Have a blast this summer with an extra bouyant DIY pool float!
Last year’s bean bag pool float was such a success that my kids and I were eager to make another float for this summer! I came up with this idea for a DIY pool noodle that you can easily bend, twist, and tie together to make lots of different configurations. They have been a HUGE hit and my kids decided to dub them as “funky floats” because they can be used in so many different ways!
This DIY pool float is much softer on the skin than pool noodles, they float better and bend more easily, and they dry quickly! I used stretch polyester fabric for these. These funky floats stretch quite a bit, so if you want the DIY pool noodle to retain it’s shape more easily, use a fabric with less stretch. Also, if you don’t want kids to be able to stretch out the fabric to create gaps, make the float with divided sections (similar to what’s in a weighted blanket). Keep in mind that this project is not suitable for babies & toddlers, and is not intended to be used as a flotation device.
DIY Pool Noodle Supplies
- Two Yards Polyester Fabric
- Serger and/or Sewing Machine
- Measuring Tape
- Chalk
Check out my brief video tutorial to learn how easy it is to make your own funky float! Here’s a brief written description of the tutorial in the video above:
- Cut the fabric so it’s 2 yards long by 14 inches wide.
- Fold the fabric and serge the long side together.
- Stitch one end closed. I created bow ties for the ends of mine, both as a decorative element and to be able to tie the funky floats together. See video for that optional element.
- Fill the pool noodles with Poly-Fil® Biggie Bean Bag Filler. I used recycled cardboard to make a funnel and then filled the cylinder up! Shake the fabric often to pack in the bean bag filler before adding more.
- Stitch the end closed.
My kids raved about how these funky floats were better than pool noodles. Just one of these was much more bouyant than the other noodles. They especially loved that they could stand on these and be lifted out of the water. They tied these into donuts and other shapes to make rafts and other shapes to float on. We also loved how easy these are to carry, and they dried very quickly. We will get lots of use out of these funky floats all summer long!
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