How to Make Cornhole Bags
Learn how to make cornhole bags in this easy step-by-step tutorial (with photos!). All you need is some heavy duck canvas and a sewing machine, and you can make simple homemade DIY bean bags for corn hole games!
Materials
- Cotton Duck Fabric (½ yard makes 4 bean bags)
- Bag Filler (Artificial plastic corn is our first choice)
- Food Scale
- Scoop and Funnel
- Scissors or Rotary Cutter, Ruler and Cutting Mat
- Sewing Machine
Instructions
- Cut two 7-inch by 7-inch squares. Stack them one on top of the other, with the right sides together.
- Sew around the perimeter using a ½ inch seam allowance, and leave a 3-inch turn hole. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.
- Sew around the perimeter again, using a ¼-inch seam allowance this time. These double lines of stitching are part of the cornhole bag regulations and help make them more durable.
- Clip the corners at an angle to make turning easier.
- Turn the bag right side out through the turn hole.Use the blunt end of a knitting needle, the eraser end of a pencil, or your fingertip (this is my preference) to help you push out the corners and seams. Flatten and smooth the bag out with your hands.
- Fill the bag with the filling of your choice, using a scoop and funnel to make it easier. I used artificial corn filling for my homemade bean bags.Each bag should weigh as close to 16 ounces as possible, so aim to add 15 ounces of filler at first. You can add a bit more if needed to reach 16 total ounces per beanbag.
- (Option 1) Topstitch the fill hole in the cornhole bag closed.This is the faster method. But it can be bulky and awkward to maneuver a full beanbag under the presser foot of your sewing machine.
- (Option 2) Use a ladder stitch, also called an invisible stitch, to sew the hole closed by hand. The bags need to be very durable so the hole should be closed with a ladder stitch in one direction, and then back again to make a double-reinforced seam.This ladder stitch method takes longer to do.
- Repeat for the rest of the cornhole bags in your bean bag set. Once they are finished, inspect them to ensure they are solid and stable, with no holes to be found.If they pass the test, they’re ready for game day!
Notes
- Cotton duck cloth is the fabric of choice for homemade cornhole bags. It's durable, sturdy, easy to sew, and because of cornhole's recent popularity growth, is now available in a wider variety of colors and patterns in craft stores and online.
- The American Cornhole Association specifies that regulation cornhole bags are 6 inches by 6 inches and weigh 1 pound or 16 ounces. This is why we begin with 7 inch squares of fabric, and use a ½ inch seam allowance, and fill the bags to a final weight of 16 ounces.
- Feed corn is the official filler of cornhole bags, but it is not weatherproof - it will mold and rot if it gets wet, and it attracts wild animals. Artificial corn filler is a better option because it is weatherproof, animal-resistant, and still meets regulation standards.