Build The Game at Home |

Click Through the Tabs Below to Build the Game at Home!

Overview

Navigate through the tabs above to learn how to order and sew the Climatopia™ drawstring backpack, game board, and parts bag at home and become part of the Climatopia™ mission of creating a more resilient future.

At-Home Items Needed to Build Climatopia™

To successfully build and play Climatopia™ at home, you will need all of the items listed below:

A standard die
A red disaster die
A printer and paper (to print the character, resource, and quiz cards)
Game board pieces

Board Game with a path consisting of orange, green and light blue tiles against a darker blue background. Each tile has either a black question mark icon, a treasure chest icon, a disaster icon or is blank. There is a legend where each of the three colors of the tiles, orange, green and light blue are corresponded with their respective

The Final Climatopia™ Board Game.

Materials Needed for the Sewing Process:

1 yard of Climatopia™ fabric (ordering details will be on the first tab)
Sewing machine
Spool of invisible thread
Scissors (preferably fabric scissors)
1 hand-sewing needle
Ruler
Iron or hair straightener
Pencil
14 ft cotton macrame cord
- Two 20-inch strands
- Two 70-inch strands

Sewing machine on a circular table with white fabric placed under it.

Sewing machine in the process of sewing together game board.

Carolina blue Climatpia game board, and game bags laying on wooden floor

Finished game board with a drawstring game and parts bag.

Ordering Fabric

Climatopia™ makers have utilized Spoonflower to order the fabric for the game board and bags for the last 3 years. They have been reliable and provide quality fabric for the game.

Ordering Fabric Instructions

1. Go to the Spoonflower website found at this web address:https://www.spoonflower.com/

2. Take a look at the “Programs and Discounts” tab for any discounts for which you may apply.

3. In the search box back on the home page, type in “Climatopia” to find our fabric.

4. Choose your fabric dimensions based on the fabric of choice

- Lightweight Cotton Twill – 36 x 58 inches
  - Original material. Flexible; ideal for structured apparel and bags
- Recycled Canvas – 36 x 54 inches
  - Woven canvas with repreve recycled polyester suitable for seasonal outdoor use

5. You should now see a menu on the far right side of the page.

Spoonflower ordering instruction showing fabric type, size, and quantity. There is an option to add to card once size and fabric is completed

6. On the tab on the far right, under “Fabric Choice”, choose the correct fabric based on your dimension choices above.

7. Under “Size”, choose “Yards (36 x __)” instead of the other options in the drop-down menu.

8. Change the quantity to however many sets you want to sew.

9. You should now see a snapshot of the fabric that reveals the entire set.

The complete yard of Climatopia fabric that is sent to spoonflower to order. It includes the Climatopia game board, resource links, front and back of game piece bag, and front and back of drawstring bag.

10. Once everything is correct, click “Add to Cart”.

11. Scroll up to the top right corner of the webpage, and click on the cart icon.

12. Once in the cart, click “Check out”

13. Fill out shipping and payment details.

14. After reviewing the order, order the fabric and you are set!

Stitching Together a More Resilient Future: A Step-by-Step Guide to Construct Climatopia

For access to a printable version of the sewing guide, click HERE!

The sewing instructions have been split into 3 different sections: game board sewing, drawstring backpack sewing, and game parts bag sewing. These go from easiest to hardest to ensure that you are confident sewing throughout!

Before starting each individual construction process, cut along the dotted line to separate the game board with the bags.

Game Board Sewing Instructions

RECOMMENDED: Leave yourself about an inch of black margin but ensure that there is no less than half an inch of black margin – you will be aiming to sew the seam on the border where the black margin meets the blue board.

1. Fold the board so both sides of the printed fabric face one another in the inside and the unprinted side faces outward toward you.

The Climatopia game fabric laying up with the resource links folding back to reveal more of the Climatopia game board.

2. Pin the board around the edges so that the pin lies horizontally on the border between the blue and black. This will ensure the seam will stay straight and aligned while sewing. Starting at the corners will make sure the fabric does not slide in this process.

The Climatopia game board inside out with yellow topped pins along the black border of the bag to ensure the bag stays together before sewing. — In this image, notice the pins lying directly on the border of the black margin and the blue of the game board.

