Yoga Mat Bag Project August 14, 2006

Well, I finally did it; I made a yoga mat bag.

In a previous post I had stated that I really wanted to make one, and that I knew of a pattern for one in an issue of Sew Simple magazine.

 how to order this issue

I ordered this back issue and it came in the mail a few weeks ago. Today, I finally had enough time to bust it out and create my bag.

Unfortunately, the instructions weren’t so great, and I had a hard time following what they wanted me to do, but I completed the job anyway.

First, I got myself some fabric and supplies,

   click on images for larger pictures

I got one yard of medium weight fabric, one yard of cording, matching thread, and some cord stops. I chose this tweed fabric because it kind of matched my mat and it was on sale, but tweed is more of a hassle to work with than other fabrics, as I was soon to find out. (It frayed constantly, and I had to zig-zag stitch around everything.)

I cut a 3″ x 45″ piece of fabric for the handle, with wrong sides touching I sewed the long ends together and flipped it right side out, then ran thread down each long side to make it nice and flat. (with tweed the salvage ends are woven and don’t fray, so if you are using something else you will probably want to tuck in the little ends.)

 

Next, I cut out the circle for the bottom of the bag. Then I attached one end of the handle to the right side (side that people will be seeing) of that circle.

 

Cutting both the circle and the circumference of the big piece that goes around the side can be difficult because different people have different size mats when they’re rolled up. Plus, with circumference, you have to use Pi, and that can make for some really ugly numbers when you are calculating.

Within the next few days I will try to decipher the instructions a little more clearly and give you a better idea of how to go about measuring your mat. If you want to go about it on your own just remember, use a compass (that thing that helps you draw circles, you know, with the pointy end on one side and the pencil on the the other, I think that’s what they are called), and factor in seam allowance. Plus, after measuring the width of your yoga mat (most are about 24″ wide) add about 5 or 6 inches to that length for the side fabric, so that you will have room to put your cording. (But I will try to give you some proper instructions later on.)

Next, I sewed about 2 inches of what would be the bottom of the big piece of fabric so that I could attached the circle. I pulled the attached handle up through the big piece of fabric before sewing the circle so that it will be sticking outside of the bag when it is turned right side out.

 

I found that even though I had tried to measure correctly, my circle was still bigger than my circumference, but that was no big deal, I made it fit anyway.

Once my bottom was on, I took a marker (or some chalk) and made two marks on the cut edge of the fabric to denote where I would put my cord, one, 1″ down from the top and one 1/2″ down from the first mark. Then I sewed up the side of my bag, but I left that 1/2″ mark open, then sewed the remaining 1″ on the top. It seems weird but once you pull your cording through the hole you’ll see what’s going on.

 

Then, when I had the cording poking out from the wrong side of the fabric, I folded the top down so that the holes and the cording came right to the top.

Finally, I sewed around the top to secure the cord and put my stops on. Then I flipped it right side out, I took the other end of the handle and attached it where it would be most comfortable for me (this part I chose to do by hand with a needle and thread, it was just easier that way).

And here it is,

 

It’s not much to look at, but hey, it’s my first one.