Sixty Drivers 1/6th

Sandbag How To

Here's a simple project for anyone that wants some nice scale factory made sandbags. Although soldiers have been known to use anything from laundry bags to duffle bags as improvised sandbags, these are the type that would be supplied by the pallet. As shipped they are flat and have a string stitched into place, just add dirt and pile em up. These are the burlap type. Finding miniature burlap was no easy task and like many things, I found it when I was searching for something else. It's nothing more than heavy weight muslin available at every fabric store under the sun. This how to will show you how I made my own pile of sandbags in a short afternoon so let's get started!

First thing you'll need is a supply of unbleached heavy weight muslin. Your also going to need some tan cotton thread, heavy upholsters thread and some type of sand ( I used shot blasting media called Black Beauty ).

First cut a strip of muslin 8 3/4 inches long and 2 3/4 inches wide. Fold 1/4 inch over on each end and sew a line very near the edge. Now fold this over and sew the sides together. Just look at the big ugly dashed lines in the pic to see where the seem runs. Now cut off a bit of the excess fabric on the side seem near the opening of the bag.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Finished bag

Now turn the bag right side out. At this point you could take the cowards route out and call it good enough Or, you could add the seem around the 3 sides which will pinch off the perimeter of the bag in a protypical fashion however either is correct so the choice is yours. I went for the gold and added the seem however some folks have never seen a real sandbag and don't realize this is how they're actually made. I added a tie string to the bag by passing a lenght of upholsters thread through one side of the bag about 3/4 to 1 inch below the top or opening of the bag. I dyed my bags with a mixture of Tan and Golden Yellow Rit dye. It's not rocket science so don't get worked up about the "perfect" tint because there isn't one! Burlap is a crude textile and the color varies from batch to batch, variety is the spice of life and your probably gonna wanna dirty them up a bit anyway.

Here's a big old pile of sandbags dyed up and ready to fill. I made these in a few hours one Saturday so they are quick and easy indeed. Also notice the bag standing up has the tie string installed. That's about all there is to it!! Now get cracking, your gonna need to make hundreds of these things!