3. After pinning, place the sewing machine needle at the edge of the game board on the side with the fold. Follow the border where the black margin meets the blue and sew down to the corner of the opposite side, sliding the fabric slowly and removing the pins while advancing down the seam.

Sewing machine sewing along the black border of the inside out Climatopia game bag with the yellow pin still holding the board and resource links together inside out.

4. Once you get to a corner, lift the presser foot of the sewing machine, and rotate the fabric 90 degrees so that the next margin line on the board is met. Sew ¾ of the way down the board, leaving a gap that would fit the circumference of your arm. This gap will ensure that the fabric will be easy to fold right-side in when the side seams are finished. You can finish the seam line by reversing the stitch line to reduce the chance that the stitching/seam will come apart.

Sewing machine sewing down the black border of the inside out Climatopia game board with the yellow pins holding the game board together.

At the corner of the board, the fabric is rotated 90 degrees so that the needle direction aligns with the next unsewn margin.

Inside out resource links that are located on the backside of the Climatopia game board. It has pins on the top border of the bag to hold it together before sewing.

The seam stops 3/4 from the end of the board to ensure there is enough room to put your arm in to fold right-side-in when finished.

5. Repeat Step #3 and place the needle at the top of the folded side. Only stitch down to the unsewn corner, again using the backstitch/reverse stitch option to ensure the board will stay tightly stitched.

6. Cut off the excess margin so that there are at least 3/8ths of an inch left for seam allowance. Cutting off the extra fabric will allow the board to lay completely flat without any interior bumps with extra fabric.

Cutting the edges off of the Climatopia fabric with pair of red scissors

7. Once the corners are smoothed use an iron (or a hair straightener on the lowest setting) and go along the edges of the newly sewn seam edges so that the board will lay totally flat.

Hand inside of an inside-out sewn game board with the resource links on the bag.

Game board flipped from inside out to facing outward to reveal the game board.

8. Take your arm and insert it into the inside-out-bag you have just sewn. Grab both corners of the bag from the inside, and pull through the armhole to turn the board right-side-in. Once it is no longer inside out, you can use your fingers to straighten out the corners and sides of the board.

9. To close the armhole, use a ladder stitch with a hand-sewing needle and thread and finish up the game board. The seam line for the ladder stitch should follow the border of the black margin and blue board.

Side view of stitching to show the invisible thread across the Climatopia game board and resource links.

Extra ladder stitching instructions can be found linked here.

10. Make sure the ladder stitch is secured with a knot before cutting off the excess thread.

11. Lastly, iron the entire board so that it is easily foldable and the edges remain crisp.

Congratulations, you have finished the first essential piece in the set!

Drawstring Backpack Sewing

The drawstring backpack is super important and useful because it includes the game rules. On top of this, it can hold the game piece bag or anything you would like to carry around.

Drawstring Backpack Sewing Instructions

1. Separate the backpack bag from the parts bag, cut exactly halfway in between the black section so that there is equal black margin on the bottom of the top back piece and the side of the parts bag face with the character cards.

Climatopia fabric with the game piece bag and game rules separated by a red dotted line

The dotted red line indicates where the two bags should be separated.

A clear ruler on a straight line seperating the game rules and game piece bag

A sturdy, straight-edged ruler is used to ensure straight edges when cutting.

2. When cutting out the drawstring backpack bag, leave yourself about an inch of black margin, making sure there is no less than half an inch of black margin. You will sew the seam on the line where the black margin meets the blue of the bag. For the top of the drawstring bag, cut off any extra black margin, only leave the black margin on the sides of the bag.

Front and back of drawstring bag Climatopia fabric laying face up on wooden floor

3. Fold the bag fabric in half and crease the bottom of the bag so that each side will be equal in length. Mark the creasing point with a pencil if the fabric does not stay.

Front of climatopia drawstring bag that shows the Climatopia logo and all of the classes that worked on the game face up on a wooden floor

4. Turn the fabric so that the printed side is facing downward. Measure 2 inches down from the top of the bag and mark it with a pencil on the right and the left side. Then use the pencil to connect the two opposite points. This will be where the drawstrings are held.

