DIY Yoga Mat Bag

Yoga is designed to lead you into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with yourself, but for all its spirituality, you still need material things such as yoga pants and yoga mats. Yoga mat bags are a great way to transport those sometimes awkward yoga mats to and from the studio. One problem with yoga accessories, however, is that they can be expensive. Making your own yoga mat bag can be an economical way to save money and add a personal flair to your yoga practice.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Thread
  • Sewing machine
  • Ribbon
  • Tailor's chalk
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the length and circumference of your rolled up yoga mat with the tape measure. This is the best measurement since your mat will be rolled up inside the yoga mat bag.

    • 2

      Cut your fabric with the scissors. You will need two rectangular pieces of fabric that are 2 inches longer than your yoga mat and 1 inch wider than your yoga mat is thick when rolled. One piece will be for the lining and the other will be for the outer bag. You will also need two round bottom pieces that are half an inch wider in circumference than your rolled yoga mat. Cut two strips for your strap that are equal to the length of your mat at 1.25 inches wide.

    • 3

      Sew your straps. Pin them together, inside out, and then stitch with your sewing machine along the length of both sides, leave the ends unsewn for now. Turn the strap right-side out, and topstitch both ends to create attractive finished edges for your strap. A topstitch is a straight stitch and can be done with your sewing machine.

    • 4

      Fold the rectangular piece you are using for the outside of the bag lengthwise with the matching sides together. The piece should be inside out.

    • 5

      Sew the long, open side of the fabric, from top to bottom, starting 2 inches from the edge. Your fabric will now resemble a cloth tube. Turn the tube right-side out.

    • 6

      Mark 3 inches from the end of the tube that will be the top with tailor's chalk or a dressmaking pencil. Pin one end of your strap here, along the seam of the sewn rectangular piece.

    • 7

      Sew the top inch of your strap to the bag using a zigzag stitch. Take care to sew only through the strap and top layer of the bag, and not through both sides of the bag. If you make the mistake of sewing your bag shut just cut the threads and try again.

    • 8

      Turn the bag inside out again. Pin the circular piece to the bottom of your bag (this is the opposite end from where you just sewed the top of your strap). Place the bottom part of your strap between the circular piece and the body of the bag.

    • 9

      Sew the bottom, strap and bag together, about a half inch from the edge.

    • 10

      Sew the lining using steps 4, 5 and 8. There will be no strap for the lining.

    • 11

      Insert the lining into the bag.

    • 12

      Fold 1 inch of the bag toward the lining and pin in place; this will create the piping for your drawstring closure at the top of your bag.

    • 13

      Fold the lining so the edge of the fabric is between the bag and the lining. Pin about 1/4 of an inch on top on the 1-inch fold of the bag.

    • 14

      Sew the folded material together, but leave a small opening for your drawstring to be inserted.

    • 15

      Insert the ribbon into the hole you left and feed it through the pocket, by hand, to create the drawstring closure. If you are having difficulty threading the ribbon through by hand you can use a semi-rigid material such as cabling to pull the ribbon through the pocket.