How to Make Your Own Set of Cornhole Bags

Today, many people play the cornhole game to relax and unwind! It’s a very popular game to play at parties or friend gatherings. One of the essential parts of this game is to have good quality bean bags. It this tutorial, I will show you how to make your own DIY cornhole bags that will last you a long time. 

To make a set of strong and sturdy cornhole bags, use a cotton duck material. Duck cloth offers a strong, durable material that withstands all types of weather. It is soft, easy to sew, and can withstand the abuse of being tossed around. The bags are either filled with corn or resin. Corn-filled bags are commonly referred to as “standard” bags, while resin-filled bags are referred to as “all-weather.”

I’ve also made DIY Cornhole Board plans, and DIY Scoreboards plans to match this set.

What is duck cloth material?

The phrase duck cloth comes from the Dutch word “doek,” which just means “linen canvas”. In fact, outside of the textile industry, cotton duck is usually just referred to as canvas fabric or canvas cloth. Canvas fabric points to the Latin word cannapaceus, which means “made of hemp.” Canvas fabric was made of hemp in the 13th century because it was plentiful and strong. 

Interestingly enough, not all canvas is 100% cotton. Certain canvas styles remain blended using synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon. However, duck cloth canvas products will utilize natural cotton. Cotton use in canvas persists as tried and true and works well with this standard fabric.

It’s a tighter plain weave canvas that is usually heavier than other styles of canvas cloth or cotton canvas fabric. Originally made with natural cotton, duck canvas or duck cloth has an abundant amount of uses and lends itself to many different applications.

Corn-Filled Bags or Resin Filled?

Most corn-filled bags are actually filled with whole-kernel corn. Over time, the corn will break down and create minimal dust. A large benefit of dust is that it coats the cornhole boards, allowing the bags to slide easier.

A common reason why players prefer resin to corn is that corn-filled bags tend to mold over long periods of play. This molding process can be escalated if the bags are used in the rain and then improperly stored. The mold and mildew can have other drawbacks, like bugs and corn weevils. The corn weevils hatch eggs and larva, and pretty soon, the bags will be filled with bugs instead of corn.

When a cornhole bag is “resin-filled,” it means that the bag is filled with small plastic resin beads. The beads do not break down over time like corn-filled bags, which means they’ll last longer. This also makes them dust-free and better to play with indoors in terms of not polluting the air. One drawback is that a lack of dust will also make the bags less slick.

Overall, the decision to use corn-filled or resin-filled bags tends to come down to personal preference.

Stitching Cornhole Bags with V46 or V69 Polyester Thread

The V69 polyester thread is slightly heavier and stronger than the V46 weight. Both have superior UV resistance and great strength; this thread works great with home machines and is suitable for sewing heavier materials like Sunbrella, WeatherMax, Surlast, as well as other canvases and heavy synthetic fabrics. This heavy-duty polyester thread is ideal for sewing: bags, packs, awnings, or marine projects. Inherently UV and weather-resistant, this polyester thread works great for all outdoor applications.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page as well as links in “tools for this project” and “material list” sections are affiliate links.

Dimensions

Cut List

Step 1 – Draw Eight 7” x 13 ½” Rectangles on Fabric

Using a duck cloth material, measure and draw four 7” x 13 ½” rectangles on one color of fabric and four rectangles on the other color. So you’ll have a total of 8 rectangles, four of each color. 

Step 2 – Cut Rectangular Fabric Pieces

Cut out all eight rectangular fabric pieces using regular scissors.

Step 3 – Fold Fabric in Half and Stitch on 1/2″ Line

Take the rectangular fabric piece, and on the long side, draw a line ¼” from the edge and another line ½” from the edge. Then, draw another two lines on the opposite side. So you’ll have four 13 ½” lines on each rectangular fabric piece. Next, fold the fabric in half and stitch on both sides of the ½” line using a polyester thread. You could use a sewing machine or just a thread needle. Using a sewing machine will get the job done much quicker, but the thread needle is fine; it just takes more time.

Step 4 – Stitch on 1/4″ Line of the Bag

Using the same polyester thread, stitch on the ¼” line of the bag. You could stitch through this line several times to make it stronger.

Step 5 – Partially Stitch the Third Side of the Bag

Now you have one side of the bag that is a fold that doesn’t need any stitching, and two sides have been stitched. You’re left with one side that is not stitched yet. For the last side of the bag, similar to step 3, draw a ½” line (that’s ½” away from the edge of the bag). Then stitch on that line, but leave a 2” opening in the middle of the bag. This opening will be used for filling the bag with resin before closing the seam.

Step 6 – Invert and Fill the Bag

Invert the bag inside out and fill it with 2 ¼ cups of Poly-Pellets using a funnel. As mentioned above, you could use corn kernels, but I think Poly-Pellets are a better alternative because you could wash the bags if they get dirty. You cannot wash or get the bags wet with real corn kernels. After filling the bag make sure that the total weight of the bag is one pound. 

Step 7 – Finish Stitching the Cornhole Bag

Fold the fabric in by the seam and finish stitching a double line ¼“ away from the end. The finished bag product should be 6” x 6”. The DIY Cornhole Bag is ready to use.