Monday, June 27, 2011

Another knock-off. . .A pillow for my Kindle.

I was trolling over at Kindle Boards the other day to make sure I didn't miss any of the free books available for my Kindle.  (I have more free ones than I can read in 6 months right now, but I still don't want to miss any.)  While I was there though, I came across someone else's great idea. . .and I do mean genius!

Check this out:  the Book Beanie

As I looked through the website and balked at the $20 price tag, I realized that I had everything on-hand that I would need to make my own.  I used quilting cotton, bias tape for the loop, and polystyrene beads for the filling.  The beads are super-lightweight and make the pillow moldable.  The website had the finished measurements for their version, so I added seam allowance and cut two rectangles to the right size. 

I could have done eyes on my embroidery machine, but I think they would be more distracting than cute, so I skipped them.


Now, I have my own version for FREE since I used materials that I had on hand. . . If I hadn't, it probably would have cost me less than $5 to make even then. 

Love it!
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34 comments:

  1. DD ReviaAugust 3, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Cuteness!!! Like a lil muppet holding your kindle for you. Easy reading or listening while you craft. ¦)

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  2. AnonymousAugust 3, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    This is too cute. Do you have a pattern for that?

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  3. SandraAugust 3, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    Thanks! I didn't use a pattern for this one. I love it for reading in bed and for reading while I eat!

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  4. @EpiclyAwesomeAugust 3, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    Do you have a rough idea of dimensions?

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  5. SandraAugust 4, 2011 at 10:24 PM

    Okay, here's what I did: I cut two rectangles 12 inches X 14 inches. Then, I sewed up one side of double-fold bias tape to make the loop (probably about 5 inches long). Put your loop near one of the corners and then sew around the rectangle, leaving an opening on the edge opposite of where you put the loop. You will square off the 3 corners that don't have the loop. (Open out the corner, so you can match the seams. Then sew across the corner a few inches from the tip of the corner.--if you've made a bag, chances are you are familiar with this process.) Turn right side out and fill about 2/3 full with styrofoam poly pellets. Sew opening closed.

    I hope that helps!

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 3, 2013 at 2:11 PM

      This is adorable, Sandra. I want to try to make one using your instructions but how did you deal with the pellets? They end up all over everything.
      Kathy

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    2. AnonymousDecember 5, 2013 at 5:40 PM

      you just made our xmas...all 3 kids will get these!!! thank you so much for posting instructions!!!

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  6. DruAugust 5, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Thanks so much for writing out what you did to make it. I'd like to make one, too, but I'm having trouble finding styrofoam poly pellets locally. Neither Michael's or A.C. Moore carry any. Where did you find yours? Thanks.

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  7. AnonymousOctober 30, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Oddly enough, Kmart carries little pellets in their home decor type department. Or at least the Kmart in Gainesville, Florida does. They have a little DIY beanbag chair display and sell beans separately.

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  8. Velvet625December 21, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    I'm definitely going to make a few of these!!

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  9. TracyDecember 29, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Ok, just made this and stuffed it with rice but that was too heavy :( Where did you get those pellets?

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  10. SandraJanuary 1, 2012 at 12:12 PM

    Hi, Tracy,
    I bought mine at Hobby Lobby a long time ago, but you might luck out at Hancock's. You want the ones that are polystyrene pellets. . .mine were micro-pellets, so they are teeny tiny. I think you can order them at Joann's and have them delivered to the store, or so I've been told.
    Sandra

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2012 at 3:44 PM

    If you have a Fred Meyer's they carry big bags of the pellets. Love the idea and thank's for your directions.

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  12. Velvet625March 23, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    I bought a book beanie and its iffy. I love it and use it but it seems like its getting mushier and mushier so I have to keep readjusting the kindle. I'm going to go ahead and make a couple of these but I'm going to put a zipper in so I can add filling to my comfort and if it goes mushy I can add more. :D Worth trying anyway!

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  13. SandraMarch 23, 2012 at 6:35 PM

    That's a great idea, Velvet625! I think that is an issue anytime you use the styrofoam poly pellets, so having the choice to add more would be helpful.

