Making Packets

There are as many ways to make LARP packets are there are players that throw them.  Here are some of our favorites.

Quick Packet Builder Guide:

I usually try to get as much bulk stuff as I can together at first when making packets, and just crank them out over a few days, that way, when finished, have a good number that should last at least a good weekend or maybe two (depending on recovery).

Basics:

1.   Bulk cloth (JoAnns is usually my go-to, especially when they are running specials. Get as much as you feel comfortable spending)

2.   Mini-rubber bands (I’ve had the best luck in beauty supply stores, even makeup section of Target, those mini hair bands, comes in colors or even clear)

3.   Millet seed (Best location for me on this so far has been Winn-Co, in their bulk section. Seed/Feed stores may have luck as well)

4.   Ruler/tape measure

5.   Marker

6.   Scissors that aren’t dedicated to something else already

Process:

1.   I take the cloth, spread it out, and mark off/measure 6” by 6” squares (whatever way it works for your cloth area, so you get the most squares for your buck). Also put some newspaper down over the table I’m using during packet creation.

2.   Cut and separate (I usually stack and alternate corners, so I can get them one for one later on when packet making) the cloth squares

3.   Using a measuring cup (have one dedicated for the seed), I fill the center of a square with ¼ – 1/3 cup of millet, keeping it centered up as best I can.

4.   Quickly take the corners of the cloth square, and bunch everything together, the corners now making a kind of tail in the center of the cloth. The seeds should form up into a small ball on the bottom of your packet now.

5.   Twist the tail around a few times, try to get it tight as possible.

6.   Then take a band and wrap it multiple times around the tail of you packet and as close to the “ball” of seeds as possible, making sure it is tight when you are done. Otherwise, you run the risk of millet leakage during transport, or when you attempt to throw the packet.

7.   Find container for finished packet and place it in there.

8.   Repeat steps above until tired of making packets, you run out of material, it’s time to go to the LARP, etc.                                     

Packets, made fast and cheap:  

Stuff I use:

I like to sew, so I have a rotary cutter, straight edge, with a large cutting mat to speed things along. 

I also held onto 3 of those cardboard drink holders that fast food places give you in the drive through and a clean empty pizza box. 

I hit up the local Walmart and grabbed some of the precut fabric by the yard.  100% Cotton broadcloth works fine (and it’s bio-degradable and is cheap), but knit remnants made of natural fibers can also be good for this.  My fabric was $6 for 4 yards from the remnant bin, but it turned out to be about twice as wide as normal. I was able to get 20 dozen packets from the four yard instead of the expected 12 dozen. 

Then I went over to the hair care area and grab a 100 pack of the tiny rubber bands made for little kids. I didn’t have any left from last time, but these were less than a dollar for the store brand.

Then I pop into my local feed store and a few pounds of Millet.  (It’s basically the round part of bird seed.)  This is the best filler because it’s cheap, has no sharp seeds, and is easy to get in bulk. Plus it won’t hurt the wildlife if they eat it from a popped packet.  (Sunflower seeds or corn are a no go for packets as they tend to be sharp when they hit you. Ouch!)  

I bought 5 pounds for about 7$ and made 8 dozen packets then went back for 10 more pounds of Millet from my local feed store for less than 9 dollars.  I have maybe a pound or so left.  The more you buy, the less it costs per pound I guess, or maybe the guy liked me better the second time. Who knows?

With my supplies in a pile, I set out to work building the packets!

 

Cutting squares:

I find it helpful to do things in batches, so I try to do all of the cutting in one session. 

I first determine how wide my fabric is.  Most are somewhere between 36″ and 44″ wide.  This is usually on the packaging, but if not, I just measure from selvage (aka the factory finished edge, not the cut edge) to selvage.  

I’ll use my rotary cutter to make 6″ wide strips of my yard long fabric, cutting from selvage to selvage across the fabric.  I cheated a bit and used a clamp to hold one end of my straight edge down so I could work faster by myself instead of needing someone to help me hold the yard stick for each cut.

With that done, I’ll figure out if I’ll get 6 or 7 across the width and cut the strips into squares accordingly, making the most squares I can with my fabric, again with the rotary cutter and clamped down straight edge. (I got 12 per strip with my 72″ wide bargain fabric remnant. Wow!) 

It’s fine to include the selvages for packets becuase we’re not making a dress where it matters if theys show in the final product.

That’s the tedious part done!   This part took about an hour, partly becuase my fabric was wide enough to be a bit unwieldy.  

packet making tools

Stuffing the packets:

Now I can veg in front of my favorite show and finish up!

I put my drink holders in an empty, clean pizza box to help contain any spills and get to work. 

I put a fabric square on each “cup hole”, right side down and more or less centered, making a little nest for the millet to go into. I find this helps keep the seeds on the packet and lets me avoid sweeping up seeds, or at least reduces the amount that rolls onto the floor.  (If the weather is nice, I have done this outside to skip the sweeping at the end, all together.)  

I aim for about a golf ball size scoop of millet into each fabric square, between 2-3 tablespoons full, so they will have enough heft to throw well, but won’t be so packed that they don’t give on impact.  I used a scrap of thin cereal box cardboard to make a scoop that when not quite full to the top (to avoid spilling) gives me just the right amount, so I could mindlessly scoop without making a mess or measuring too precisely.  When they all look about right, I moved to the next step.  

I pick up one square of millet-filled fabric by it’s corners, pulling the fabric snug, but not too tight, around the grain pile at the bottom, and tie it shut with a rubber band.  Picking up the corners carefully and lifting the sides into the knot area really makes all the difference in the world in avoiding a big ole mess of millet everywhere. Take your time until you get the hang of it.  

Repeat with the remaining cup holders of fabric in this batch, until they are all tied. 

Chuck the new packets into a grocery sack and then put a new cloth square in each cup holder and repeat in batches. Keep going until you run out of squares, millet, or rubber bands, which ever comes first. A yard of fabric makes enough to donate to monster camp for SP or for one or two good fights (usually around 3-4 dozen per yard of fabric).

Easy Peasy!  I spent a total of about 4 hours stuffing packets and made 20 dozen.  That works out to about 5 dozen an hour.

 

A finished packet kind of looks like a tiny comet, which amuses me.

On a side note, as part of cleanup, picking up packets is good but if the packet got wet, it cannot go back into the bucket or it will make them all start sprouting and get all NASTY.  Do not attempt to keep wet packets.  Trust me on this!