Somehow I doubt my attempt could possibly look half as good, but thanks for the great idea and instructions!

Laure, do you sew?

"Leave an extra half inch for sewing on all sides"

Unless you are a expert sewer, allow an inch for your seams. Trim your seams *after* you've put this puppy together.

Mitered corners are not easy, and while this is not a quilt binding, you're still dealing with the same principle. Some people refer to this as making a box cushion or box pillow. In this case, the pillow is as tall as it is wide, but it's the same animal.

Here are some real instructions.

http://www.alternative-windows.com/box-cushion.htm

And here's a simplified version without the extra 4 seams at the corners: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4322/sew-the-new-box-pillow

AT: I've been an active reader for three years now, and lately, I've read several posts that offer guidance on topics about which the editor clearly demonstrates a lack of knowledge on the subject. Please, write about what you know, or research it before you post. I can speak to sewing projects, but cannot speak to wiring, refinishing, or upholstery projects; however, I suspect those with expertise in those areas may have the same complaint.

kimg924: I'm far from an expert, but I have never used more than a half-inch seam allowance -- it's just never needed. For a project with straight edges, these seem like pretty reasonable instructions, and not something I'd feel the need to accuse an author of "clearly demonstrating a lack of knowledge" over.

kimg924- anything more than half an inch seam allowance is a waist of fabric (which will start to become pricey) and also makes using the fabric edge as a sewing guide virtually impossible, thus rendering the project more difficult for novice sewers.

I agree a bit that this post is both oversimplified and yet misses being a true sewing tutorial. A person who needs to have the step 'pick your fabric' likely also needs some visual instructions on which seams go first, matching pattern/stripes, creating an inner structure to appropriately support the accompanying outer fabric, etc.

The audience you target here isn't clear. I do like the design and could make it without the tutorial, but as a long time and professional seamstress I think this would be a challenge for a beginner as written.

I was excited to see what links you offer for bean bag fill because the problem I run into is that the price of filler ends up costing as much or more than these mid-range poufs pre-made. The amazon link provided would be more than $50 per pouf/beanbag, even if they were pretty small. Add in a 'cheap kilim rug' (I found one almost big enough for $90 at the cheapest on ebay just now) and you have a pretty expensive beginner sewing project. SewMamaSew doesn't seem to carry any upholstery weight fabrics (without which one would have a very different effect than the pictured versions). Purl's upholstery fabric would cost $47 (2.5yds) for enough for one pouf. Also, it would be more helpful to link to other actual beanbag projects using the alternative fills (or just list them yourself) than linking to a giant site that is just creating links for cash.

You may do readers a service by showing them how to actually make this ~$100 pouf step by step and make it *better* than the West Elm version.

theseattlesquid, my statement has nothing to do with the editor's suggested seam allowance, per se. It's in regard to the entire post.

I've sewn slipcovers with 1" seam allowances, and I've sewn wedding gowns of chiffon, charmeuse, and georgette with 1/2" seam allowances. And I can confidently tell any beginner or average sewer that sewing the box cushion described above with a 1/2" seam allowance will lead to frustration when it's time to make everything meet up at the corners and insert a zipper.

Erinorea, almost all throat plates guide seam allowances up to 1". And I'd hardly call 1/2" of fabric expensive or a waste if that 1/2 inch can get you through stitching those corners together without frustration.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/ycurkto

1" seam allowances will improve the results of curved and bias seams, and pressing results are better. Try it -- you'll be surprised that there's less tug and distortion on the grain, and bias seams won't pucker nearly as much.

Ok, I am not one to comment often but I think as a whole you're being overly critical. I am not the most skilled with a sewing machine, but I can see that this is a good idea. We can take our own level of skill and create accordingly!

Top_cat is right.... way too critical.

Kimg924 - "here are some real instructions" is a particularly snipey and unnecessary comment.
At the end of the day, if an inexperienced sewer wanted to make this and felt out of their depth, they can google simpler versions.

It doesn't matter if you've sewn a wedding gown, or if you've never sewn a stitch in your life.

I've sewn many different things, and while I'm clearly not as experienced and knowledgeable as you Kimg924, I've never had need for a 1" seam allowance.

The author is merely trying to point out that there can be cheaper alternatives to purchasing homewares, that may suit us better.

AT is not a sewing site. It's up to the readers to do with the tutorial what they will.

I used the West Elm pouf as inspiration, "borrowing" the measurements to create my own beanbag last month.

Apart from a very badly sewn draught excluder, this was my first major project. I winged it - making it up as I went along. The instructions given above seem more than adequate to me (perhaps a little more needed on zipper sewing, I busted three while doing this) to create a box shape and I would have welcomed these when constructing mine.

Despite needing some more beans to "pouf" it out a bit more, I'm pretty proud of it. Though if it was turned inside out I wouldn't pass sewing 101.

Here's a picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49250994@N03/?saved=1

Have a go, you may be surprised how easy it is.

kimg924 - thanks for the links. I do agree that the article could have been better written. It looks like the author looked at the catalog picture & wrote up the instructions without actually doing it, which is why it may be missing any details.

The link on filler alternatives was really helpful, I wish I had been saving them all this while.

Albeit simplified, I find the instructions in this post no more confusing/frustrating than any sewing pattern instructions. I am not a good sewer and I find the only way to get a straight seam is to line the edge fabric with the edge of the presser foot. One-inch seam allowances are unnecessary.

The point is to inspire people to create it themselves. If you sew, you likely have fabrics laying around that you could use, so I really don't think you can be critical of potential fabric cost. No where in the post does it say "make it for less than West Elm's version." The idea is to create a custom piece, so obviously when you factor in time spent sewing, fabric and filler cost, it could be way more $ than just buying it outright.

@sarahlou77: AWESOME! One of my favorite IKEA fabrics.

I'm rather surprised at the comment about 1 inch seams.

I quilt with 1/4 inch seams and almost always use 1/2 inch seams for other projects. While I do sew, I thought that the article gave clear general guidelines for a DIY project.

A 1 inch seam may helpful for a beginner, but the idea that a 1 inch seam is the norm is rather odd, to say the least.

I think Kimg is right on the money--and how hard would it have been to match the pattern on the poufs? I totally agree about DIY posts where the blogger hasn't DIYed anything.

I think when you're sewing something that's going to get daily use, like furniture or pillows, a 1 inch seam is more forgiving, and less likely to pull out. Personally, I think these would both look better with some welting, but whatever.

And while AT isn't a sewing site, it's supposed to be expert advice and inspiration for decorating. The Kitchn is successful because the posters actually are trying the recipes--and the readers trust those posts. Here? Not so much.

FantasticMrFaux--

If you are ragging on the poufs in the picture, then ask West Elm, since they're the ones who made those.

This would be a good project for an old gnarly kilim.

FantasticMrFaux, you seem to struggle with positive comments. It's not hard, and it won't hurt I promise!

I think these would be great for a nursery/toddler room too - coordinate fabrics and give something for the kids to play with. Thanks!

I learned to sew more than 40 years ago & we were always taught a good seam is 5/8ths of an inch, which is the mesasurement used on the sewing machine stitch plate. So I'm surprised at all this conversation about 1/2 inch or 1 inch?