cherry pit bean bags!
What can we do with all those cherry pits in the summer?
Well, one thing is, we can just make a cherry pit bean bag out of them!
Since we are very tiny beings, we clay balls need only about 8 cherry pits per bean bag…The larger you may be, the more cherry pits you will need to save up…it may take a summer or 2 to get enough pits, but just keep the clean, dry pits in an empty box or bag or a cookie tin until you have enough!
Preparing the pits:
First, boil the pits for about 10 minutes in a pot of water & allow to cool. Then, you can rinse them, & rub handfuls of the pits together to loosen the adherent fruit a bit more.
I usually end up rubbing each individual pit with one of those green, flat, kitchen scouring pads to get all the fruit off.
These beanbags will still have a fruity smell to them, even after the pits have been scrubbed clean!
Spread the clean pits out to dry on a cookie sheet or some newspapers in the sunlight , if there is some handy. It is best if the pits dry completely before making the bean bag–you can also put them in the oven on low heat, if no sunlight is available!
Then, gather all your supplies:
You will need a pair of scissors, needle & thread, and a piece of rectangular cloth about twice the size of the beanbag.
First, just fold the cloth in half, so that the sides that will eventually be the outside of the beanbag are on the inside.
Thread the needle, & if you want to use a double thickness of thread, to make a stronger seam, you can knot both ends of the thread together. A double thread is a good idea if the bean bag is going to get a lot of wear.
So, here it is! The beanbag is inside out, & we will just stitch along 2 sides with a simple running stitch (just run the needle up & down in small, even stitches).
In this picture, the needle has done its job sewing up the 2 sides, but now seems to be heading back in the oppoiste direction, to check out its handiwork…
If you see you are going to run out of thread before finishing the 2 sides, just make a knot before you run out of thread. Then, just add a new thread to the needle & continue where you left off. I always wait too long, & then there is not enough thread to tie a knot!
After sewing up two sides, turn the bean bag so the right side is out. Now, the sewing that you did will be hidden inside, & just a neat seam will be showing on the outside.
Then, put in the cherry pits! It does not need to be overstuffed…
Now, just sew the last side so with an overhand type of stitch (just go through the 2 pieces of cloth & then over the edge, then through the 2 pieces of cloth again…) Tie a knot at the end, & that’s it!
Now, what can you do with these beanbags?
Well, my friend Tabasco said in the olden times, in Switzerland, they would heat these up in a special cubby in the wood stove, & take them to bed at night, similar to a hot water bottle…the cherry pits hold the heat for a nice long time.
This will work, too, by heating in a microwave…just watch them carefully until you figure out how long it takes to heat them! Maybe a minute or two…They can also be put in the freezer to be used as a cold compress!
But, as well as heating us & cooling us, bean bags are born for playing & tossing! They have a clickety, clackety, maraca-like appeal…
And here, LB & Seala are building a fort with the beanbag…
…And they can also be used as a slide!
Enjoy!
love,
Clay Ball