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  14. MelissaDecember 28, 2012 at 12:00 AM

    Thank you so much, I made one from your instructions above, in about 1/2 an hour, I love it! :-D

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 3:33 AM

    My daughter has just put me on to this site as I said I was going to make a cushion for my kindle. I do not normally read in bed but last night I went to bed and was reading for a while and I remembered seeing a kindle 'cushion' in a book shop once and thought it would be nice to have one. It was a ludicrous price so I thought I would make one.

    I noted that the book beanie was 7" by 9" and yet yours is quite a lot larger. Is this for a specific reason? or did you just want a bigger finished item? Sorry about the questions but I just wondered that's all.

    Thanks for taking the time to write it down. All the best Mamie

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  16. Jeanette EdwardsNovember 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM

    Thanks so much for this Sugar Cube blogger. I love it and desperately need one. Merry Christmas 2013 x

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  17. AnonymousDecember 17, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    awesome, what a great idea and you made it look so cute too.

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  18. UnknownFebruary 17, 2014 at 3:57 PM

    Thanks for your instructions. I made one for myself and use it all the time. I am even making one for a friend for her birthday.

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  19. AnonymousFebruary 19, 2014 at 8:00 PM

    I didn't want to pay the Amazon price and really didn't want the eyes looking at me while reading. Followed your instructions and couldn't be happier. Being impatient I didn't want to wait to get the pellets so I used part 15 bean mix for weight and then I busted up some packing peanuts into tiny bits for squishy-ness and moldability. The peanut bits were a bit of a static mess but hey, all free to me using on hand items. My favorite position .... make the "mouth", starting at the front seam squish almost all the filler away from the bottom of the mouth into the middle, wiggle Nook into mouth bottom about an inch from the edge, then pull the top of the mouth around the top of the NOOK) Looks kinda like Nook is wearing a hoodie. I can lay on my back and prop it on my chest without the Nook falling into my face when I shift or move. So happy! Thanks for posting!!!

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  20. AnonymousNovember 13, 2014 at 4:01 PM

    Thank you for sharing, will be making these for all my book loving friends and donating some to a retirement home for the elderly to use.

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  21. UnknownJanuary 15, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    Where is the pattern, please?

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  22. UnknownFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:22 PM

    I am going to try to make a smaller version to put a cell phone on. I am going to give them to my co-workers for Valentines day.

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  23. kathiJuly 29, 2015 at 4:10 PM

    You could also try using unpopped popcorn.I remember Carol Duvall on HGTV many years ago using that for lots of projects that needed a filler.I'm going to make one as well,but i want to use mine to hold my magnetic board and chart while i cross stitch.
    Thanks for the instructions.
    Kathi

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  24. AnonymousOctober 27, 2015 at 1:12 PM

    Can you use crushed walnuts as a filler?

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  25. darnagaJanuary 24, 2016 at 10:58 AM

    Bonjour. Super ce support. Je voudrais le faire pour moi et mes enfants. Merci de m'envoyer le tuto. Bien cordialement. Janine BAULE

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  26. darnagaJanuary 24, 2016 at 10:58 AM

    Bonjour. Super ce support. Je voudrais le faire pour moi et mes enfants. Merci de m'envoyer le tuto. Bien cordialement. Janine BAULE

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  27. littlejohnssewingmumOctober 18, 2018 at 2:46 PM

    One can use black or red lentils instead. They are lightweight and non plastic. Bonus: if you dont need the Pillow anymore you can cook and eat them;-)

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  28. UnknownNovember 27, 2018 at 7:05 AM

    Brilliant! Thank you very much for posting instructions.

    Just the type of pillow I was looking for.

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  29. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2019 at 7:37 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2019 at 7:43 PM

    Which version of Kindle is this?

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  31. SharperMarch 11, 2019 at 6:59 PM

    Thank you for sharing this, it looks great and I am super keen to try it!

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  32. UnknownOctober 31, 2020 at 8:04 AM

    I wish you had a bit more instructions, coming from the netherlands i dont understand it completely

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