You can buy or make the best cornhole bags to customize your pro cornhole setup, so you can use bags that are regulation weight and size. These bags offer a great slide, perfect balance and a heavy-duty design that you know will last.
It may also be a more affordable option, especially if you and your family play often. These bags aren’t designed to last forever, so learning how to make your own can be more cost effective and can be a great project for you and the kids.
Materials Needed
For bags that last longer, the bags in this article will be made out of recycled, weatherproof plastic resin beads, so the bags will not get ruined if they get wet.
The bags we’ll be making are regulation size, according to cornhole rules created by the American Cornhole Association.
These bags will measure in at six-by-six inches, with a weight of one pound.
To make these bags, you’ll need the following tools and materials:
- Duck cloth
- Thread
- Needles
- Sewing machine
- Filling material
Sewing Machine
The sewing machine you use should be able to make both zig zag and straight stitches, for the best results.
Needle Size
Use a number sixteen needle for the duck cloth.
Duck Cloth
You’ll need approximately ten ounces of duck cloth. This material is very durable, water-resistant and it’s available in a wide range of colors so you can customize your set. The fabric allows corn dust to come through the bag which can help promote better sliding. Some bags are made out of 12 ounces of duck cloth cotton fabric; however, most pros recommend using 10 ounces. Typically, when you purchase 10-ounce duck cloth it will come in 60-inch-wide cuts. So, all you really need is about a yard which can make a total of 16 bags.
You’ll need to choose two different colors for your set of bags. One player will get 4 bags of 1 color and the other player will get the other 4 bags.
Filling
If you know how to play cornhole, then you know that the filling can have a major impact on how you throw, how the bag flies through the air, and even how well it slides.
In the past, real whole corn was used as the filling material. However, because it breaks down over time and changes the weight of the bags, traditional corn is no longer the best option. Additionally, having corn as a filling can promote mildew and mold growth if the bags get wet. A better option is plastic resin, water resistant beads or corn shaped plastic resin filling. Making weather resistant bags will ensure they last season after season. In fact, you can even leave them outdoors when it rains, and they will dry quickly and not mold.
Bags that are made out of this type of material can last years.
Other Supplies
To make a set of bags for your regulation size cornhole boards, you’ll need the following supplies:
- Fabric marker
- Funnel
- Scale
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Cutting mat
- Razor
- Rotary cutter
The Process
To begin, you’ll cut the fabric into seven and a half inch squares using the cutting mat and the ruler and rotary cutter. Try cutting multiple layers to save time. Next, you’ll use some cardboard to create a template which will make the process easier and faster.
Use your razor or knife to cut the template out. Once you’ve cut out the template it will be easier to cut straight lines for the bags. Next, you’ll line up a couple of the seven-and-a-half-inch cloth squares together. Take the template and place it in the center. Ideally, you’ll have around half an inch of fabric left on each side of the cardboard. This will provide more than enough fabric on the inside of the seams which will help reduce breakage. Keep in mind, once the canvas has been cut, the pieces will measure in at 6 1/2 inches. At this size there should be 1/4 of an inch seam so the total size of the bag will be 6 inches square.
Next, you’ll take your marker out and start tracing where the opening of the bag will be. Be sure that the opening is large enough that you can easily turn the duct cloth inside out and big enough to make filling the bags easy.
Sewing the Duck Cloth
For this step you’ll be using double stitching which will provide maximum strength. On your sewing machine, set the needle for a straight stitch at a medium length. Start sewing using your template mark. Begin at one end of the hole opening. Make sure you do a back stitch at the end and beginning of your stitch.
Zig Zag Stitches
A zig zag stitch should be used on the outside of the straight stitch. Avoid overlapping the other stitch in order to promote the proper shape of the bag. The zig zag stitch will give the bag added durability which will improve its resistance upon impact. This type of heavy-duty stitching can also minimize breakage since it will flex with the fabric. To get it just right you may need to adjust the tension settings on your machine.
Once the stitching is done, you can turn the bag inside out from the opening that you left and use scissors or another long tool to poke out the corners of the bag to make filling the bag easier and to give the bag a professional look.
Trim the corners of each bag for easier corner forming and turning
You’ll use a scale to weigh the plastic resin corn or pellet filling. Whichever type of filling you choose make sure that you measure out 15 1/2 ounces. Be careful not to overfill the bags. If you do there’s a higher chance of the bags bursting upon impact.
Sealing the Bags
The last step is closing up the opening on each of the bags using the zigzag stitch again. You can also back stitch over the entire length of the opening to improve durability and prevent breakage upon impact. You’d be surprised to learn how often pro-quality bags will burst open with a hard toss, so this extra stitching is important. With the design I’ve provided here, you can rest-assured that these bags are tough enough to last season after season.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to make cornhole bags can be a fun project for you and the kids. Not only that, but it’s the best way to ensure you end up with bags that are tough enough to survive the hardest throw. When you make your own bags, you can use the material, color, and filling of your choice, and you can add extra stitching to improve the bag’s durability. If you’re tired of replacing your bags every season, or dealing with washing mildewy bags after it rains, then making your own is the best way to ensure your set of bags is regulation size, weight and pro-quality all the way.
