Shredzilla's Stitching Tutorial

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 26 Oct 2006 12:03

Here's a stitching tutorial. There's also a lot of info above in the sticky, but if you'd like my specific methods, here they are. I just sent this to someone in a PM, and I figured since I took the time to type it all out, may as well post it as well. I may add pictures in the future. Enjoy!

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-I use coton/poly thread. It's 'button thread' and you can usually find it at Walmart, or a fabric store. Don't get 'All-Purpose' cuz it'll break instantly. I would also advise against Nylon 'Upholstery thread' when you're starting out because although it's stronger, it's a lot harder to work with in some ways, and hard to get the knots to stay. Also, get the color white. The other colors are weaker for some reason. $0.99 per spool.

-The material, facile can be bought at www.fieldsfabric.com $6-8.00 per color of an 1/8th of a yard.

-You need to get a glover's needle. This is really the only kind you can use. It's VERY sharp and will basically go right through your hand, so be careful. These can be bought at a fabric store (usually) as well. Some people have claimed that their WalMart sells them, but I've never seen them at WalMart. $3.00 for a pack of 3. Something that I have that's completely optional is a sewing 'multi-pack' kit from Walmart. I think it was another 3 bucks, but it has a lot of small metal tools for pushing, and loosening stitches and things like that. I've found it very useful.

Fiskers* brand sewing scissors are in my opinion hands-down the best scissors for stitching. You can find them at WalMart and fabric/sewing/craft stores. They're small, they have perfect resistance, little orange handles. They've been manufactured in Finland for over 300 years now and have been the industry standard for probably equally as long. $13.00

-Poly pellets can be bought at some WalMarts, but again I've never seen them there. A craft store like Michaels is where I get mine. $6.00? I can't remember, and the website won't give out the info.

-Lead/Steel shot can be bought online at www.ballisticproducts.com $12.99 for 5lbs. Here's the exact link, get size #7 all the way at the bottom http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpica ... sp?dept=70

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-Here is the program that willl allow you to generate the templates for your bag http://www.modified.in/footbag/viewtopi ... 58&start=0
I think what I use is .80 for the pent side length, .85 for the hex long side length, and 25% for the hex short side length.

This is the BEST picture for how to stitch a 32:
http://www.valinet.com/~dbotkin/images/pentshexes.gif

You basically stitch the hexes to the pents. You start by putting the pent and hex together so the sides match up. Make sure you put the 'good side' of the fabric facing inward, so both the good side of the pent and the good side of the hex are touching. The way you can tell which is the good side is by feeling it, and looking to see which side is 'shinier'. It'll also be a bit more 'plush' than the bad side.

Start by pushing the needle through the hex, which will also push through the pent since you're holding them together. At the other side, push the needle through the fabric about 2 mm to the left of that hole. Repeat that process 3 times, so that you're looking at the pent with
3 stitches like this: - - -

After you've made your last stitch for that side, you'll want to line your next hex up. Put both the already stitched hex and the new hex together, good sides inward. And push the needle through both hexes in the upper corner of them. Repeat that entire process 5 times, and then when you get to the end, you should have both ends of the thread in the same place. Cinch the pentagon so it develops a little pucker, but not too much. (That's called 'gathering') Tie both ends of the thread together using 3 'over-under' knots. I think they're called square knots.

Do that same thing for the rest of the bag, always tying 5 hexes to each pent. When you get to the LAST pent, make the last set of stitches on the last side really loose, so you have big loops instead of tight stitches. The entire bag should be inside-out at this point.

Pull the entire bag through that loose-stitched seam, so that it becomes right side out. Fill the bag, I use 37-42 grams of steel shot and 2-3 grams of poly pelets. This will probably change infinitely with your progress lol. Sometimes I like to add 3-7 grams of zinc-plated steel BBs for a little bit more 'action' on the bag, but it's not necessary.

Now that your bag is full, carefully pull the stitches tight, one stitch at a time, and keep a hold of those loose thread ends. Now, cinch it up, a tad more than the rest. (This part takes practice to get right, so if your first bag has one pent that's too much gather, or not enough, don't worry) Tie your over-under knots, and when you're done, use a tool to push the knot into the bag, through the last seam. I have a tool I bought in a needle kit at Walmart for around 3 bucks, but you can use any thin, non-sharp instrument such as a dull fork prog, paperclip, etc.

Give the bag a good hand roll a few times to even out the stitches in the bag. You're done! Now go kick that baby!

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 26 Oct 2006 17:36

shredzilla wrote:When you get to the LAST pent, make the last set of stitches on the last side really loose, so you have big loops instead of tight stitches. The entire bag should be inside-out at this point.

Pull the entire bag through that loose-stitched seam, so that it becomes right side out.

kick that baby

so you dont do a blind stitch and you kick babies?

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 26 Oct 2006 17:43

Lol no, I don't do a blind stitch. To this day I still haven't done one. It seems really tough.

