I would love to get some feedback on how i can improve them.
Made my first footbags
Made my first footbags
I have just made my first footbags this weekend for my son and husband who have discovered the sport. I have used small aquarium pebbles for filling.
I would love to get some feedback on how i can improve them.
I would love to get some feedback on how i can improve them.
my bit of advice would be working on your gather...
make sure you pull really tight and then use your fingers to push the panels straighter... Its hard to explain gather, but you will get the hang of it after a couple more bags
and you should really look into getting a better filler, because rocks will decrease your bags durability by a lot... and I doubt rocks play good at all
Just keep on making more bags and posting your progress
make sure you pull really tight and then use your fingers to push the panels straighter... Its hard to explain gather, but you will get the hang of it after a couple more bags
and you should really look into getting a better filler, because rocks will decrease your bags durability by a lot... and I doubt rocks play good at all
Just keep on making more bags and posting your progress
I like your color choice, it's primarily up to the stitcher as to what colors work well with others, so I'm sure you'll be figuring that out as you go.
Tips-
1- It does look like you've use a bit much on gather. After the stitches have evened out around the pentagon there should be room for filler to come in and out of the pentagon, but not too much or it will take on an overly floppy feel. Experiment, it's all about finding what works for your stitching style.
2- Try concentrating on keeping your stitches in a straight line across the panel.
3- How many holes are you putting in your pentagons? it looks like 4 to me. With a 2-stitch bag (4 holes) you may have to stitch a bit further from the edge than if you were to put a 3rd stitch in there. If your stitches aren't perfectly lined up you'll be able to see a little gap between the panels where it will turn out when filled. The bag will still play fine, i made one about a year ago where every single stitch turned out, but it's one of the best bags i own...
4- Filler: Aquarium rocks are okay for when you first start, but ideally you want something small and round. Shot is ideal, preferably lead, and not BBs. I use #9 nickle plated lead shot. this is where I get it from
https://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpic ... umber=NP09
This is a pretty large quantity, enough to make around 100 bags.
Consistency Consistency Consistency
Not too bad for your first bags, to make one come out nice and round it's all about consistency. These are just geometric shapes, so if we can get them all the same, we'll have a nice round ball.
I hope some of this helps. It looks like you've already read a tutorial or something, so you have a pretty go idea of how the bag is structured. Most stitchers claim their best bags started coming out around #40, but you can pump out something quite playable in your first 10-20 without much trouble. You're off to a better start than I was
Tips-
1- It does look like you've use a bit much on gather. After the stitches have evened out around the pentagon there should be room for filler to come in and out of the pentagon, but not too much or it will take on an overly floppy feel. Experiment, it's all about finding what works for your stitching style.
2- Try concentrating on keeping your stitches in a straight line across the panel.
3- How many holes are you putting in your pentagons? it looks like 4 to me. With a 2-stitch bag (4 holes) you may have to stitch a bit further from the edge than if you were to put a 3rd stitch in there. If your stitches aren't perfectly lined up you'll be able to see a little gap between the panels where it will turn out when filled. The bag will still play fine, i made one about a year ago where every single stitch turned out, but it's one of the best bags i own...
4- Filler: Aquarium rocks are okay for when you first start, but ideally you want something small and round. Shot is ideal, preferably lead, and not BBs. I use #9 nickle plated lead shot. this is where I get it from
https://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpic ... umber=NP09
This is a pretty large quantity, enough to make around 100 bags.
Consistency Consistency Consistency
Not too bad for your first bags, to make one come out nice and round it's all about consistency. These are just geometric shapes, so if we can get them all the same, we'll have a nice round ball.
I hope some of this helps. It looks like you've already read a tutorial or something, so you have a pretty go idea of how the bag is structured. Most stitchers claim their best bags started coming out around #40, but you can pump out something quite playable in your first 10-20 without much trouble. You're off to a better start than I was
Chase Card-Burns
I don't think gather is the problem here. Gather is only the subsequent factor that most people believe is the real problem. The real concern that you should look for is to see if your template and sewing consistency are all even.
The template: The pentagon should look like a pentagon, and the hexagon should have three long sides and three short sides, forming a sort of triangular hexagon in a way. Make sure that all sides are even. If they are not, it is only fair to assume that the resulting craftwork of your footbag won't appear even as well. Take that into mind.
Consistency of stitches: In terms of sewing, it is a necessity to keep your stitches evenly organized and straight. A consistent running stitch is necessary to learn and master. An even template will provide an even depth of where to sew against the edge of the panel. Here is a couple of pictures to study:
(Note: for the hexagons, note the first and last stitches that are near the short side of the panel. They must be even and adjacent to any other of the same type of stitches on the same panel in order to have a nice looking "bleedhole.")
Also, keep in mind that you should always make each side of the pentagon, and each side of the long side hexagon, as even as the adjacent side. The regulation of how the stitches/seams that appear on each side of the pentagon and on each side of the long side hexagon must match with each other as evenly as possible. And for the pentagons, please be careful about the corners of the panel and keep in mind that the adjacent stitches at the ends of each side should look adjacent to one another for an even look (this is so that the corners of the pentagons, once the panel is gathered, will provide a nice sharp look).
Once you have these down to a tee, gather will be nothing. Footbag sewing is very easy: you just need to be very calculated in your plan, and have patience in carrying out a perfect product. Good luck!
The template: The pentagon should look like a pentagon, and the hexagon should have three long sides and three short sides, forming a sort of triangular hexagon in a way. Make sure that all sides are even. If they are not, it is only fair to assume that the resulting craftwork of your footbag won't appear even as well. Take that into mind.
Consistency of stitches: In terms of sewing, it is a necessity to keep your stitches evenly organized and straight. A consistent running stitch is necessary to learn and master. An even template will provide an even depth of where to sew against the edge of the panel. Here is a couple of pictures to study:
(Note: for the hexagons, note the first and last stitches that are near the short side of the panel. They must be even and adjacent to any other of the same type of stitches on the same panel in order to have a nice looking "bleedhole.")
Also, keep in mind that you should always make each side of the pentagon, and each side of the long side hexagon, as even as the adjacent side. The regulation of how the stitches/seams that appear on each side of the pentagon and on each side of the long side hexagon must match with each other as evenly as possible. And for the pentagons, please be careful about the corners of the panel and keep in mind that the adjacent stitches at the ends of each side should look adjacent to one another for an even look (this is so that the corners of the pentagons, once the panel is gathered, will provide a nice sharp look).
Once you have these down to a tee, gather will be nothing. Footbag sewing is very easy: you just need to be very calculated in your plan, and have patience in carrying out a perfect product. Good luck!
Waylon Lew - maker of Wasabi bags
NYFA represent.
"Footbag can be pretty frustrating when it's supposed to be fun. I was partly driven by this forum - practice, practice, practice... As that is true, I think someone can be too focused on progressing and training that they miss the fun aspect of it." - Bander87
NYFA represent.
"Footbag can be pretty frustrating when it's supposed to be fun. I was partly driven by this forum - practice, practice, practice... As that is true, I think someone can be too focused on progressing and training that they miss the fun aspect of it." - Bander87
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k.cuthbertson
- Circle Kicker
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 20 Jul 2008 08:24
- Location: Birch Run, MI
Not bad
Hey, for your first few bags they look good. A heck of a lot better than i could do thats for sure. Change the filler though everyones right, aquarium rocks aren't the best. My choice would be steel shot
Arguing online is like running in the special olympics...even if you win, you're still retarded