A clear ruler laid on the back of the drawstring bag.

A pencil line marks 2 inches from the top of the bag.

Climatopia drawstring bag folded over with the with the interior of bag facing up

The two marks are connected.

5. Use scissors to cut horizontally to the 2-inch marking on the edge of the blue and black border. This step ensures that the fabric does not fray with use, thus increasing its durability.

Scissors making a cut on the top of the left side of an inside out drawstring bag

6. Leave ¼ inch to ½ inch of the black margin by cutting vertically on the two upper flaps that were just made by making a snip to the edges.

7. Pin the black margins toward the center of the bag, creasing where the blue of the bag meets the black margin.

Yellow pins holding together the inside out drawstring bag in inch from the left and right sides

Both flaps are pinned towards the center on the interior of the bag.

Hand holding the corner of an inside out Climatopia drawstring bag with a pin in it

The fabric is creased on the border.

8. Stitch down to the end (this should only take a few seconds on the machine since it is such a small seam). This will prevent any fraying on the exterior of the bag when the drawstrings are installed and during use. Repeat this step for the three other pinned edges.

Clear ruler lying under the corner of an inside out Climatpia drawstring bag.

Sewn corner flaps on in inside out Climatopia drawstring bag laying on the floor

9. Fold down the top of the bag so it aligns with the horizontal line on the right- and left-hand side of the bag. Use the iron or straightener to crease the fold so that it will be easy to pin and stitch a straight seam. Pin the drawstring flap down so that the seam will come out even.

Multiple pins holding the top of creased over fabric on the inside out Climatopia drawstring bag.

10. Repeat Step 9 on the opposite side of the bag.

11. Now that each side is pinned, with the printed fabric side down stitch a seam with a maximum of ¼ of an inch from the open-edged side. Sew slowly and remove the pins as you advance down the seam. Do this on both the front side of the bag and the back side of the bag.

Fabric with a yellow pin in a sewing machine

Inside out drawstring bag that is sewn on the top

12. Next, you will make and install the tabs.

Cut out one of the white squares provided in the fabric template below the parts/pieces bag.
Fold the square in half and cut along the crease so that you have two equal rectangles.

Side by side pictures of a small white piece of fabric folded in half and then not folded but a crease shown on the other picture

Fold one rectangle in half again, and place under the presser foot, with approximately ½ inch of the creased side of the fabric sticking out on the right side. Sew down to the end of the fabric piece, and finish with a reverse stitch. Repeat this bullet point one more time for the second rectangle/tab. You can cut off extra fabric close to the seam to prevent further fraying of the fabric. (If a more advanced sewer with a capable machine, you can serge the edges as well to prevent any extra fraying.)

Make sure the printed side of the fabric is on the inside. Make a mark 1 ½ in. from the bottom crease of the bag on both sides.

Pink pen on top of Climatopia drawstring bag fabric with yellow pins down the side — Notice the pencil line which marks where the tab should be inserted 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the bag.

Pin the sides of the board where the black margin meets the side of the blue bag. Turn the fabric over to double-check that the pinning is vertical along the border on the opposite side so that both sides of the bag will come out evenly and no black margin will be exposed.

Fold the white rectangle tab in half and insert it at the 1 ½ in. mark with its creased side toward the center of the bag. Pin or clip the tab to the bag fabric so that ¼ in. to ½ in. is sticking out onto the black margin while the rest of the tab lies on the blue bag. Do this to the opposite side.

Hand holding white sewn fabric tab between fabric

Pointer finger holding down white sewn tab between folded over fabric

Place the inside-out, pinned fabric under the presser foot of the sewing machine with the creased bottom of the bag at the top. The needle should line up with the border where the black margin meets the blue bag. Sew vertically to the top of the bag and end it with a reverse stitch to secure the thread. Repeat this Step on the opposite edge of the bag. You can snip off any excess threads to make it look polished.

