How to Make Cornhole Bags

Thinking about buying cornhole bags, but want to give it a shot yourself first? What better way to learn than from the pros! (And if it doesn't work out, you can always just purchase them here.)

Supplies Needed for Making Cornhole Bags

If you have a little time and the right equipment, making your own cornhole bags can be a fun challenge. Gather all the supplies you'll need to make the best cornhole bags:

  • Duck cloth, 2 colors
  • Thread to match your duck cloth
  • Corn, 8lbs of dry whole kernel corn
  • Cutting mat and cutting guide/straight edge*
  • Rotary cutter*
  • Pencil or fabric pen
  • 7" x 7" square pattern*
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Heavy-duty needle*
  • 2-cup measuring cup*
  • Digital scale*
  • Funnel*
  • Pins

*Optional

Most of these supplies and equipment can be found at your local fabric shop. Duck cloth is a heavy, plain, woven cotton fabric (often called “canvas”). It is very durable and resistant to wear and tear; a perfect choice for your tailgate or backyard cornhole matches.

According to the American Cornhole Association (ACA), each finished cornhole bag should be made of 10-12oz duck cloth, at least 6" x 6" square, and weigh between 14-16 ounces. A full set of cornhole bags consists of four bags of one color and four bags of another color.

Most fabric vendors sell duck cloth on 60" bolts by the yard. Since you only need about seven inches, you will have a good bit left over for future sets. Make sure to buy thread to match your fabric! Whole kernel corn is available at most feed stores, and is usually sold in 50-pound bags. Like the fabric, you will likely have a lot left over.

Resist the temptation to use beans, rice, popcorn, etc; they don't hold up nearly as well. Besides, the game is called cornhole! You will probably spend about $25-30 on these materials depending on the season.

Making Your Own Cornhole Bags

Begin making your cornhole bags by cutting out a 7" x 7" pattern from posterboard or something similar. Trace the pattern eight times on each fabric color and cut out the squares. If you have a cutting mat, cutting guide, and rotary cutter, you can cut the fabric very effectively and quickly using the measuring lines on the cutting mat. You should have 16 squares—eight of one color and eight of the other color.

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Next up: Sewing your cornhole bags. Thread your sewing machine, take two fabric squares, and match the edges together. Sew the cornhole bags with the seam a 1/2" from the edge, but remember to leave a gap on one side to flip and fill the bags later! You should sew the bags twice, or use the double stitch function if your sewing machine has one. Cornhole bags take a lot of hard hits so they need to be double stitched or they will burst. Sew all four of the same color and proceed with the next steps of filling and closing them, or switch thread and sew the other four bags and continue.

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Pro tip: Cut corners! Before flipping your bags inside out, cut the corners off of the bags. By cutting the corners, you'll be able to have sharper corners on the finished cornhole bags. Be careful not to cut too close to the thread; leave some fabric between the thread and the cut edge.

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Flip the bags inside out and poke out the corners. To make the corners as sharp as possible, use something to poke the corners out such as a pencil or pen (don't use the pointy side). A wooden spoon makes a good poker too.

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To fill the bags, measure out how much corn you will need. If you use a digital scale we recommend 15oz of corn per bag. If you don't have a digital scale, 15oz is equivalent to about two cups of corn. A wide funnel is helpful to pour the corn into each bag. If you don't have a true funnel in the garage, you can easily make one with a piece of paper or thin cardboard. Temporarily close each bag using two pins as close to the corn as possible to hold it back.

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Finally, tuck the edges inside the bags on the open side and sew the bags shut as close to the edge as possible. Sew the whole length of the edge for a nice professional look, and make sure to double stitch this side too.

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Now you're ready to get outside and throw some cornhole bags! The whole process should take at least an hour or two to cut and sew cornhole bags yourself depending on your sewing ability. Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't tell you to save yourself the time and money and simply let us fill an order for you. Order now and receive your cornhole bag shipment to your door within 1-3 business days!