are fun as decorations, door stops (make in large) or can be used to learn to juggle with! So much fun with this Juggling Chook How to!

Easy Sewing For Kids: Pyramid Chickens. This Easter Sewing Project is great fun for kids. The Pyramid Chickens make great Juggling Chooks, decorations or even doorstops. So fun. So cute. So easy! #Easter #spring #eastercrafts #sewing #sewingwithkids #chickens

NOTE: this post was first published in Feb 2012 and has been republished for you convenience!

Another craft I have been meaning to make for aaaages – this cute and fun juggling bean bag chooks!  And there is nothing quite like a 4 year old’s birthday party to get you crafting (check out the Chook Bean Bag Toss)……

What I love about these chooks, is that they look ADORABLE and are surprisingly easy to make. Don’t worry – no complicated alignment of triangles. All you need is one rectangle and some clever sewing! You can machine or hand sew them. I can’t remember where I first saw these adorable pyramid chickens – it may have been on someone’s twitter profile or on etsy, but I did find instructions again on the lovely Anjie’s blog. Anjie has a beautifully crafty blog and she has already guest posted for me twice! So if you don’t know it, it really is worth a visit! And lots more Sewing Projects for Kids here! This would be a great project for a child learning to sew!

I thought you may benefit from some additional photos, so I took pictures of my “making process” for you too, as well as a mini side step on how to do a French Knot.

This Pyramid Chickens inspired these TP Roll Chicken Gift Boxes:

Turn  Toilet Paper Rolls into fabulous Chick Gift Boxes! How cute are these? And they are no mess and only take minutes to make!!

Watch the Sewing Crafts for Kids Video or check out the step by step photos below.

Juggling chickens bean bags - these are SO CUT and so easy to make. They make great decorations, are fun for juggling or make a "large" version as a door stop. Super cute and easy Chicken Pattern. Perfect for Spring and Easter crafts and beginner sewing!

How to make a pyramid bean bag chicken – Materials:

  • Some larger fabric scraps – approx 20cm x11cm is ideal, but I have used 2 10x10cm squares and that worked too
  • Some felt for the comb and beak.
  • Embroidery thread for eyes (though you could use buttons, beads or paint them on with acrylics).
  • A little stuffing and rice.

How to make a pyramid bean bag chicken – video how to

You can either watch our video tutorial or follow the step by step instructions in the next section!

How to make a pyramid bean bag chicken – Photo Step By Steps:

These instructions are now available as a 3 page lesson plan and worksheets on Teacher’s Pay Teachers, should you find this useful. Purchasing these handy worksheets help keep this website up and running! Thank you for your support.

juggling pyramid chicken
juggling pyramid chicken

1) Cut out your fabric (20cm x 11cm) and felt pieces (comb, beak, waddle). Place it length wise, pattern side up in front of you and place your felt pieces in top right hand corner. Then fold your fabric up. This way your final seam will run across the back of the chicken. You can have the fabric going width wise – in this case you would have your final seam across the front of the chicken. I think both ways looks nice, but have a slight prefence towards the back! I only realised this effect after making 10 (yes, 10!!, of these chooks!). Be sure not to have the felt comb too close to the right hand edge, as you may sew it by accident.

juggling pyramid chicken

2) Sew across the top and right hand side. Leaving the left hand side open for stuffing.

french knot
french knot
french knot
french knot

3) Add a French Knot for eyes:

(i) Bring needle up from below the fabric.

(ii) Point needle down towards fabric and wrap the thread round 3-4 times. I think I did 4. Don’t do it too tightly though.

(iii) Insert the needle close to the where your needle came up and pull down and through the fabric

(iv) Done!

juggling chickens
chicken bean bag
chicken bean bag
chicken bean bag

4) Here comes the clever bit.  I have seen tretra packs like this. First add a little stuffing to the head (a small hand full?) and then some rice (I was curious, my final chicken weighs 60grammes!! But ahem, I am sure the exact weight doesn’t matter).  The above photo shows the chicken on its side and filled.  Then take the sides and pinch inwards, and some more, creating a new diagonal. Tuck in the fabric. And sew! (I hand sewed this bit as found it easier, but you can machine sew it too!

Ta-daaaaaa

bean bag chicken
juggling chickens bean bags

I warn you.. these bean bag chickens are seriously addictive. I made four chickens to begin with – as Red Ted will be four next week.. Then I snuck off and did another 6… and then I realised I hadn’t taken the right photos for you, so sewed my 11th juggling chicken!! Fancy making one? They would be a great little Easter gift too!

Have you given these Pyramid Chickens a go? It really isn’t as hard as you think and you will find that the kids adore it! Check out our teaching kids to sew article! As well as our great Sewing Projects for Kids!

