Beanbag Construction:
Supplies: You will need approx. 8 lbs of feed corn, a spool of thread, duck canvas or duck cloth, ruler, fabric scissors and a sewing machine.
First, cut your duck cloth into 8 rectangles that each measure 7 x 14 inches. Next, fold half of each rectangle over so you have a doubled 7 x 7 inch square. Place the side with the fold down. You are going to sew a line 1/2 inch from the edge the entire way around except for a small 2 inch section at the top (the side opposite the fold).
Begin sewing at the ‘top’ of your square, a 1/2 inch from the upper edge and approx. 2 inches from the right side. Go back and forth over your starting line to secure the hold and then continue sewing around the square clockwise. Once you have reached the ‘top’ on the opposite side, sew inwards approx. 2 inches so that a 2 inch gap remains. Now reverse your square and sew back around to your starting point by sewing on the ‘outside’ of your square, i.e. the space in-between the outside edge and your first sew line. Once you reach your starting point for this second line, reverse one more time and sew, again on the ‘outside’ of your first line, a third line that you secure at the top by going back and forth over your sew line before trimming to remove from the machine.
Once the square has been removed from the machine, turn it inside out by pulling the ‘inside’ of the square out through the small hole you left at the top. Once it has been turned, use your fingers to push out the corners to make nice, crisp corners. When this has been done for all 8 beanbags, go ahead and fill them with the feed corn. The American Cornhole Association states that bags for tournament play must weigh between 14-16 oz. To be one the safe side, we always fill ours with 15 oz. A funnel is a helpful optional tool for getting the corn into the bag.
Once the bags have been filled, ‘close’ the opening and smooth it out nicely. Using your sewing machine again, sew a line back and forth over the opening 5-6 times to really secure it, making sure to overlap the areas that had previously been sewn. Place your sew line as close to the edge as possible for the most professional looking bag. Once this step has been completed for all 8 bags, have fun tossing!
Cornhole Board Construction:
Supplies: Two 1/2″ pieces of plywood each 24 x 48 inches, sandpaper, wood glue, nails and/or screws, a 6″ hole saw, hammer, a table saw, hand saw or skill saw, etc., primer and paint supplies, plus additional plywood and/or 1/2″ 1×3 clear pine for sides (see below).
Regulation size boards vary slightly depending on the association giving the rules/dimensions. We have chosen to give the American Cornhole Association’s board making guidelines here as we have found these to be the most prevalent for tournament and backyard play. According to these guidelines, each conrhole board should be cut to 48 x 24 inches. The hole should be cut exactly 6″ in diameter and placed 9′ down from the top of the board and 12″ from each side of the board. The back should be raised approx. 12″ off of the ground and the front should be raised 2.5-4″ off of the ground. For best results, the platform should be made from sanded, 1/2″ plywood.
Some people choose to completely enclose the sides of their cornhole boxes. Others choose to make their beanbag games with foldable or collapsible legs. This design element is up to you and the options are practically limitless (see YouTube for ideas). Once you have your platform cut to size and the hole removed, simply attach the legs or sides as needed per your design. Lastly, prime and paint your corn hole boards with a semi-gloss latex paint. Any color is fine. Some builders prefer to paint their sets a solid color, while others choose to paint designs, or add decals. Once the paint has dried, enjoy your game!
When you’ve finished you own cornhole boards and bags don’t forget to trick them out with these great accessories…
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