We cover three topics:
I have made a bunch using a cube pattern:
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Other patterns are possible; most notably icosahedron (20-sided die,
for gamers or those who know gamers) which makes a pretty good sphere;
the baseball pattern (two sort of dumbbell-shaped pieces attached at
the edges), orange-peel type patterns (you could, in fact, make one
using an orange peel: try cutting an orange into 4 pieces, and use the
sections of the peel as patterns) which also make decent spheres,
etc. The ones I made, I filled with budgie seed, bought cheaply at my local supermarket. I have avoided getting them wet, not wanting to sprout little budgies... :-) I've been told that popcorn or various other dried seeds also work well, particularly with heavier cloth (like denim). The cubic beanbags that come with the Klutz book seem to be filled with little rock-like things. And someone on the net mentioned using little plastic beads, like they fill beanbag chairs with. I think that would be ideal, since you could wash them, but I have no idea where to get these beads.
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where each and every side was 5cm long. I attached this to some
material with pins and cut around the pattern leaving approximately
0.5-1cm around each edge. With a needle and cotton I sewed each of
the sides together so that the pattern was on the *inside*. When I had
all except 2cm of one side sown I then turned the bag inside out and
filled it with rice. I was then able to sow up the last side. I then sewed each of the edges from the outside a couple of times for strength.
This produces quite a large and heavy bag - so, reducing the side length to 4cm may be better for some people. They're pretty robust - my bought bags have long since split but these that I made to learn with go on and on.
Let me offer the opposing viewpoint of a masochist.Unless you have some masochistic desire that needs to be fulfilled, I strongly urge you to purchase your bags from a "professional".
If you watch TV at all, and your hands are empty, you could be making good beanbags. They will turn out with any firmness, roundness, size, weight, color, covering, filling you want. And since you need a *minimum* of 6 beanbags in your desk, 6 in your prop bag, 6 on your coffee table at home, all identical, the money you save can buy you a nice set of torches.
I'm afraid I'll have to call you on this one, Rick.If you watch TV at all, and your hands are empty...
If we assume a mid-priced Fergie bag, $3 (I don't have the newest flyer handy, but that's enough for any size cotton/poly or acrylic bag and a small or medium corduroy) that gives us 18 x $3 = $54. That would also entitle you to a 10% discount -- but it would be eaten up in postage, so we'll ignore it. The cheapest Dubé torches (the "Klassic" not the customs) are $20 each.
So you're $6 short of buying even a not so "nice" set of torches. IF your materials cost you nothing.
I'll have to side with Steve here. Unless you're really into making bags it's so much easier to buy Fergie Bags.
Anyways, there's a lot of tricks to any trade and one of the things you are paying for includes these tricks.
P.S. -- I know a number of people who only juggle /c someone else's bags, but make their own for the classes they teach...the reason?: lower overhead on materials.
OK, I'll admit I couldn't sell mine for that price. Although the materials are next to free, if I charged for my time I'd probably have to charge ~$20. I have been curious how they make them for $3. But, since I don't get paid for my TV-watching time anyway it's worth the effort for me to make them.I'm afraid I'll have to call you on this one, Rick. If we assume a mid-priced Fergie bag, $3
I'll also admit to not telling the whole truth. I actually made 24 beanbags, and they're double stitched with 1 stitch/mm for the last coat, which I think would add about $1 to the value.
So: 24 x $4 = $96. Voila, nice torches.
But then: 24 x $20 = $480. Maybe I *should* sell these things. :-)
Sarah Tuttle provides this suggestion:
I'm in Chile, and met up with a few local performers... and found a great idea for beanbag type things. Using balloons filled with rice or beans or what not... then take a second balloon, cut off the neck, and pull it over the first. One more usually makes it perfectly secure. They were comfortable, and you can recover them or remake them whenever you need. Its also convenient because balloons and filler is fairly easy to find. Anyhow, might want to try it...
Vince Darley summarized recommendations about beanbags for numbers juggling.
The recommendations were:
Juggler's Prop ShopI'm not sure where to get large squeezits. I myself used to juggle with the small squeezits for numbers, but mine are rather old and beaten in now (too loose).
1521 East 67th St.
Tulsa, OK 74136
(918) 492-7172
Fergie Bags
Michael Ferguson
2335 Niles Ave
St Joseph, Mi 49085
(616) 983-1117
Many thanks to: toby, lars, jaime, ben, rob.