10+ Sewing Project for Kids - lovely kids projects that will help teaching kids to sew!

More from Red Ted Art – 20+ Bunny Crafts and 20+ Chick Crafts

20+ adorable little bunny crafts, my these are all so cute! Love that there is something for everyone to make here
chick crafts FB

You can also watch the video tutorial on YouTube

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Filed Under: Easter, Gifts, How To's, Recycling, Sewing 69 Comments

Comments

  1. Kelly Wiffin says

    February 10, 2012 at 8:32 am

    I love these! I think I will have to try and make them!

    Reply
  2. Rachel Harwood says

    February 10, 2012 at 9:23 am

    Now these are just TOO CUTE!!!! Love them! Nice work!

    Reply
  3. Red Ted Art says

    February 10, 2012 at 9:34 am

    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  4. The Monko says

    February 10, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    these are so cute. I love juggling and Goblin is always somewhat amazed when i do it for hom, i\’ll have to make myself some of these – I\’m sure Goblin will enjoy \”flying\” chickens too.

    Reply
  5. Red Ted Art says

    February 10, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Oh yes, perfect for Goblin, I am sure :-)))) I am slowly slowly teaching mine to juggle too – basically we are starting with one Chook and I get him to throw it up and catch it (hard for a 4yrs old). A start…

    Reply
  6. Emma @Mummymummymum says

    February 11, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    awww, Maggy, they are just too cute! i LOVE them. x

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 11, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      YAY! You have to make some!

      Reply
  7. Vicky says

    February 13, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Those are just the cutest things ever. I want a whole flock of them! Just pinned this. Vicky from http://www.messforless.net

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 13, 2012 at 9:07 am

      Aaah thank you so much for pinning! Much appreciated 🙂

      Reply
  8. Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts says

    February 14, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Love these!! I would love to feature them but I can’t grab the pictures – so I pinned them for all to see. Love love!

    Reply
  9. Donna says

    February 16, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    I love your chickens! I pinned them on my \’I want to make\’ board. Now I\’ve made a knitted one of my own. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  10. Debbie {visual eye candy} says

    February 16, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Okay these are so cute! I\’ll have to make some.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 16, 2012 at 3:58 pm

      Oooh Debbie, so pleased you want to make some!!
      And Donna would love to see your knitted version!

      Reply
  11. Alicia says

    February 16, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    This is so cute! Now I know what to do with all my extra rice 🙂

    Reply
  12. kate says

    March 14, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    just wanted to say thank you for sharing such a fab idea! my 2 year old little boy is in love with anything chicken or egg related so i have made 6 of these for him and 6 for my little girl for a little game to play over easter when we have family round and they look fantastic and are so easy to make!

    What a wonderful website you have here! we are going to make your little decorated chicken eggs tomorrow to. have just shown then the pics and they are very excited about making them! x

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      March 14, 2012 at 5:47 pm

      Oh my, what a truly wonderful and lovely comment to make. I am SOOOO pleased that you have ALREADY made TWELVE of these (that is 2 more than me!!!). They are addictive, aren’t they? Am so pleased you are getting so much fun and joy out of them. Am all happy goosebumpy 🙂

      Reply
  13. Cat says

    May 18, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    Oh my gosh they are adorable Red Ted so cute love the fabrics are they hard to do as am sooooo not a sewer 🙁 Wonder if I could do this for my almost 3 yr old at the end of the month and then make the scoop using a milk bottle cut to make the scoops as done in Imagination Tree She made 2 scoops to play with her eldest daughter Great for eye and hand co-ordination

    Love them Love them!!

    Great work!!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      May 18, 2012 at 12:37 pm

      How lovely to have you stop by! The chooks are a great project for “no sewers”, as you can sew them by hand and you only need to sew three sides of one square, if that makes sense? Do give them a go!!

      Reply
  14. Mahbouba says

    June 17, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    Thank you for inspiring us :}

    Reply
  15. Alison says

    September 22, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    What a great idea. I love them. I have made 7 this evening. Thank you so much for the wonderfully clear instructions.

    Reply
    • John says

      December 30, 2015 at 4:49 pm

      I am too,,,

      Reply
  16. Chicken Lover says

    April 20, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    Super cute! FYI, it’s spelled wattle, not waddle.

    Reply
  17. terezinha says

    November 8, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    Muito lindas as suas galinhas, com certeza vou tentar fazê-las.

    Reply
  18. Kate_Laughing Kids Learn says

    February 4, 2014 at 6:06 am

    Oh WOW! These look more complicated to make then they actually are. Really very simple. Thanks Maggy.

    Reply
  19. Linda Leer says

    February 10, 2014 at 8:44 am

    I loved making these. I made three polka dot ones for my Miss 7 who wants to juggle. Naturally little sister and brother want some too.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 10, 2014 at 12:20 pm

      We never tire of ours either!!

