Description
**As of 01/01/2023 CanvasETC will start distributing faux linen fabrics with various finishes and speeds. These fabrics are ready for print. Do you need just the fabric, or do you need us to print, cut, sew and fill the bags? Call us at 404.514.7166 or email us at [email protected]**
If you have ever been to a tailgate party, brewery, Fall football game or picnic, you have probably seen cornhole being played. Cornhole is a very popular game (similar to horseshoes), played using two sets of bags, two platforms and up to four players on two teams. With its popularity, and our immense stocked inventory of duck cloth in a wide range of colors, we are often asked how to make cornhole bags.
Cornhole is great for all ages and easy to carry with you to your next outing. At Canvas ETC, we encourage people to take part in the DIY trend and make their own household items. This includes your very own game of cornhole, and regulation cornhole bags.
How to Make Cornhole Bags with Cotton Duck Fabric
Check out our detailed video tutorial on how to create your own cornhole bags. This easy project is perfect for even a beginner. Just make sure you have your tools handy for this quick project.
What You Need to Make DIY Cornhole Bags:
Product List:
*Rotary Cutters
*Straight Pins
*Measuring cup
*Marking Pen
*Straight Edge
*Scale (digital)
*Funnel
*Cutting Mat
*10 oz Red Duck Cloth or other preferred color – 8 bags/ 1 color for 4 bags
*Sewing Thread (Bonded Polyester T69)
Cornhole Bag Filling – How to Make Cornhole Bags
There are two common fillings for cornhole bags: corn and pellet filling. Bags are filled with either resin pellets, or corn filling in regulation size squared bags.
- Corn Filling: Traditional cornhole bag players prefer to stick with an equally traditional filling. Corn filling requires that the bags get broken in over time. Over time, the corn breaks down, leaving a fine dust behind. This helps them slide more easily on the platform. While this is a popular filling, it does have its downsides. The natural corn can suffer from decay and mold if not cared for properly. If you plan on children being the predominant players of your cornhole game, the pellet option might be best.
- Pellet Filling: Plastic filling is a great alternative to corn filling. It does not break down, mold or attract rodents. If you lay the bags in the sun, they will dry out easily. Pellet filled bags do not require the breaking in time that corn filled bags do. In the end, it is all about user preference.
Another method for How to Make Cornhole Bags follows below:
- Each finished cornhole bag should be made of-and-from 10 – 12 ounce duck cloth, as is defined and detailed by the American Cornhole Association (ACA). Each cornhole bag should be at least 6″ x 6″ square, and should weigh between 14 and 16 ounces. A full and complete set of cornhole bags consists of four bags of one color and then four bags of another color (as the 2 teams of two each will require a different color bag).
- Let’s start by making the cornhole bags by cutting out a 7″ x 7″ pattern from a poster-board, or a similar type of modeling paper. Then trace the pattern 8 times on each of the fabric colors, and simply cut out the squares. A cutting guide, cutting mat and a rotary cutter are helpful to have on-hand as they ensure that the fabric is cut accurately and quickly. The measuring lines are really helpful in this process. At the end of this step, you should have 16 squares—eight of one selected color and eight of the other color.
- The next step involves actually sewing of the cornhole bags. After carefully threading your sewing machine, take 2 fabric squares, and then accurately match the edges together. Now, sew the cornhole bags with a seam that is 1/2″ from the edge. It is important at this step to ensure that you leave a gap on one side as this will be flipped to fill the bags up with corn later on! We recommend that you double stitch the edges of the cornhole bags for added strength and which will provide them with the durability required as they are thrown and land on the ground or wooden cornhole game panel. Moving forward, sew all 4 of the same color, and continue on to proceed with the next steps of filling the cornhole bags and then closing them. You can switch threading and sew the other four bags, if you would like.
- Before you flip the cornhole bags inside out, it is wise and recommended to cut the corners off of each of the 8 bags. Why do this, you may be wondering?When you cut the corners, you will then be able to have sharper corners on the finished cornhole bags. A note of caution: be cautious when doing this, and ensure that you do not cut too close to the actual thread. Make sure that you leave some of the duck fabric between the cut edge and the thread.
- At this step of our DIY feature on how to make cornhole bags, you will need to flip the bags inside out first, and before poking out the corners with a pencil. Don’t press outwards too hard that the tip of the pencil pierces through the duck fabric itself!
- The next steps involves filling the bags with the corn (or resin pellets, though the game traditionally involves bags filled with corn kernels). Carefully measure out how much of the filler material (corn or resin pellets) you will need and use the accuracy of the digital scale to ensure that the amount is equal to 15 ounces. 15 ounces (two cups) is required for each of the 8 bags as filler. Once the accurate amount/ weight has been reached, and verified by the digital scale, use your funnel to pour the filler (corn or pellets) into each bag.
- Finally, neatly tuck the edges inside the bags. On the open side, sew each of the bags shut and as close to the outer edge as possible. Sew the entire length of the cornhole bag’s edges for a crisp and professional look. Again, to keep and prevent bursting of the bags, we recommend a double-stitch along this side length, and for maximum protection/ durability!
- Mission and DIY How to make cornhole bags project is complete, and you are ready to begin throwing some corn hole bags! This whole process should only take at an hour, and depending on your having all components on-hand and the ease of which sewing is for you. If you have any challenges, keep at it, and you could very well be on your way to becoming the go-to cornhole bags maker in your community!
A Brief History of Cornhole
There is not a sure and certain inventor of the cornhole, but in 1883, a patent for a game called Parlor Quoits shows what appears to the modern version of cornhole. The only differences that the board featured a square hole instead of a round one. It was similar to horseshoes. The benefit of cornhole, however, was that it could be played indoors.
The rights were sold to a Massachusetts toy maker, and was then sold as a board with two different holes that had point values.
Cornhole Makes a Great Gift
Cornhole bags are a great gift for someone new to the sport. Bags can be customized by color and even embroidered for the person. If you know someone who loves playing cornhole or just enjoys lawn games, consider making a set of custom cornhole bags for them. If you have any questions regarding cornhole game rules, regulations, events and general “know-how,” you can always consult the American Cornhole Association at https://www.playcornhole.org/
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