Crafting Professional Cornhole Bags from Scratch: Your DIY Guide

Cornhole is a beloved social activity and game that involves throwing cornhole bags filled with corn kernels or resin pellets at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. It's a favorite pastime at picnics, tailgates, and backyard barbecues. Here, we'll detail how to create the key element of the game – professional Cornhole bags – from start to finish. Whether it's for personal use or to sell and share with the community, homemade quality professional cornhole bags can be cost-effective and a true labor of love.

Opting to craft your Cornhole bags at home presents an excellent opportunity to save money without compromising on quality. Commercial bags, especially those adhering to professional American Cornhole League standards, can carry a significant retail price tag, making the DIY route a compelling option for enthusiasts looking to manage costs. By selecting your materials based on a wide selection of play characteristics and putting in a bit of elbow grease, you create high-quality bags at a fraction of the price, allowing for customized options that cater specifically to your playing style or aesthetic preferences.

Materials You'll Need To Make Quality Cornhole Bags
Before we start, gather these materials:

• Fabric: Durable, heavyweight fabric like 10- to 12-ounce duck cloth or similar canvas material for beginner cornhole bags. Suede and other technical weave fabrics for professional cornhole bags. You'll need two different colored fabrics to indicate two different teams.
• Filling: Traditional cornhole bags are filled with corn kernels. Other materials, such as plastic resin pellets, can also be used for professional cornhole bags. Weight and feel matter so select your filling carefully.
• Sewing tools: Scissors, a measuring tape or ruler, and a sewing machine or needle and thread.

Other Things To Consider Before Getting Started
Before you launch into the crafting process, there are a few additional considerations to keep in mind to ensure your Cornhole bags turn out just right:

• Size Dimensions: Official cornhole bags are 6x6 inches and weigh between 14 and 16 ounces. Precision in measurements will ensure your bags meet official pro bags standards, should you choose to use them competitively.
• Durability: Consider the wear and tear your cornhole bags will endure. Choosing high-quality materials for your cornhole bag might be more of an upfront investment, but it can save you from frequent replacements.
• Weather Resistance: If you plan on using your cornhole bags outdoors often, materials that are weather-resistant or at least weather-tolerant can extend the life of your bags. This is especially important for the filling; while corn kernels are traditional, they can degrade if exposed to moisture, making plastic resin pellets a more durable choice for quality cornhole bags.
• Color Contrast: Make sure the two different colored fabrics you choose are distinctly different to avoid any confusion during gameplay. Visibility is key to seeing where your cornhole bag landed, especially in lower-light conditions.
• Personalization: Think about ways you can personalize your cornhole bags, whether it's through the choice of fabric, color, or even adding embroidered designs for that extra personal touch.
• Cornhole Boards: Consider your Cornhole boards' design when choosing fabrics for your pro bags. You may want to coordinate colors or patterns to create a cohesive and professional look. Also, if your Cornhole boards are slick, then consider choosing slower fabrics. If your boards are slow, we recommend using faster fabrics.

Keeping these factors in mind, you're now well on your way to creating cornhole bags that are not only functional but also customized to your personal or professional needs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Professional Cornhole Bags

1. Cutting Your Fabric: Begin by cutting your fabric into squares that are about 6.5 inches on each side. You will need eight pieces, four for each set of bags. If you're using different fabrics for each side, you'll have four pieces of the first fabric and four of the second. Precision is key here as you want the bags to be as close to identical as possible to keep the game fair. It is important to cut rounded corners into your cut square so that the shape of your bag mirrors some of the best professional cornhole bags on the market.
2. Sewing the Bag: Place two fabric squares, right sides facing (the sides that will be on the outside of the bag when it's finished), and stitch around three of the four edges using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Stitch as straightly as you can. Repeat this step with the other two squares of fabric of the same type.
3. Filling the Bags: Turn the bags you've just sewn right side out. Now it's time to fill them. Each bag should be filled with approximately 15-16 ounces of corn, plastic pellets, or beans. It's important to wait until this step to cut the thread so that the force exerted on the stitches during the filling process doesn't damage them.
4. Closing the Bags: Once filled, fold the unsewn edges of the fabric inwards (about 1/2 inch) and stitch them closed. You can do this by hand with a needle and thread or use a sewing machine. Always ensure you're sewing through all layers of fabric to secure the filling inside.

This will form a 6-inch by 6-inch square with a bulky seam allowance, which is integral for controlling the fill line and structure of the bag. After closing the seam, give the bag a few slaps against your hand to distribute the filling evenly.

5. Repeating the Process for the Second Set of Bags
Repeat steps 2-4 with the second set of four fabric squares, ensuring that the size, fill, and closing process are identical to the first set.

Customizing Your Own Cornhole Bags
Custom Cornhole bags can be a game changer and fun element to the game. You might choose to use different fabrics for each set of bags, each in different vibrant colors, patterns, or textures. Additionally, you could enhance the bags with logos or designs that represent your favorite sports team or other interests. Just remember to attach these customizations after turning the bag right sides out but before filling it to ensure they are properly secured.

Safety First
Though making cornhole bags is a fun and relatively simple crafting activity, there are safety considerations to keep in mind. Always pay attention to the type of filling you're using, and be cautious when cutting and sewing. It's also a good idea to work in a well-ventilated area and keep an eye on both hot irons and sewing machines, which are potentially dangerous tools if misused.

Common Mistakes to Avoid For The Best Cornhole Bags

• Overfilling the bags: This can affect the toss and outcome of the game. Make sure to measure your filling precisely for consistency.
• Skimping on fabric quality: The heavyweight fabric is essential to ensure longevity and durability, preventing the bags from tearing easily.

Final Thoughts on Crafting Your Cornhole Bags
Crafting professional Cornhole bags tailored to your specific preferences and needs can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. By adhering to the guidelines on dimensions, durability, weather resistance, color contrast, personalization, and board coordination, you'll create a collection of high-quality bags that not only perform well but also reflect your personal style or team spirit.

Remember to avoid common pitfalls such as overfilling the bags or compromising on fabric quality to ensure the longevity and performance of your custom cornhole bags. With a bit of effort and creativity, your homemade cornhole bags will be the envy of your competitors and the highlight of your games. Happy crafting and playing!

Thanks for checking out our post and website. Elevate your game with Cornhole.org, home of the World Series of Cornhole (WSOC) and everything Cornhole: offering professional quality bags and boards made in the USA in a wide variety of styles and colors. We also offer custom bags and custom boards. Free shipping available on all products.