      Reply
  20. Marcia says

    February 15, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    Hello!
    I have had a stack of fabrics waiting in my craft room so I can sew some bean bags for my preschool classroom. Love these little chicken chooks!

    My question is this: how do I make them so I can wash them? In group settings we need to be able to wash all manner of ‘things’ off of toys.

    My idea is this: make a plastic bag to fit out of a sandwich bag and fill with rice and seal it up. Place inside bean bag. So bean bag is like a sealable bag around it. Velcro to keep chicken closed? The idea being that I can take the fabric off to wash it without the filling getting washed as well.
    I need some suggestions as to the best way to do this. Has anyone tried this before?
    Thanks.
    Marcia
    BC Canada

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 16, 2014 at 9:42 am

      I think making the filling removable may be the only way? I would also not use felt for the beak and waddle etc, but fabric, as that washes better (Unless you have “wash friendly felt”.

      Reply
  21. Carro says

    February 21, 2014 at 8:17 am

    I made 3 of these cute chooks yesterday and my 2 youngest (3 & 5) struggled to juggle so spent an hour using them to play hide and seek with ! Fab.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 21, 2014 at 11:13 am

      Yes, it takes a while to learn. But you can start by playing simple catch games with one chook at a time. Mine can’t juggle yet either!!! (4 and 6).

      Reply
  22. ARLINE RADDEN says

    February 28, 2014 at 1:20 am

    THE LINK FOR THE PATTERN FOR THE JUGGLING CHOOKS NO LONGER WORKS.CAN YOU POST AGAIN?

    THANK YOU.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 28, 2014 at 9:32 am

      There is no link for a pattern?

      Reply
      • Arline Radden says

        February 28, 2014 at 9:56 pm

        When I click on Anjie’s blog, I get an error message.

        Reply
        • Red Ted Art says

          February 28, 2014 at 10:05 pm

          Hi, there is clearly something wrong with anjie’s website. Don’t visit again, in case it contains a virus. You can follow my instructions too, you just need a rectangular pieces of fabric.

          Reply
  23. Olivia says

    April 4, 2015 at 2:59 am

    I adore these! I just finished making my first one by hand and it turned out so well! I can’t wait to break out the sewing machine and make more!

    Reply
  24. Mother of 3 says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    I saw this post as was looking for something to do with all the left over uniform we have at school! However, at home I have now made 9 and my boys love them. They are easy to do and my son wants me to make some for his friends and my twins have commissioned a load for their nursery! Best I get back to sewing!!! Many thanks for this.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 14, 2015 at 7:12 pm

      Oh what a fun way of re using old uniforms!!!

      Reply
  25. Caroly says

    June 30, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Is there a way to print out these instructions? I do not have a computer at home and need to print out at work. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      July 1, 2015 at 9:13 am

      Hi Caroly – when you hit “print”, doesn’t it print them out for you?!

      Reply
  26. Patterson says

    October 23, 2015 at 3:17 am

    Your pictures are great!!! I love that you make and try on your own designs! You inspire me to get better at using my sewing machine!!! I LOVE the Juggling chooks that you did too!! Awesome website!

    Reply
  27. Denise P. Sowell says

    November 3, 2015 at 3:19 am

    Oh my gosh, Love your tutorial!!! Thanks so much – gonna try this one for sure

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      November 3, 2015 at 11:12 am

      So happy to hear it 🙂

      Reply
  28. John's says

    March 17, 2016 at 3:26 am

    I’m sure Goblin will enjoy ”flying” chickens too. these are so cute. I love juggling and Goblin is always somewhat amazed when i do it for hom, i’ll have to make myself some of these

    Reply
  29. carmen says

    March 20, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    Me encanta, es una monada.
    Gracias,
    Carmen

    Reply
  30. Heidi says

    September 30, 2016 at 11:54 am

    My Daughters age 11 & 13 wanted to make juggling chook sets to sell and donate the money to charity. Are we infringing on your rights by doing so?

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      October 1, 2016 at 2:58 pm

      I would LOVE you to do this!! 🙂

      Reply
  31. Ryan Rogers says

    January 19, 2017 at 9:22 am

    That so cute. My babies love it so much.

    Reply
  32. SewTales says

    March 17, 2017 at 9:39 am

    I love them!

    https://sewtales.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/easter-chicken-version-2/

    Reply
  33. SewTales says

    April 5, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    I loved them and here they are:
    https://sewtales.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/easter-chicken-version-2/aster-chicken-version-2/?preview=true

    Reply
  34. Jenifer says

    January 31, 2019 at 9:24 am

    I love the bean bags what a great idea!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 1, 2019 at 10:20 am

      Thanks!

      Reply

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