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 26 Oct 2006 17:48

blind stitchies arent so bad. it seems that doing it your way by stitching the whole thing and pulling it through that one little spot would put a lot of stress on the holes youve already made. i normally stitch it up to the last side, pull it through, fill it, then do the blind stitch. but to each his own.

Spontaneous Spaz · Post by **Spontaneous Spaz** » 26 Oct 2006 19:13

i don't do a blind stitch either... i just stitch the last pent all the way around, then right before i would close it, i turn it inside out, fill it, then just make a knot and stuff it inside. hasn't failed me yet.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 26 Oct 2006 22:30

The loose stitch method is superior and much more efficient than the blind stitch method. More accurate as well. You're only putting stress onto the holes if you're limited to too little thread, therefore too little space to constitute the 'flip.'

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 27 Oct 2006 07:32

Blind stitching is easy, especially if you use the patented super secret tom mosher blind stitch easy-i-fier.

I got the stitch all the way method all tangled and it made me feel stupid and like I was trying to be cheap and cut corners. Even without my fancy way of blind stitching it's still really easy if you get it.

kehern15 · Post by **kehern15** » 27 Oct 2006 09:52

mosher wrote:Blind stitching is easy, especially if you use the patented super secret tom mosher blind stitch easy-i-fier.

I got the stitch all the way method all tangled and it made me feel stupid and like I was trying to be cheap and cut corners. Even without my fancy way of blind stitching it's still really easy if you get it.

Any chance that you will tell the rest of us how to do your super secret patented tom mosher blind stitch? Or are we not worthy?

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 27 Oct 2006 10:00

Eh, it's SUPERDEEDUPER easy for me to do my method lol. I don't put any stress on the stitches, and nothing gets tangled or anything. I'm sure both methods are great, I've just never been able to do the blind stitch properly. Again, this thread wasn't meant to confront other methods, simply for others to know mine if they want a fresh look at stitching technique.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 27 Oct 2006 10:17

That is a good reason for this topic then.

It's really amazing how differently stitchers view the process of making a bag.

jrstubs · Post by **jrstubs** » 28 Oct 2006 02:12

are you talking about these scissors, but which size???

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 28 Oct 2006 08:09

No he's talking about the sweet reverse-action style scissors.

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 28 Oct 2006 08:27

the ones with the grip and the spring on them ROCK! i have them and they have a lifetime warranty

Guest_1 · Post by **Guest_1** » 28 Oct 2006 08:57

Here's my super secret blind stitch method that I do when I run out of thread!

Stitch the whole bag inside out!

Then, remove the last line of stitches

Turn in outside right

and do the blind stitch in the pre-made holes

wow!

Not only is it super easy and super cool

but doesn't need to be a secret! Thanks C-Miller for inspiring me to unlock my hidden sharing skills

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 28 Oct 2006 12:10

im trying to get my dad to make me a metal template at work that would have my stitch holes on it so when i draw out my panels i could do the holes too so everythings even. anyone else done this? (not trying to take over a tutorial thread but i dont think making a whole new topic would be worth it)

Spontaneous Spaz · Post by **Spontaneous Spaz** » 28 Oct 2006 12:20

after i cut out my patches, i sometimes draw holes, or rather a straight line all equidistant from the edge.

Wumbo · Post by **Wumbo** » 06 Dec 2006 04:21

id like to know how to make the panels round, and not just flat to each other, it doesnt only seem to be a gathering affair. so the stiching is more inside of the bag, you cannot see the thread when pulling the panels a little. and the panels poppin out slightly. i heard its an angular stiching technique thats used... who can help?

my panels. .-----..-----.

id like to have them: /Â´Â´Â´Â´Â´Â´\/Â´Â´Â´Â´Â´Â´Â´\

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 06 Dec 2006 10:06

I manage this by using fairly oversized pentagons and gathering. I'm not really sure what the best method is for it, I just know mine come out with puffy panels because of that method. I stitch fairly deep compared to most as well, around 2mm. That may be help.

Oh, and to answer Jrstubs question up there, I use the smallest pair of Fiskers scissors in that pic.

OCconfidential · Post by **OCconfidential** » 08 Dec 2006 11:57

So, i've got my stitching DOWN. even, consistent, DOWN. BUT....i can't seem to get my pent gather even. this is making my pents uneven, my bag not round, and frustrating me to the point of quitting whatever bag i'm on. (baaaaaad!!) so, i'm gathering after i stitch all hex's onto a pent. not after every hex. this makes the gather WWAAAAAYY too tight, so i always have to loosen the gather up. i need help, asap. HOW DO I GET MY GATHER EVEN! I WANT ROUND BAGS! lol, thanks
-nick

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 08 Dec 2006 14:32

You can try by using a triple A or double A battery to gather around. Or a pen, something like that. It'll at least make it so every pent has the same gather. You can experiment with the different cylinders to find one that's right for you. Also, make sure you gather all the way first, and then gently loosen up until the cylinder fits snugly in, and tie the knot around it.

Hope this helps.

Shredzilla's Stitching Tutorial

Shredzilla's Stitching Tutorial

Re: Shredzilla's Stitching Tutorial