How to make yoga props out of recycled materials

Handmade yoga props make great gifts, and they add a personal touch to any yoga practice. Yoga props can be expensive to buy, and are not always eco-friendly. Make your own yoga supplies out of repurposed materials and natural fillers. Use interesting fabric designs to create visually unique props. Embroider or applique yoga-themed images like lotus flowers, om symbols or mandalas onto the props for additional flair.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 cup lavender
  • 1 cup flax seeds
  • Recycled fabric
  • 2 recycled D-ring belt buckles
  • Sewing machine
  • Thread
  • Needle
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
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Instructions

  1. Sew Your Own Yoga Strap and Lavender Eye Pillow

    • 1

      Find your supplies. Cut up old clothes and reuse the fabric, or look for fabric in thrift stores. To find big pieces of recycled fabric, choose curtains or table cloths. You can also find D-ring belt buckles at the thrift store. For dried lavender flowers and flax seeds, ask at your local health food store or order on-line.

    • 2

      Sew a yoga strap out of re-purposed fabric and 2 D-rings. To make one strap, you need four strips of non-stretch fabric. Using four pieces of cloth makes the belt stronger. Cut each strip 95 inches long and 2 inches wide.

      Pin all four strips right-sides together. Using a 3/8-inch seam allowance, stitch three sides of the fabric, leaving one narrow end open. Trim and reinforce the seam by stitching it again, sewing right along the edge.

      Turn the fabric right side out. Use a chopstick to gently push the corners out. Use a hot iron to steam out any wrinkles. Turn in the raw edge of the rectangle about 1/4-inch and iron the edge to keep it in place. Stitch the end closed. Top stitch around the entire edge of the strap.

      The strap is almost done: it just needs the D-rings attached to one end. Place two D-rings on one end of the strap and fold the strap over about 2 inches. Pin the folded section in place and stitch across the strap two or three times to tightly secure the D-rings.

    • 3

      Make a meditation eye pillow out of soft fabric. Cut two pieces of fabric into 8 1/2-by-4-inch rectangles. Pin the right sides of the fabric together. Sew three sides of the rectangle, leaving one of the short sides open.

      Turn the rectangle right side out. If the corners are bunched up, use a chopstick to gently push the corners out. Use a hot iron to steam out any wrinkles. Turn in the raw edge of the rectangle about 1/4-inch and iron the edge to keep it in place.

      Use a funnel to fill the eye pillow with flax seeds and lavender blossoms. Use enough filling that the eye pillow feels full, but don't over-pack it. Pin the open side and stitch closed.