How can I get into stiching bags??

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 24 May 2006 20:54

I see 4 panel kits, and 32 panel kits, i wanna get both, do most of you use kits, or can i also learn how to stitch on my own? I dont have anyone to teach me and never have sewn before. I wanna become a pro at stitching, tips?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » 24 May 2006 21:17

hmm. well before you waste any money on fabric or filler, try making a 4panel bag from old tshirts or any fabric that wont cost anything. use floss for thread and just give it a shot. trial and error really helps cuz if you rely on everyone, you'll still wait for help every step of the way.

4 pannel found here

bunch of stitching paterns and tutorials found here

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 24 May 2006 21:54

any tooth floss? sounds like a good idea, but im a little unsure how to measure, trace and cut out the designs. do i print it out, cut it out and just use a pen to trace on the t shirt? and the stitching i can tell will be hard for me XD. thanks for the help.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 24 May 2006 22:43

Personally, I think old t-shirts are flimsy for good practice material. And old sweater will do pretty good to practice a running stitch.

The standard method is to print the stencil, cut it out, and trace. However, there's no real good way to cutting out patterns on fabric imho.

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 25 May 2006 03:40

the only way to get to be a great stitcher is trial and error. When I first started my bags wouldnt even retain filler, but by now, (aside from fabric) they are like mr. sandbags, and am going to try a 32 soon.

So just get all your materials and cut out some patterns from old shirts, put em together and sew!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » 25 May 2006 09:02

well what i do is grab some old computer disc (a:) and i print my paterns on paper then glue it on the disc and then cut the disc with big scisors. it makes paterns better than just paper or cardboard.

but ya, simply cut the panels, then stitch the bag inside out. theres a technique for every type of bags but i mean, just do a 4panel bag to start you off. then read some of the blind stitch posts in this forum.

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 25 May 2006 10:02

Those are really good ideas! especially the computer disk one thanks, i wanna get started today or tomorrow. Any reason why tooth floss is better than a thread?

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 25 May 2006 11:16

You have to hunch up really small like, maybe learn to contort your body, then have someone stitch you a rather large footbag with the last panel left unsewn so that you can climb in.

hackeysnacker · Post by **hackeysnacker** » 25 May 2006 11:39

throw $20 at www.fieldsfabric.com and get yourself a few colors of ULTRASUEDE LIGHT, upholstery thread, and nice sharp scissors. Try starting on 4 panel or 6 panel bags to practice stitching evenly, then when you have that dialed, move on to 32s (if that's ur intention). double check any colors u may end up ordering on here before u pay.. some colors aren't so good.

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 25 May 2006 11:51

Yeah thats my intention, I wanna know how to make 4 panel (mr sandbag-esque) 12 panel (sandmaster esque) and of course 32 panel large and 32 panel mini. Also what do you think of te 15 dollar kit that supposedly teaches how to make 32 panels, and the ya make a footbag kit. When I get money are these also things to invest in? (ps ordering that fabric ASAP

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hackeysnacker · Post by **hackeysnacker** » 25 May 2006 11:59

you're best off getting 3 more 1/8 yards of ultrasuede light than a "make your own" kit. here's a template generator [courtesy of mike hansen] http://modified.in/footbag/viewtopic.php?t=11558

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 25 May 2006 12:14

Right on, but I forgot where I was looking at all the measurements to put into there XD *goes to find out*

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 25 May 2006 14:09

hackeysnacker wrote:throw $20 at www.fieldsfabric.com and get yourself a few colors of ULTRASUEDE LIGHT, upholstery thread, and nice sharp scissors. Try starting on 4 panel or 6 panel bags to practice stitching evenly, then when you have that dialed, move on to 32s (if that's ur intention). double check any colors u may end up ordering on here before u pay.. some colors aren't so good.

how about the sample kit they have for 15 dollars and a swatch of each??

HG · Post by HG » 25 May 2006 14:25

jeremy

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 25 May 2006 14:48

huh? anyway, i just cut out my first two panels out of an old red t shirt! it was really hard but i think i did good, i used a paper tracer and a pen, man it was hard to get that outline!!! it took like 10 minutes just to make it and another 2 minutes to cut it out with lame scissors but it came out perfect.. now two more then i find a needle hrhrhr. its just hard because even when i hold the fabric down it moves....

EDIT: Got all 4, now, how do i sew them together? the templates i saw didnt explain for the mr sandbag one, do i sew the sides all together?

gdawg8_0 · Post by **gdawg8_0** » 25 May 2006 15:30

basically waxed dental floss is easier to obtain, but when your ready i reccomend upholostery thread, also after sitchin 3-4 practice bags i would order some fabric from fields fabric or from Ultrasuede Light

Edit: Sitch the sides together one at a time, and make sure you add a new one each time you are finished with one, finally you will have to do a blind sitch on the final side,
PS sitch like a running sitch aka - - - - - - - - - -

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 25 May 2006 16:21

Ok thanks for the help! im trying stitching now, lol wow that was insane. I was like wtf am i supossed to do after i get it in the spool. I was trying to shover the spool end through the bag... like i said ive never stitched or even seen anyone stitch, im going off total randomness of sewing and can tell im doing it wrong and this is gonna be the lamest hack ever made out of an old 6th grade KoRn t shirt hahahaha! i wont give up though, ill get better, also im using thread instead of floss because floss wont fit, and thread seems more.... well... yeah.

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 27 May 2006 07:46

Ok, so i sewed my first one, but i made the same mistake as this other dude on that linked page and made it on that elipse template some guy put up.... and yeah it was way way mini.. like a mini mini. So where is a mr sandbag template, i didnt like the other 4 panel one i saw?

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 27 May 2006 08:54

mr sandbag template....

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 27 May 2006 09:04

Thats the one i used! it came out like way too small when i sewed it together how can i make one the right size.