DIY Yoga Mat Bag

Summer makes me want to do something about my well-being, but nothing too hot to handle mind, something gentle, like Pilates. My Pilates mat has been left too long rolled up and uncared for, so this was the perfect opportunity to make myself something that I could take to and from lessons, which could also hang around looking beautiful!

Take a look at the video or follow the step by step!

You will need : 

• Fabric and/or leather (you don’t want anything too thick because you’re sewing machine won’t like it)
• 2-2.5m of cord
• Matching thread
• A leather needle for the sewing machine
• A safety pin
• A rotary cutter or Stanley knife & scissors
• Chalk
• A tape measure
• Bulldog clips if you’re using leather
• Pins 

 

1. Mark and cut out your fabric, to make one similar to mine you need :

• A circle 4cm larger than the diameter of your rolled up yoga mat
• 1 rectangle as wide as the circumference of the cut out circle + seam allowance about a third of the height of your mat + seam allowance , and
• 1 rectangle the same width as the first rectangle + seam allowance at two-thirds the height of your yoga mat + 30cm,

Seam allowance is 1.5cm on each sewn edge for fabric & 1cm or less for leather  

2. Attach the bottom rectangle to the top rectangle. At the top edge of the bag, fold 12cm of fabric back on itself wrong sides together and sew two horizontal lines that stop 1.5cm away from the vertical edge. This is to create the casing for the drawstring.

3. Sew the vertical edges together. Leave an open space between the two vertical casing lines made in step 2. Use the bulldog clips and scrap leather on any leather parts to hold your work still without damaging anything. 4. With the help of a safety pin, insert the cord into the drawstring casing  5. I had to add a tab to my cord because the leather was too thick 6. Sew the circle and the cord to the bottom of the bag. It’s best not to use bulldog clips here.

If you do have any problems with the leather and your machine, you can always go old school and use your hand to control the needle!