How to Make a Surfboard Bag

Surfboards originated in the Hawaiian Islands, where they were traditionally made of wood from Wili Wili, Ula and Koa trees. Known as papa he'e nalu in the Polynesian language, the heavy boards varied in length depending on the social class of the rider -- 10 to 12 feet for commoners, 14 to 16 feet for noblemen. Modern surfboards, often made of polyurethane foam, are much smaller and lighter, though also less durable. Transporting your surfboard in a canvas bag protects it from dings.

Things You'll Need

  • 7 oz. cotton canvas, enough to cover the top surface of your board 2 1/2 times
  • Straight pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Heavy-duty cotton sewing thread
  • Shoelace
  • Wooden dowel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spread the canvas on a flat surface. Place the surfboard on the canvas.

    • 2

      Trace the front-end of the board (the end opposite the fins) with a pencil, stopping when you reach the widest part of the board. The outline should be 1 1/4-inch wider than the board itself.

    • 3

      Draw a straight line on the canvas on the left side of the board, starting at the line you drew to the widest part of the board and stopping 3 inches past the tail end of the board. The shape should resemble a bullet.

    • 4

      Cut out the shape you have drawn.

    • 5

      Place the first panel onto the remaining canvas. Using the first panel as a template, cut out a second panel, identical to the first.

    • 6

      Place the two panels on top of one another, right sides facing. Pin the edges of the panels together, leaving a 1 1/4-inch open area at the top of the seams. Do not pin the tail end.

    • 7

      Sew over the pinned area with a sewing machine, using a 1/2-inch straight stitch.

    • 8

      Mark the center of the tail end of the canvas with a pencil. Make a second mark a 1/2 inch to the left of the center mark. Make a third mark a 1/2 inch to the right of the center mark. At the second and third marks, make a 1-inch lengthwise incision, cutting from the tail end toward the front end, through the top canvas panel.

    • 9

      Take a single layer of canvas at the tail end and fold it up 1 1/2 inches, exposing the right side of the canvas. Secure the fold with a pin. Repeat until the tail end of the bag has been pinned up 1 1/2 inches, with the exception of the 1-inch section of canvas between the incisions made at the second and third marks.

    • 10

      Sew over the pinned area with a 1/2-inch straight stitch, making a canvas "tunnel" around the tail end of the bag.

    • 11

      Tape one end of the shoestring to the wooden dowel. Insert the dowel into one of the openings at the tail end of the bag. Feed the dowel and shoestring through until they emerge from the other end. Remove the dowel.

    • 12

      Turn the bag right side out. Personalize your bag with fabric paint, patches, stamps, etc.