Making bags: instructions/tutorials

Benzilla · Post by **Benzilla** » 14 Nov 2007 15:12

try to get the last stitch of each seam closer to the edge. Like in this diagram

The first one has stitches closer to the edge so that you won't have a hole.

warri0r_bg · Post by **warri0r_bg** » 14 Nov 2007 23:50

Ben i do it like this because if i do it like the second diagram i cant put the another hex cuz i'ce stitched 1 mm side????Shall i make the pentagon bigger?

My is like this isn;t it?

warri0r_bg · Post by **warri0r_bg** » 15 Nov 2007 02:22

Guys please help ;( I can't stitch it right ;( When i sitch it up to the edge there is no space for the another hex ;(

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 15 Nov 2007 08:40

Umm... It's not like to you have to make the stitch at each end of the hexagon side completely straight in accordance to your general stitching path. You can just angle it to connect the hexagons.

Just make sure that they are even throughout the bag.

Also, try not to sew too close to the edge. A millimeter or two is just enough, and keep it straight. And, try to keep your stitches at an even pace, and adjust the "corners of the pentagons well" so that they are even throughout the pentagon. That way, you'll get an even looking panel.

To reply back to the x-acto knife thing, I could never find a really sharp (or sharp enough) x-acto knife, so trying to cut with that utensil would often fray the material. The blade just seems way too dull to cut through, and the only sharpest area of the knife is at its point.

Benzilla · Post by **Benzilla** » 15 Nov 2007 12:18

Hope this helps.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 17 Nov 2007 15:06

That technique is often disputed from what I've seen, and shows a great difference between what people generalize about those who sew "hackysacks" and those who sew "footbags."

Mind you, from the hacks I've seen from general sewers, they usually share the same bleedhole. This is just my observation.

Sharing the same corner hole in pentagons is an argument on cleaniness and how much looser a pentagon can be "broken in" in terms of stitching. Sharing the corner holes of pentagons oftentimes results in a tightness on pentagons, and a weird, but yes sharp, look on pentagons.

However, this is just a remark on technique. I am fine in sewing my pentagons with three stitches on each side, having an even and uniform pattern on each of those sides, and having even "corner hole" placement on those pentagons without sharing them in my sewing path. I just think the way that I described just now in my philosophy of stitching results in a better break-in for a pentagon and whatever, because you are not adding further stress in a particular area when considering the long-term break-in process of a 32 paneled bag.

Anyway, you don't have to listen to what I say. I'm an aesthete when it comes to stitching. It sucks.

Benzilla · Post by **Benzilla** » 19 Nov 2007 14:43

well if you remember at NYC the red/orange bag we played with on saturday..You joined the circle i was in for a bit. That bag was I made using the same corner hole technique and that bag was beastly.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 20 Nov 2007 08:51

I thought that bag was kind of heavy. I didn't really get a good look at it, imo.

Magedark · Post by **Magedark** » 21 Nov 2007 23:26

How do you measure where to put your stitch dots on?

Benzilla · Post by **Benzilla** » 22 Nov 2007 07:30

you could use a ruler or just eyeball it. If you were gonna put 5 stitches on each seam, for example, just make sure those 5 stitches are all the same leght and run horizontally and straight across.

You'll eventually get to the point where you won't need to put stitch dots. But they help alot in the begining.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 22 Nov 2007 13:37

Drawing helps. Not on fabric, but on p&p.

Say you have a pentagon, with 3 stitches on each of its sides. Draw it out so that every side is equal and adjacent to each other. This will help you to have a good eye for stitching.

The same formula is helpful for hexagons as well, which utilizes 4 stitches if the pentagon is using 3. Just understand that the first and last stitch on the hexagons is of great importance, since that estimates how your bleed holes would be, and how they look in the end.

Also, to add, remember to stab straight with your needle. Not in a diagonal, not toward a side, not up, down, left or right. Straight. Have a firm hold on your panels as well. This will lessen whatever complications of cleaniness you'll ever have when sewing footbags in general.

jerab · Post by **jerab** » 22 Nov 2007 17:28

Just to let people know since this thread has expanded,

If you are just starting stitching, be sure to utilize all the information on each page of this thread, I as well as other have posted quite a few diagrams, photos, slide shows and text regarding stitching technique. You will better benefit this thread if you observe it entirely.

I have seen quite a few questions that would be answered pages prior that may have not been observed.

I also still welcome pm questions.

Thank you to all who is keeping this alive. I am glad to see the interest and am glad this usefull information is being utilized.

Jerab

MrUnderArmour · Post by **MrUnderArmour** » 09 Dec 2007 15:37

i wanted to start a thread where we could dicuss stitching technique.
(i.e how you do bleedholes your way and how i do mine.) ect.

but there was a question i wanted to ask. do any of you ever back stitch to avoid cutting and retieing because that is the most time consuming part other than cutting.

thank j.reynolds

Benzilla · Post by **Benzilla** » 09 Dec 2007 16:00

what do you mean by backstitch? Do you mean undo your stitches do to missplacement?

MrUnderArmour · Post by **MrUnderArmour** » 09 Dec 2007 16:06

no i mean to go backward over the stitching already there.
like in between them?

jerab · Post by **jerab** » 09 Dec 2007 16:50

I dont back stitch, I tie off each full pent. I tie the thread at the beginning and end and pull them to gather around a pencap. I like everything to be uniform and this helps. After I tie the knot, I melt the two little thread tips to prevent them from coming undone.

mc · Post by mc » 09 Dec 2007 16:53

I have never backstitched in the way that you describe. paying lots of attention and really caring about each stitch you make precludes backstitching.

my stitching theory is this.

Stitching is very simple, and very straightforward. It is repetition of a single activity that anyone can do. The hardest part is using patience and practice and persistence to get your CONSISTENCY at this simple thing.

right now, these are my stitching specs.

.6 pents, .8 [edit] HEXES with 33% short sides (using mike's template generator). shallow bite, mid-high gather, single floss, empty / heavy fill, 6 stitches. also, I double my stitches from hex to hex to lock my gather as I go. I use the loose-stitch method to finish my bags, and I don't understand why anyone would want to blind stitch. I cut my panels using the mosher magnet method because I really don't have the patience to trace and cut individual panels.

calemccoy · Post by **calemccoy** » 09 Dec 2007 17:24

what are your hex dimensions? you said pents both tmes haha. and whats the mosher magnet method? sounds interesting... and how do you double hex to hex stitches?

Pengu · Post by **Pengu** » 09 Dec 2007 17:40

Matt Cross wrote: Stitching is very simple, and very straightforward. It is repetition of a single activity that anyone can do. The hardest part is using patience and practice and persistence to get your CONSISTENCY at this simple thing.

+1!!

My theory:
Make bags YOU love playing with.

mc · Post by mc » 09 Dec 2007 18:33

calemccoy wrote:what are your hex dimensions? you said pents both tmes haha. and whats the mosher magnet method? sounds interesting... and how do you double hex to hex stitches?

post edited to answer the first question.

mosher magnet method is where you take a strip of facile slightly wider than a pent, fold it twice, put your template on it, and put a magnet on either side to hold the template in place. you cut around the template to make 4 panels at once, thereby increasing your per-cut efficiency by 400% and reducing trace time to 0. Basically, this uses roughly 1.5 bags worth of facile to make 1 bag, but the time saved is SO worth it to me.

as for doubling hex to hex stitches, you stitch one hex to the next, and put the needle right back through the same two holes (one per hex) so that the stitch is doubled.

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Making bags: instructions/tutorials

Stitching Theory