DIY Disc Golf Sack

Not too long ago, my son-in-law came up to me, and told me he had an idea for an Instructable.  He and many of his friends play disc golf.  It is s sport that is growing in popularity.  Discs (Frisbees) are thrown from a starting point to the first basket and then from that disc golf basket to the next basket.  My son-in-law wanted a “Nut Sack” a bag made to hold discs as he/she plays the game.  Money is an issue at our house and the “Nut Sack” (http://www.discgolfmadness.com/nut-sac-disc-golf-bag.html) were more that he was willing to pay.  He went shopping and came home with a yard of dark blue canvas, some grey fleece.  He brought me his old guitar strap.  I have spent this last month contemplating how to create this wonder piece of sporting equipment.  Today, I “got ‘er done”.  It took longer to make the pattern than it did to make the sack, and this is how I did it.

Supplies:
½ yard (46cm) canvas
½ yard (46cm) thin fleece
Thread (to match the canvas)
Hand sewing needle
Sewing machine
Fabric scissors
2 buttons
Guitar strap
1 set magnetic clasps
Straight pins
Paper
Ruler
Tape
Pencil
Marker
A set of 6 discs (for measurement  purposes)

I taped some sheets of paper together, placed the largest disc from his collection on top of one end of the paper (leaving room for seam allowance).  I traced the disc. I then used to ruler to extend the edges of the circle for ¾ inch seam allowance.

I then measured the stack of 6 discs at 3½ inch (9cm) deep. 

I cut the top ¼ of the circle off and drew a straight line up the side, 9 inches long. I used the disc to create a rounded top.  This is the back and flap of the sack.  I traced the bottom part and add ½ inch length to the end where the straight edged top will be.  This is the front of the sack.  I measured the distance around the bottom of the bottom pattern piece and determined that the bottom of the sack needed to be 4½ inches (11-12cm) wide and 22 inches (56cm) long.  That pattern part was just a long triangle.  All three pieces created.

Next I laid the pattern pieces on the canvas, cutting out each piece,

the back/flap, .

the front

and the bottom. 

Repeat with the fleece.

Using straight pins find the center of the bottom piece and the front piece.  Ease the bottom piece around the front piece, using as many straight pins as possible.  Great! 

Sew the two pieces together making a 5/8 inch seam. 

Repeat adding the other side of the bottom to the back/ flap piece.  Again use a 5/8 inch seam. 

After I removed all the pins, I tried all six discs in the sack.  Nice fit, yeah this will work. 

Next I cut ½ the seam off,

and then zigzag the edges closed.

Repeat the process in steps  10-15 with the canvas, only this time make a 3/8 inch seam.  This half of the sack needs to be a bit bigger so that the fleece half will fit nicely into the canvas part.

Now put the two halves together, with the right sides of each piece facing each other.  You may use straight pins to attach the raw edges together.  Now is a good pint to figure out where you want the magnetic clasps to go.  Put the discs back in the bag

and use a straight pin mark where on the outside of the canvas you want them to go.

Sew all the way around the unfinished edges, with a ¼ inch seam allowance, leaving a 3-4 inch gap open.  This gap will allow you to turn the sack right side out. 

So turn the sack right side out.  Great!  Don’t close the gap yet.

Take the back off of each half of the magnetic clasp.  Use a marker to mark where you need to cut little tiny slits for the legs of the clasp to go through. 

Cut the slit and reaching through the opening in the side slip the legs through the slits place the back over the legs and bend them flat. 

This will make sure the part of the clasp will stay in place.  Repeat with the other half of the clasp and the flap piece. The backs of each part of the clasp are now inside of the sack, where they can’t be seen. Oh, that looks good.

Now you can close up the gap, use straight pins to fold in the seam allowance of the gap and sew all the way around the edge of the sack opening. 

Almost done, for my son-in-law wants to use an old guitar strap as the handle of the sack, and I need to add a button to the inside of each side of the sack.  Since the button is on the inside, it can be any color you want.  I use the tread and needle to sew in each button, leaving a little shank,

so that there is room for the leather button holes to lay flat.  Done! 

My son-in-law loves his new disc golf sack.  He tells me he will be showing it off at work tomorrow.  Enjoy!