How to Make the Fairy Slingshot + Deku Seed Bag/Bullet Bag From the Legend of Zelda

Here's an fun project that's much easier to make than you might think! With minimal materials and a little time, you can craft your very own fairy slingshot and deku seed bag (perfect for dealing with all your bokoblin-related troubles).

Steps 1-13 of this tutorial show how to make the Deku Seed Bag, while Steps 14-21 walk you through the Fairy Slingshot.

For the Deku Seed Bag~

-In addition to your basic sewing notions (i.e. thread, scissors, pins, etc.), you'll need the following:

1. A yard or two of material in a shade of brown
2. Something erasable to mark on your fabric with (chalk works great)
3. Yarn, cord, string, or twine to make the ties of the bag
4. Embroidery floss to finish the holes for the ties
5. Two large yellow beads (these are not required, you could just tie knots instead, but the beads certainly do bring it together well)
6. Embroidery floss for embroidering the hylian glyphs or a permanent marker if you're short on time like I was.

For the Fairy Slingshot~

-This project can theoretically be done without power tools, but note that it will take quite a bit more time

1. One symmetrical "Y"-shaped tree limb, the size is up to you, I recommend aiming for one slightly larger than you want the finished project to be. Make sure you get one that's not rotten or brittle!
2. A surgical tube slingshot band (like this one, for example)
3. A saw (a hand saw is fine, or you can use an electric one, if you prefer)
4. Two steel bbs
5. A belt grinder and/or some rasps, files, and sandpaper
6. Tan twine or paracord to wrap the handle with
7. Glue
8. A small amount of red cloth
9. Red thread
10. Wood stain
11. Oil, for finishing the wood

Lay your material out, folded in such a manner as to create four layers, as pictured (nevermind the sketch on the right for a moment).

You may choose to make your bag smaller or larger than the measurements shown here, as it is not very difficult to customize. Essentially, you're just trying to get the basic, uniform shape of a sack.

If you'd like, just follow my pattern. Make sure the top/lip of your bag is at the selvage/raw edge of your fabric! 11 inches away from the top of the bag at the edge of the fabric, I took a bowl with a 9 inch diameter and used that to shape the bottom for a nice round base. As pictured, the base is about 8 1/4 inches long, while the lip of the sack is around 6 3/4 inches across. Draw yourself some lines from the top to the bottom, keeping it in a bag-like shape (though it doesn't have to be perfect).

Remember, it's always easier to make something smaller than it is to make it bigger- when in doubt err on the larger side when cutting.

So now you've got your four pieces of fabric cut out. You need to split them into two sets of two- one set is the inside of your bag and the other set is the outside.

On the OUTSIDE set, with your pieces laid flat together, mark lines as pictured, one at 1 inch down from the top, and another at 1 1/2 inches down from the top. Do this on both sides. This is to remind you not to sew there- it's a gap. You can put pins there too, if you like.

Sew around the outline, leaving the gap as illustrated.

Repeat this on your INSIDE set too, but without leaving any gap.

Turn the outside of the bag inside-in.

With right sides together, put the outside of the bag into the inside. Make sure to line up your seams! Pin it in place with a couple of pins.

Now sew around the mouth of the bag, but leave a small gap, as pictured.

Pull the bag all the way through to turn everything right side out.

Fold the edges of the gap down and in to match the rest of the seam. Sew around the mouth of the bag again, keeping very close to the edge.

Find the small gaps you left on the outside of your bag. Sew two more lines around, the same width as your gaps, one above and one below.

If you want to see a little more of your ties for decorative sake, you can add four more holes (two on each side, at 1/3 and 2/3 of the way across, which is at 2 inches and 4 inches on my bag of 6 inches total across), as pictured.

Do not cut through both layers! Only the top/outside layer.

Go ahead and just finish the tie openings for a clean look, and to keep your fabric from fraying away. The process for this is the same as finishing a button hole by hand. I used embroidery floss which worked well, and is much quicker than sewing thread.

