How to Make a Hacky Sack Ball

Drive by a school campus or park and you will often find teenagers congregated in little circles kicking a small bag around. Called hacky sacks or hacky balls, these small, round bags come in a variety of colors and materials. Participants attempt to keep the hacky ball in the air as long as possible by kicking, kneeing, chest-bumping and heading the ball. Only the hands and arms cannot be used while playing hacky. Creating your own hacky ball gives you pride in playing with something you have made. It can also provide additional income.

Things You'll Need

• Leather scraps
• Scissors
• Thread
• Needle
• Plastic pellets or rice

Instructions

1. Thread a one- to 1-1/2 inch needle with a three-foot length of thread. Double the thread and tie both ends into a triple knot at the bottom.

2. Cut four triangular-shaped leather pieces about 2-3/4 inches in length and height. You can get leather pieces from fabric or leather shops. Deerskin or pigskin works well for hacky sack balls.

3. Lay two of the leather pieces one on top of each other, and begin sewing one seam with an in-and-out stitch pattern. Some call this a "running" stitch. You will be sewing your leather pieces inside-out.

4. Add tension at the corner of your seam and add a third piece of leather with all three corners touching. Sew down the next seam.

5. Sew to the next corner and add the fourth leather piece. Continue sewing along the seams until you come to the sixth seam. Sew halfway along this seam, then flip the bag right side out.

6. Bring the needle outside the ball. From the opposite side of the seam enter and exit in a small bite, keeping the needle outside the ball. Cross over to the other side of the seam and repeat the bite-size stitch. Do this back and forth until you have a finger-width opening left in the ball.

7. Fill the bag with plastic pellets or rice. Some people like hacky balls tightly packed, while others prefer a looser bag for kicking. Choose how tightly packed you want your bag to be before you finish stitching.

8. Finish closing the hole in the now-filled hacky sack ball. Tie a strong knot on the final stitch and cut the thread. Tuck the knot into the seam directly under the last stitch.

Tips & Warnings

• Make hacky sack balls with more panels, such as eight, 12 or even 32 leather pieces once you have mastered sewing four-panel balls.

References

• Valinet: Sew Your Own Footbags
• Mother Earth News: Do It Yourself: Make Your Own Footbag