Rollie Pollie!

Looking for hours of entertainment?
Meet, The Rollie Pollie:
It's a chair, it's a toy, it's your favorite pillow.

Made of durable cotton twill or soft vinyl, each bag is actually a slip cover (with another Rollie Pollie inside) then filled with mounds and mounds of soft cluster stuffing. So if it gets dirty, just zip it off and throw it in the wash. And with a handle on top, it's easy to toss around. Ready for a pillow fight? We'll let dad referee.

This is a MINI-Tutorial for the Rollie Pollie, showing the basics of how to make one.

The Full, Detailed pattern can be found at the MADE SHOP.
The detailed pattern includes:
Tons of info about Fabric selection, sewing with zippers, where to buy the right filling for your Rollie Pollie, How-to make an Insert Rollie Pollie and a slip-cover to go over it (easy to wash), and TWO different sizes of Pattern Pieces, which can be printed right on your home printer!
In this mini-tutorial, we'll show you how to make the Insert Rollie Pollie.
Okay, let's get started!
The Rollie Pollie is made of two pattern pieces (shown in the drawing below). You will need FOUR of the SIDE pieces, and TWO of the Top and Bottom circles. If you'd like to add a handle, cut a rectangle about 1-inch longer than the circumference of your circle piece and about 3 inches wide.
If you want to make a slip-covered Rollie Pollie (by adding a zipper), you will need to make ONE of the SIDE pieces, 1-inch wider in the middle to accommodate the extra zipper seam.

Create your pattern pieces on a large piece of paper or on a piece of junk fabric. Then with a fabric Marker or Sharpie, trace your pattern pieces on to your fabric. Depending on your pattern size and the width of your fabric, you will need anywhere from 2-4 yards of fabric. For the insert Rollie Pollie, it's best to use white fabric (so it doesn't show through the outside slip cover). Twill and heavier cottons work best:
Once your pieces are cut out, place two of the SIDE pieces back to back, pin all the way down ONE side:
and sew down that side:
This next step is not necessary, but it will make your Rollie Pollie stronger. Serge off your seams. If you don't have a serger, do a zigzag or leave the edges raw:
Repeat the above steps, attaching all your SIDE pieces to each other. When you get to the last SIDE, YOU NEED TO LEAVE AN OPENING IN THE SIDE so that you can get the stuffing inside. I like to mark my start and stop points with pins, so I don't forget to leave an opening:
Then with all of your sides sewn together, place your Circle pieces on the top and bottom of your Rollie Pollie. Pin them down, sew all the way around, and you're almost done!
Turn the Rollie Pollie inside out and fill it with stuffing. I chose CLUSTER STUFF, found at Walmart. (The Rollie Pollie Pattern has more detailed info about all stuffing options).

Fill it as full as you like. You want it to have a little give. But the stuffing will also smush over time, so get a lot in there.
Pin the opening shut:
And though this is bulky to do, sew the opening shut with your machine. It doesn't need to look pretty because it will be inside the slip cover. Just make sure it's sewn SHUT!
Stick the Insert into your slip cover and......
You're done!
Fore more detailed info and helpful tips, please see The Rollie Pollie Pattern at MADE.

12 comments:

Midwest Prep said...

Not to be rude but isn't part of the point of being voted the winner-that you have to share how it is done? no one else ever posted Mini-tutorials and didn't give the full directions. I really like your blog and I really love all the stuff you made and I can even appreciate that you would like to make some money off of a great idea--but you shouldn't have picked this as your entry in the contest in that case-- because everyone else shared the whole tutorial for their selections if they won. This is just me being honest- I still think you are great- but the mini tutorial left me feeling cheated. I voted for you and was excited to be able to make my own based on the tutorial. I think this has left me a little dissapointed.

Kari said...

Ditto.

TannHart said...

I agree.

homemade by jill said...

I disagree - the mini tutorial definitely gives you enough information to make your own rollie pollie with a little effort. And if you really need all the details, $6 is not a lot to ask for a great pattern.

Great job, Dana! ;)

Joni said...

Yes, you could figure it out. It would stink to use that much fabric on something and have it come out too skinny though! I guess the only info I really am bummed about not seeing is how much fabric to buy for each size and how many bags of cluster fill they use. It would stink to have to make another trip to town in the middle of this super-cool project. Thanks for sharing all these really great ideas though!

Unknown said...

This definitely seems like enough tutorial info to make this project to me. Perhaps not for a beginning sewer, but for advanced beginner on up.

Laura B. said...

I disagree as well. I think the mini-tutorial is great and definitely gives enough directions to get there. For those of us who need detailed instructions, the pattern is great. I happily paid $6 for her fabulous instructions. It was well worth it.

Dana (and all crafters) did such a great job on their entries and have provided us with so many fun project ideas, I'm just grateful for their craftiness!
Thanks Ladies!!!

Forever You said...

I could figure it out not a problem. For all that hard work that Dana put it 6$ is not much to spend for the great pattern. The steps are simple just need to figure out how much fabric you need. And it is not that hard draw one pattern on the peace of large paper make sure you just do it symmetrical(fold in a half and draw) Then measure the width and length and the calculate time 4 ;us extra 1/2 yard for circles.. Simple. The staffing - I use pillows and take things out of them. But if you need more options then brainstorm if you don`t want to spend 6 bucks. I love it Dana great job. I admire your patience for doing such a HUGE project.

Anonymous said...

On her website MADE she gives you the amount of fabric you need and also how many bags of stuffing.

Ann's ART said...

SIX bucks is a bargain! That is a lot of work. We are so used to getting stuff for nothing on the interenet. That's why there are so many copy cats. Pay the girl for her expertise in her craft!

Skooks said...

I agree with Ann's ART. I didn't even bother to look at the mini-tute over here before I decided to purchase the pattern. ESPECIALLY after seeing the pattern in person, I can say that there was obviously A LOT of time and effort that went into putting it all together. I was happy to pay the $6 and was kind of surprised it didn't cost more than that. Great job, Dana!

Anonymous said...

you need 3 2/3 yards for the big one and 2 2/3 yards for the little one.

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