Putting the inside out, pinned fabric under the presser foot of the sewing machine

13. Now fold the bag right-side-in and the two tabs will stick out of both sides directly opposite one another.

Completely sewn Climatopia game bag with black string coiled on top

14. Cut two pieces of cord measuring 64 inches and tightly knot each end of the cord to prevent fraying.

Zoom in of coiled cord on top of completed Climatpia drawstring bag.

15. Pin a safety pin through the knot of a cord and insert it into one of the open ends for the drawstrings at the top of the bag. Scrunch the fabric along the paperclip so the cord slides through the length of the top. Once the cord reaches the opening on the other side, feed it into the mouth of the drawstring opening on the opposite face of the bag.

Black cord laying next to nearly completed drawstring bag

Hand pinching the top of Climatopia drawstring bag

Black cord in a loop coming out of top of Climatopia drawstring bag

16. Take the other cord piece and feed it through the drawstring opening starting on the opposite side of the initial drawstring entrance.

Climatopia drawstring bag with cord pinned to the top left

Black cord coming out of the top of carolina blue Climatopia bag

17. Pull the cords on the right and left sides of the bags outwards to tighten the bag.

Climatopia drawstring bag with the cords in an x over the bag

18. Tie a double knot with the two hanging cords on each respective side.

Black cord connected to Climatopia bag tied together and through white loop

19. Voila! You are finished making your backpack! Cut off any extra thread or fraying to achieve a polished look.

Completed Climatopia drawstring bag on white surface

Game Parts Bag Sewing

The smaller game-piece bag is useful for carrying the dice, cards, and character pieces that help to play Climatopia™!

Game Parts Bag Sewing Instructions

1. If you split up the board and the bag fabrics on the initial fabric template dotted line, there will be a approx. a 1 ½ inch black margin on the top of each face of the parts bag fabrics. This will become the section for the drawstrings.

Clear ruler laying on top of a Climatopia game piece bag fabric

2. Face both fabrics so the colorful printed side is downward on the table. Fold the 1 and ½ inch black margin down, creasing the fabric where the black margin meets the border of the blue on the bag; With a pencil, sketch a visible but light line across the horizontal axis.

Pink pen and scissors laying on top of inside out climatopia fabric — A pencil line is sketched horizontally from both marked points.

3. Use the scissors to horizontally snip a small section of the black margin until it reaches the start of the blue fabric. Repeat this for all four top corners of the fabric.

Separated front and back of Climatopia fabric laying on top of each other inside out

4. Fold the black margin towards the center of the bag and crease the fabric where the black margin meets the start of the blue fabric. Place a pin in through these edges to ensure straightness before placing under the sewing needle. Repeat Step 4 for all other top corners of the fabric.

Inside out Climatopia game piece bag fabric with yellow pins on top left and right

Yellow pin holding together a fold in top right of Climatopia fabric

5. Place the sewing needle in the middle of the top black margin, making sure that the pressure foot has a balanced amount of black margin under it. This will prevent sliding and/or scrunching.

Inside out fabric in sewing machine with yellow pin holding together fabric

6. Stitch down to about one centimeter from the bottom of the folded margin. Use the reverse/backstitch to secure the thread. Repeat this Step for the other side, as well as the other face of the bag.

Sticked top corner of Climatopia game bag piece fabric next to sewing machine

7. Fold the black margin down to the sketched line that was done in Step #2, and pin within the first ½ inch across the top of the black margin so the pins can be kept in while sewing.

Both sides of game bag fabric inside out with yellow pins holding down folded down top

8. Place the fabric under the needle so the top (the side with the creased edge) is facing toward the right. Make sure that the entire pressure foot is on the edge of the black margin flap so there is no fabric bunching.

Sewing machine sewing the pinned down outer black region that is 1.5 inches in the fold.

9. Advance down the seam, stopping approximately one centimeter from the bottom of the fabric so there is room for the securing backstitch.

Both sides of game bag fabric inside out that is sewn at the top — What your drawstring tunnels should look like when finished.

10. Repeat Steps #7-9 for the other face of the bag.

Both sides of game bag fabric inside out with yellow pins holding down folded down top

Inside out fabric in sewing machine with yellow pin holding together fabric

11. Once the drawstring holders are sewn, place both fabrics on top of one another so that both colorful printed sides are facing one another, with the white backside of the fabric facing you.

