Colorful Bean Bag Toss Project

Colorful Bean Bag Toss Project

Does your family have family reunions? Are you planning any summer birthday parties? One of the favorite outdoor games of Nancy Zieman’s family goes by quite a few names, but in short can be called bean bag toss. What would the game be with out festive, colorful bags? Today, learn how to sew your own bean bags or corn bags, then play cornhole, tailgate, bean bag toss, doghouse, Baggo, or, whew, just plain bags. This is a perfect afternoon sewing project to create with kids. Then, go have some backyard fun.

How to Sew Bean Bags for Cornhole or Bean Bag Toss

Using the following instructions, you’ll be able to create regulation-size bags as set by the American Cornhole Organization. If you’re going to play the game, you better be official!

Supplies, Notions, and Fabric

• 12 oz. duck canvas, 1/4 yard each of two colors
• Quality feed corn, 15 oz. for each corn bag (or use 15 oz. dried beans)
• Zipper foot
• Optional: 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge
• Optional: Clover Point 2 Point Turner
• Optional: Wonder Clips

If you opt to use novelty print cotton fabrics for your bean bags, perhaps to align with your favorite sports teams, you’ll want to underline the cotton squares with duck canvas for durability. 

Create

•  For each bag, rotary cut two squares of fabric 7″ x 7″.

• Use the 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge to measure a 1/2″ hem on one side of each square.
• Press. Fold open prior to stitching. 

• Match right sides and use a 1/2″ seam allowance to stitch one side of the square.
• Stitch seams twice, or choose a double-stitch decorative stitch for durability. (I used Baby Lock 1-05.)

• “Wrap” the corners: Fold the fabric along the stitch line at the bottom corner; pin. 
• Stitch the bottom seam starting at the fold. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance.
• Fold the bottom seam along the stitch line and sew the remaining side. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance.

 

In the following pressing steps, it will help to press the bean bag envelope around a free-arm sleeve board or tailor’s pressing seam roll.

• Press seam allowances open at the top edge.
• Remove a small rectangle within the seam allowance to reduce bulk.

• Refold the 1/2″ pressed seam allowance.
• Press again.

• Turn the bag right side out.
• Use the turning tool to push out the corners.

• Fill with 15 oz. of corn.

• Pin the pressed folded edges together, placing pins parallel to the fold.
• Optional: Using a hand sewing needle, sew a long basting stitch along the top edge to hold the corn in place when you move to the sewing machine.

• Attach the zipper foot to your sewing machine.
• Carefully sew the opening closed; removing pins as you stitch.

• Optional: Use Wonder Clips at this step for ease of pinning. 

• Use an anchor cloth (starter piece of fabric) to stitch the final seam. Reverse stitch on the fabric to secure the seam. Then, clip away the anchor cloth.

What a great project combining sewing and backyard fun!

Learn How to Build Your Own Corntoss Board

Check out this blog and video on how to make the corntoss board, compliments of This Old House.

To learn more about the game, visit the American Cornhole Organization website.

Wrapped Corner Tips

The wrapped corner technique detailed above is also featured in Nancy Zieman’s  book and DVD,  The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew.

Watch The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew (Part One, Part Two, and Part 3) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.

 
Happy Sewing!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.

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