DIY: Cornhole Bag Tutorial

Summer is here and that means it's time to bring out those cornhole boards that have been collecting dust all winter! We're excited to give you these step-by-step tutorial to make yourself a fresh set of cornhole bags for this season.

Here's what you'll need

• 1/2 yard of canvas fabric (this will make a set of 4 bags, with a little left over)
• 2 lbs of our Gray Poly Pellets + 3 lbs of our Heavy White Pellets
• Coordinating Thread
• Pins
• Scissors/Rotary Cutter
• Ruler

ACO Regulation Bags:

According to the American Cornhole Organization Regulations (which you can read here) cornhole bags are required to be 6" x 6" and weigh between 15 and 16oz. We will accomplish this by starting with 6.5" x 6.5" squares of fabric and mixing our gray poly and heavy white pellets together to meet the weigh requirement. 

Cutting the Fabric

To make 4 bags, cut out 8 - 6.5" x 6.5" squares. This is easiest to do with a straight edge, cutting mat, and rotary cutter. However, a pair of scissors and a ruler will do the trick too. 

Sewing the Bags

Start by placing right sides together. Since the squares are so small it probably isn't necessary to pin them together. However, I like to pin one side together with two pins just to hold it together and to also mark the start and stop since we will have to leave a gap in order to fill the bag. I like to leave about a 2.5"-3" gap. 

In order to have a finished 6" x 6" bag we will need to have a 1/4" seam allowance. On my machine a 1/4" is right on the edge of the foot so it makes it really easy to keep consistent. If it is not the edge of your machine foot there should be other markings to indicate the seam to make it easier to sew. A point of reference will allow you to keep your seams straight and consistent. 

When sewing the bags you have two seam options. You can choose to sew them single seemed or double seamed. The ACO regulations require double seemed however for backyard use you may choose to just do a simple single seam. If you choose to do a single seam you will have a single straight stitch right a 1/4" and if you are doing the double stitch then you will just do a zigzag stitch right next to the straight stitch. You can see the difference below. Remember to back-stitch at the beginning and end of your seam to reinforce your stitch. 

Here's the finished product of a single seam. 

 We are now ready to turn it inside out! 

It is difficult to get the corners and edges out completely so to make it easier I use the end of a colored pencil. It helps to get all of the edges out, especially the corners. 

It's filling time! In order to get the required weigh you will need to use 1 cup of each of the gray pellets and 1 cup of the heavy white pellets. I roll up a piece of paper to make a funnel to make the filling simpler. 

All that's left is to stitch up the opening! You've got to be careful to not get the pellets in the way of the needle because hitting a pellet will break the needle. As pictured below I use two pins to hold back the pellets. After the pellets are held back I just hold the fabric tight and close up the hole with a straight stitch. Remember to reinforce your seam with back-stitching otherwise the seam will come loose and you'll lose your pellets.  

Congrats your finished! Enjoy your summer cornhole fun!