A hand folding the corner of the climatopia game part bag fabric over in the corner

12. Pin the side edges of the bag where the black margin meets the side of the blue bag. Turn the fabric over to double-check that the pinning is vertical along the border on the other side so that both sides of the bag will come out evenly.

Yellow pins around the outside of the game parts bag fabric on front of bag

Yellow pins around the outside of the game parts bag fabric on back of bag

13. Place the inside-out fabric under the needle starting on the right-hand side of the bag. The needle should line up with the border where the black margin meets the blue bag. Sew vertically downwards, using the black margin and the start of the blue fabric as a seam guideline. Once the fabric gets close to one of the pins, stop sewing and remove the pin before advancing.

Climatopia game part bag fabric in sewing machine with yellow pins along the side

14. Once you get to the corner adjacent corner of the black margin, stop sewing and (Do not move the needle! Only the presser foot!) lift the presser foot and rotate the fabric 90 degrees so that the needle is now facing the correct direction for the bottom seam.

Climatopia game part bag fabric in sewing machine with yellow pins along two sides

15. Lower the presser foot and advance across the bottom of the bag.

Inside out Climatopia game parts fabric in sewing machine with pins along side

16. Repeat the lifting of the presser foot and the 90-degree fabric rotation when the second bottom corner is reached.

Inside out Climatopia game parts fabric in sewing machine with pins along side

17. The needle should now line up with the border where the black margin meets the blue bag while pointing toward the last unsewn vertical edge. Stitch to the top of the bag and end it with a reverse stitch to secure the thread.

Side by side pictures. In both of them, the face down game design bag is being stitched at the top of the bag along the black border

18. The sewing process is finished! Cut the excess fabric edges off, making sure to leave ¼ in. of the margin for seam allowance.

Inside game parts bag fabric that is sewn on all sides

19. Now turn the small bag right-side in.

Fully sewn game piece bag without cord in the top

20. Cut two pieces of cord that are 20 inches each and tightly knot each end of the cord to prevent fraying.

Fully sewn game bag with 2 20 inch cords on top

21. Pin a safety pin through the knot of a cord and insert it into one of the open ends for the drawstrings at the top of the bag. Scrunch the fabric along the paperclip so the cord slides through the length of the top. Once the cord reaches the opening on the other side, feed it into the mouth of the drawstring opening on the opposite face of the bag.

Clipping the black cord to a bobby pin on the top right side of the game piece bag.

22. Take the other cord piece and feed it through the drawstring opening starting on the opposite side of the initial drawstring entrance.

Bobby pin on the corner of the game piece bag connecting the black cord and the bag

23. Pull equally on the cords from the right and left sides of the bags outwards to tighten the bag.

Black cords fully pulled through the top holes of the bag. The game piece bag now looks like a closed drawstring bag.

24. Cut off any excess thread and you have a polished parts/pieces bag for your cards and characters!

Congratulations! You have completed the final step.

Game Card Printing

The game cards, which consist of the character, resource, and quiz cards are crucial for playing Climatopia™. These cards inform you about your specific superpower, protect you from disasters, and help to teach you about climate resilience.

Game Card Printing Instructions

These game cards are super quick and easy to print and utilize at home. You simply just need a printer, paper, and scissors.

1. Click on the links below and download the sets of game cards. Make sure to print on the front and back of the paper.

Character Card

Front of Fall 2023 Character Card with young girl dressed as a super hero flexing her arms.

Download and Print Character Cards!

Resource Card

Resource card with yellow background and treasure chest on the front

Download and Print Resource Cards!

Quiz Card

Front of Fall 2023 Quiz Card with black circle and white question mark.

Download and Print Quiz Cards!

2. Collect the cards from the printer and cut them out individually.

3. Once all of the cards are cut out, you are all done with the cards!

Game Piece Making

While making Climatopia, the team successfully made game pieces using a laser wood cutter. If you have access to a laser wood cutter, you can create your own pieces by following the instructions below. However, this isn’t necessary for at-home play as you can find small objects around the house to use as game pieces.