If you opted to add the four extra holes, you'll have six total to finish, while if you chose to skip Step 10, you'll just have the two.

If you're not sure how to finish a button hole you can take a look at this video here https://youtu.be/gMVE4ZUvsro?si=-tp43HuO7tut-4tk (disclaimer: I am not affiliated with that channel, I just found that video to be a very quick and user-friendly tutorial)

Decide what length you want the ties to be. You need two pieces of cord (or whatever you choose to use). Again, be generous at first- you can always cut a bit off, but you can't easily tack more back on.

Now thread the cord through as illustrated. If you've got a crochet hook, you'll find they make this part much easier. If you don't, no worries, just work with it until you manage to thread it all the way through.

Almost done!

Just add your beads on the end of your ties, and mark or embroider the Hylian glyphs on the front.

Congratulations! You've completed your Deku Seed bag.

Let's move right on to the fairy slingshot!

You'll notice that the limb I've chosen is way too big. I start by trimming off the enormous excess from the bottom part. If this is also the case for you, then go ahead and do that now.

Next, I need to do the same thing on the top, but it's a little trickier since I have to keep both "arms" of the slingshot even.

Get yourself a ruler or similar straight edge to use as a guide for where to make the cuts. Make sure both sides are even.

Since every limb is different, one size isn't going to fit all, but you need the arms to be an estimated 4 inches at least- for this slingshot the arms are around 5 inches.

Check your work after big cuts to make sure it's even, and cut a bit more if you need to. Just remember, you can always take a little off, but you can't tack it back on, so be careful.

Your hunk of wood should really start to take shape by now, but there's still a little way to go.

Here's where you can decide to use rasps and files to scrape the skin off, or a belt grinder. It's up to you, though one is obviously faster (and more dangerous- be careful).

If there are any ugly knots on your slingshot, now is the time to grind them away. Hold the handle to test the feel- if it needs shaping do so now.

This step is super straightforward- just go ahead and apply a nice, even layer of whatever stain you've chosen.

Let it dry for a few moments, it shouldn't take long

Make sure your wood is quite dry before you begin. Some of you will prefer buying proper wood oil, but, as I can attest, plain ol' cooking oil will suffice too.

You need to apply a coat of oil, and work it into the wood thoroughly. Allow it to soak in for a bit, then wipe away the excess oil and make sure your slingshot is clean. You may now either move on to the next step or add a couple more coats as you see fit.

If you like, you can burnish the wood for a smooth and shiny surface.

Take a hard smooth object (the stem of a hammer was used here), and apply firm pressure as you rub it against the wood in the direction of the grain. It will take time to complete the whole thing, and it's only necessary if you'd like to go an extra step for the cosmetic factor.

Start this step by drilling holes in both arms just barely big enough to squeeze the band through. The holes must NOT be big enough for your steel bbs to fit through.

Thread a bit of string or twine throught the hole in your arm; loop this around the band and back through the hole as pictured.

Pull the strap of the band through the hole.

Secure it by inserting one of your steel bbs into the surgical tube. Make sure it's all the way in to create a strong anchor.

Repeat this with the other arm (make sure you don't twist your band in the process).

Your slingshot looks pretty good! But let's make it look great.

Wrap the handle with your cord of choice- secure the end of your cord around the handle with a knot and some glue. Wind it around tight and even for a clean look, applying a little glue as you go to ensure security.

Finish off by glueing the end of the cord firmly to the handle.

Now cut out some circles to fit neatly over the tips of the arms, not too big, not too small.

Apply just a little glue to help keep the beginning of your thread in place. Attach your red thread with a simple knot, and start winding as illustrated. Make sure your fabric is fixed smoothly over the tips, I found it easier to start below the fabric and wind up over it.

End with a tiny knot, and a bit of glue if needed.

It's dangerous to go alone! Take your brand new Fairy Slingshot and Deku Seed Bag!

Bonus points if you paint yourself some smooth, round rocks to stock your bullet bag.