starting sewing

[crazydwarf]

Alright I just sewed my first usable bag, and by that I mean it's better then a rock. I've been doing a 12 pannel but there are a couple things I can't seem to understand...
1. Are you supposed to sew the whole thing with one thread because I can't see how that would work.

2. Should I be sewing a 12 pannel or should I try something.

3. After having sewed as much as I can inside out I have to turn the bag right side out, add the filler, and finish up the last stitches on the outside of the bag. My question is how in the world do I get the last couple stitches on the inside. Or should I just glue it...

Thanks for all your help, I would try to look it up but unfortunatly for me all the old posts have just been deleted...

[Krafty]

I'm wondering the same thing myself Dustin. After getting so much into footbag, I really want to make my own bag. There are 2 or 3 FAQs in the sewing section of the forum at footbag.org in case you're interested in looking at them. They seemed pretty good but I didn't get a chance to go through them from beginning to end yet! Hope it helps!

[Guest]

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 suggest 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

I hope my tutorial helps a bit. I don't think that the part about how to close your bag is too well known. Have fun.