Step by step instructions to make a retro Tetris tote bag. Mine is made from scraps of felt, an old pair of school trousers and 2 tea towels.
Sewing challenged? You could just decorate a ready made bag.
Tetris Tote bag Tutorial
Inspired From:
You Will Need...
- Black fabric (I used an old pair of school trousers)
- Bright lining fabric (I used 2 tea towels)
- Scraps of felt
- Thread
- Card to make tetris shape templates
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Make templates from card, 4x4cm squares, in Tetris tile shapes.The ones like the L shape you only need to do once, as you can just flip the template to cut the ones that are the opposite way round.
Then cut them out in felt, a couple of each, the photo shows the shapes and colours you need.
Step 2
Cut out the bag fabric lining and handles.
2 x 41 x 44cm outer “trouser” fabric
2 x 41 x 44cm tea towel lining fabric
4 x outer fabric handle pieces 7 x 41cm (or cut 2 x 7 x 79cm if you have enough fabric)
4 x lining fabric handle pieces 7 x 41cm (or cut 2 x 7 x 79cm if you have enough fabric)
Step 3
Arrange the felt shapes centrally onto the one of the large outer fabric pieces. Remember if a line is all filled in it disappears (and you get points!) so you need to leave gaps on every line. Attach with a zig zag stitch or fabric glue if you prefer
Step 4
Now make the bag – Join the 2 outer pieces and the 2 lining pieces, right sides together, pinning then sewing down the side, along the bottom then back up the other side. Leave a 3 inch gap in the bottom edge of the lining fabric in the middle. This is important, you’ll need this gap later.
Step 5
Next make the handles – Join the handle pieces you cut out earlier in pairs by stitching the short edges. If you had more fabric and were able to cut longer strips you won’t need to do this. Pin 1 outer and 1 lining, right sides together, then stitch down the long edges. Turn them right side out and top stitch if you like.
Step 6
Now your handles are ready you can position them on the bag. Pin them to the outer bag, one handle on the front and one on the back, right sides together. Mine were 6cm in from the edge.
Step 7
Turn this outer bag inside out again and turn the lining bag right side out. Insert the lining bag into the outer bag so the right sides are together.
Pin then stitch the two bags together along this top edge.
Step 8
Pull the lining bag out and find that gap you left in the bottom edge. Now this is where the magic happens!
Gently pull the whole bag through that hole till it’s all right side out.
Step 9
Stitch the gap in the lining, either by hand or by top stitching on the sewing machine. Push the lining back inside the outer bag and Voilà! A beautifully lined bag – how cool is that!
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