What You're Making and What You'll Need
A hacky sack is a small, soft ball about the size of a walnut that you kick, catch, and pass with your feet and hands. You'll make one by sewing fabric scraps into a pouch, filling it with dried beans or rice, and closing the seam. The whole project takes two to three hours, including drying time if you wash your fabric first.
Gather these materials before you start: two pieces of cotton fabric (each about 5 inches by 5 inches), a needle, thread that matches your fabric or contrasts with it, scissors, dried beans or uncooked rice (about half a cup), a small spoon or funnel, and a ruler or measuring tape. If you don't have fabric scraps at home, old cotton t-shirts, pillowcases, or dish towels work perfectly. Avoid stretchy fabrics like spandex or jersey knit—they're harder to sew neatly and won't hold their shape as well.
Key Takeaways
- Cut two identical fabric squares, each 5 inches by 5 inches, and stack them with the pretty sides facing each other.
- Sew three sides closed with a running stitch, leaving one side open for filling.
- Turn the pouch right-side out through the opening, then fill it with dried beans or rice until it feels like a small, firm ball.
- Fold the raw edges of the opening inward and sew it shut with a ladder stitch, which closes the gap invisibly from the outside.
- Test your hacky sack by tossing it gently—it should feel balanced and not leak beans.
Cutting and Stacking Your Fabric
Lay one piece of fabric flat on a clean table or cutting mat. Use your ruler to mark a 5-inch square, then cut along the lines with sharp scissors. Cut a second square the same size from your second piece of fabric. If your fabric has a pattern or a side that looks nicer than the other, note which side is which—you'll want the pretty sides to face inward while you sew.
Stack the two squares on top of each other with the pretty sides facing each other and the rougher sides facing out. This is called "right sides together." Pin the corners together if you have pins, or just hold them steady with one hand while you thread your needle. Pinning keeps the layers from shifting while you sew, but it's not required for a small project like this.
Sewing Three Sides Closed
Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Start at one corner of your stacked squares. Push the needle through both layers from the back, pulling the thread until the knot stops it. You're now ready to sew a running stitch—the simplest stitch and the one you'll use for the whole project.
A running stitch is just pushing the needle straight down through both layers, then back up a quarter-inch away, over and over. Keep your stitches small and even—about a quarter-inch apart. Sew along one edge of the square, stopping a quarter-inch before the corner. At the corner, push the needle down, come back up at a right angle, and continue along the next side. Sew all the way around three sides of the square, stopping when you reach the starting corner. Leave the fourth side completely open—this is where you'll fill the sack and close it later.
When you reach the end of the third side, push the needle to the back of the fabric and tie a knot close to the fabric. Trim the thread. You now have a fabric pouch with three closed sides and one open side.
Turning the Pouch Right-Side Out
Reach into the open side of the pouch with your fingers and grab the fabric from the inside. Gently pull the whole pouch through the opening, turning it inside out as you go. This takes a little patience—go slowly so you don't tear the seams. Once the pouch is turned, the pretty sides of your fabric are now on the outside and the rough sides are hidden inside.
Use your fingers to push the corners out so they're sharp and square, not rounded. This makes the finished hacky sack look neater. If any thread is sticking out, trim it with scissors.
Filling Your Hacky Sack
Place the open pouch on a table with the opening facing up. Use a small spoon to scoop dried beans or uncooked rice into the pouch. Fill it until it feels like a small, firm ball about the size of a walnut—roughly half a cup of beans. Don't overfill it; the sack should be soft enough to squeeze slightly but firm enough to hold its shape when you toss it.
If you're using a funnel, place it in the opening and pour the beans through. A funnel makes less mess, but a spoon works just as well. Once the sack is filled to the right firmness, set it aside on the table. You're ready to close the opening.
Closing the Opening with a Ladder Stitch
The ladder stitch closes an opening so neatly that the seam is almost invisible from the outside. Thread your needle again and tie a knot at the end. Fold the raw edges of the opening inward about a quarter-inch, creasing them with your fingers so they stay folded. This hides the rough edges inside the sack.
Push your needle through the folded edge of one side of the opening, coming out about a quarter-inch away. Now push the needle straight across into the folded edge on the opposite side of the opening, going in at the same height where you came out. Come back out a quarter-inch away on that side. Go back across to the first side and repeat. You're stitching back and forth across the opening, staying inside the folded edges. After every three or four stitches, gently pull the thread—the opening will close up like a zipper. Keep stitching and pulling until the opening is completely closed.
When you reach the end, push the needle to the inside of the sack and tie a knot. Trim the thread. Your hacky sack is now complete.
Testing and Adjusting Your Hacky Sack
Hold your finished hacky sack in your hand and squeeze it gently. It should feel firm but slightly squishy, not rock-hard. Toss it a few feet in the air and catch it. It should land softly and not make a loud thud. If it feels too heavy or too light, you can carefully open one seam with a seam ripper or small scissors, add or remove beans, and sew it shut again using the ladder stitch.
Check that no beans are leaking from the seams. If you see a small hole, thread your needle and sew over that spot a few times to seal it. Your hacky sack is ready to use once it feels balanced and doesn't leak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different filling instead of beans?
Yes. Uncooked rice, lentils, split peas, or even sand work well. Avoid anything too heavy like ball bearings or too light like popcorn kernels. The filling should be small enough to pack tightly and heavy enough to give the sack weight without making it too hard to catch.
What if my stitches are uneven or messy?
Uneven stitches don't affect how the hacky sack works—they're just visible. If a stitch is so loose that beans are leaking, go back and sew over that spot again. Otherwise, messy stitches are part of the charm of a handmade sack.
How long does a homemade hacky sack last?
With normal use, a hacky sack lasts several months to a year before the fabric wears thin or a seam splits. Once it starts leaking, you can patch it by sewing a small piece of fabric over the hole, or you can make a new one—you now know how.
Can I wash my hacky sack?
Hand-wash it in cool water with mild soap if it gets dirty, then air-dry it completely before using it again. Don't put it in the washing machine or dryer—the agitation can damage the seams and the heat can warp the beans.
What if I don't have a needle and thread?
You need at least a needle and thread to make this project. A basic sewing kit costs a few dollars at any drugstore. If you have a sewing machine, you can use it instead of hand-sewing—just follow the same steps and let the machine do the stitching.