Well ive been interested in starting to stitch bags ever since i heard of footbags but havent been able to because of lack of time at the moment.
But As of the 29th i have all the time in the world to myself.
Ive looked through nearly everything on footbag.org and this place and nothing tells me the true basics of stitching a bag.
Like whats needed first off.
I always hear you saying "its the wrong stitch" or something, but never once is the right stitch described.
In what order the panels go, and how did you learn this?
Regular patterns for a regular 32 panel (i know these are on footbag.org but something simpler would be nice)
All stuff like this. I know its a pain but if a stitcher could contact me at all and take me through it then that would be great.
Thanks for your time.
The most basic basics.
12 PANEL TUTORIAL
Threading Your needle: Push your thread through the eye of
the needle. Pull the thread about 5 inches below the eye. On the
long end, create a large knot so the thread won't go right
through the fabric.
Cut out your 12 pentagons. Make sure they are properly
shaped and cut well.
Now you are ready to begin sewing. takes 2 pents and match
any sides together. Make sure the good sides on both pents are
facing each other.
Sewing the Bag: make sure your pieces are lined up properly,
and push your needle about 1/8" away from the edge. Make each
stitch about 1/8" inch long also, so each seam looks similar.
Remember to gather each seam the same amount also. At the end of
the seam, start making your knots. You do this by pushing the
needle through the panels and back again. You should have a large
loop. stick your needle through it, and pull tight. Repeat this
for every seam. DO NOT CUT YOUR THREAD AFTER EVERY SEAM, THIS
CREATES HOLES WHERE YOUR SEAMS MEET.
Some people suuggest making 2 halves and sewing them
together, however I do not. In my experience, that creates a
oblong bag, or one that is not circular. I make a bag out of one
piece.
Once you get to your final seam, do not turn it outside
right. For your final seam, make your stitches very loose, so you
can pull the final seam apart and turn it right side out. Fill
it. If you make a bag with bleed holes, you can close it and fill
it through the holes.
To close it, push the edges of the seams in and pull it
closed. It may take a while to fully close, but eventually it
should close up and the seam will gather. If the needle doesn't
come out at a corner, push it back in naer where the thread came
out, and pull it back out at a corner. Pull the corner apart and
try to knot the thread as far downin the corner as possible. Do 2
or three knots. Then push the needle back down through the knots
and pull it out anywhere. Cut the thread, and work the extra into
the bag. You have made a 12 panel bag.
Threading Your needle: Push your thread through the eye of
the needle. Pull the thread about 5 inches below the eye. On the
long end, create a large knot so the thread won't go right
through the fabric.
Cut out your 12 pentagons. Make sure they are properly
shaped and cut well.
Now you are ready to begin sewing. takes 2 pents and match
any sides together. Make sure the good sides on both pents are
facing each other.
Sewing the Bag: make sure your pieces are lined up properly,
and push your needle about 1/8" away from the edge. Make each
stitch about 1/8" inch long also, so each seam looks similar.
Remember to gather each seam the same amount also. At the end of
the seam, start making your knots. You do this by pushing the
needle through the panels and back again. You should have a large
loop. stick your needle through it, and pull tight. Repeat this
for every seam. DO NOT CUT YOUR THREAD AFTER EVERY SEAM, THIS
CREATES HOLES WHERE YOUR SEAMS MEET.
Some people suuggest making 2 halves and sewing them
together, however I do not. In my experience, that creates a
oblong bag, or one that is not circular. I make a bag out of one
piece.
Once you get to your final seam, do not turn it outside
right. For your final seam, make your stitches very loose, so you
can pull the final seam apart and turn it right side out. Fill
it. If you make a bag with bleed holes, you can close it and fill
it through the holes.
To close it, push the edges of the seams in and pull it
closed. It may take a while to fully close, but eventually it
should close up and the seam will gather. If the needle doesn't
come out at a corner, push it back in naer where the thread came
out, and pull it back out at a corner. Pull the corner apart and
try to knot the thread as far downin the corner as possible. Do 2
or three knots. Then push the needle back down through the knots
and pull it out anywhere. Cut the thread, and work the extra into
the bag. You have made a 12 panel bag.
-
mosher
- brutal footbag cronie
- Posts: 6177
- Joined: 22 Jan 2004 23:30
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Contact:
I am going to make a big long 32 panel tutorial soon.. once I stop being lazy.
A word of caution, don't use the 32 panel templates on .org, they suck.
I will post some good ones ASAP.
It's cool to hear you are interested in learning more about stitching. Making bags is so frigging sweet!
I'd recomend you start with a 4-panel bag, they are really easy to make.
A word of caution, don't use the 32 panel templates on .org, they suck.
I will post some good ones ASAP.
It's cool to hear you are interested in learning more about stitching. Making bags is so frigging sweet!
I'd recomend you start with a 4-panel bag, they are really easy to make.
Tom Mosher
hate is a waste of passion!
hate is a waste of passion!
-
travismontoya
- BSOS Beast
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 28 May 2005 21:00
Even though mosher has been stitching longer then me I must say, the footbag.org templates are a good place to start learning to stitch bags. So id pick up a template from there study the instructions and just start stitching, now about the "wrong way" there is no really wrong/right way, There is a better way to do it, But thats where you style comes into play, If you like the stitch the way you do it and it holds up well then by all means do it. Most people use a in and out running stitching so when you pull tightly at the end it gathers together a.k.a "gathering" some people gather tightly some gather lighty depends on what you like, Just takes alot of experimenting and practice.
Any other questions just ask! And good luck!
Any other questions just ask! And good luck!
I cut open my tremendously crappy sand footbag tonight.
It all seems pretty straightforward, except for one thing.
After stitching one side of a panel to another, do you then cut the thread and knot it and leave it at that. Or do you follow it around the whole panel, stitching it all sides with the same thread and THEN cutting it and knotting it?
Also a list of the accessories i need would be nice. I know obviously ultra suede some filler and a needle and scissors. But what type of needle, and whats a good type of thread for this purpose?
And i extremely look forward to your tutorial and patterns Tom mosher. Post em up soon
It all seems pretty straightforward, except for one thing.
After stitching one side of a panel to another, do you then cut the thread and knot it and leave it at that. Or do you follow it around the whole panel, stitching it all sides with the same thread and THEN cutting it and knotting it?
Also a list of the accessories i need would be nice. I know obviously ultra suede some filler and a needle and scissors. But what type of needle, and whats a good type of thread for this purpose?
And i extremely look forward to your tutorial and patterns Tom mosher. Post em up soon
-
travismontoya
- BSOS Beast
- Posts: 356
- Joined: 28 May 2005 21:00
Do it what you like, But with a 32 a tight off after each side, I use sharp needles (yes thats the name) or embordery ones NOT the big ones, I use upholstery thread or you can use dental floss (not wax) its nasty 
You can get ACTUAL facile from fashion fabrics (what I use) or you can get ultra suede light from fields fabrics (pretty much the same thing) I know you probably already know some of this newayz good luck!
You can get ACTUAL facile from fashion fabrics (what I use) or you can get ultra suede light from fields fabrics (pretty much the same thing) I know you probably already know some of this newayz good luck!