How to Play Jacks {and a DIY Drawstring Storage Bag for Jacks}

This jacks game post contains affiliate links.

Do your kids play old school, traditional games?  Mine rarely do and I kind of hate that they have no idea how to play some of these games that I grew up playing.  I love games that take kids back to the basics and I decided to teach my kids how to play jacks … and I even made a cute and colorful DIY drawstring storage bag so the dollar store jacks and balls don’t get lost!

Do you know how to play jacks?

My kids had never even seen jacks, let alone played it.  We bought a bright-colored jack set at the dollar store and I taught the kids how to play.

How to Play Jacks

The game of jacks is simple but definitely takes some practice.  

Throw the ball up, and with it bouncing only once, pick up one jack in the same hand that you threw the ball with.  {We modified that for the little ones and let them use both hands and that was still a bit tricky.}  If you’re successful, bounce the ball again and pick up two jacks.  Continue on, adding a jack each time.  When you miss, the play moves to another player.  When you get your turn again, you start where you left off.

My kids had a great time playing this new game!

And when they finished, they packed the jacks up in their cute little drawstring storage bag.

DIY Drawstring Storage Bag for Jacks

To make a DIY drawstring storage bag, you’ll need a piece of fabric for the main part of the bag {6×8 inches, cut on the fold} and a piece of coordinating fabric for the front patch {3×4 inches}.  This is a great way to use up old fabric scraps from the stash.  You’ll also need heat and bond, a piece of ribbon for the drawstring, and a piece of wide bias tape for the casing.  

I also used heat transfer jacks {cut with my cutting machine} but you could use fabric paint to freehand the jacks or use a freezer paper stencil to paint them on.

Apply heat and bond to the back of the patch and fuse it to the outside front of the bag then stitch around the edges.  {I left a bit of a border between the bonding agent and the fabric edge because I like a little natural fraying.}

With the fold at the bottom of the bag and right sides together, stitch or serge the sides of the bag.

Finish the top raw edge {I serged mine}, fold it down about half an inch, and stitch in place.

Folding raw edges under and leaving a small gap along the side seam, pin the bias tape into place just below the upper edge.  Stitch the top and bottom of the bias tape, leaving the side edges open.

Insert the ribbon through the casing and tie a knot.

Apply the jacks heat transfer design to the front of the bag and you’re done!  

You have a cute carrying case that doubles as storage for your jack set.

Do your kids enjoy traditional games?  What’s a family favorite?

For another traditional game for kids, be sure to check out this tutorial for kick the can and a DIY can to play with!