Look Ma! No Pattern: Sewing a Yoga Mat Bag
In my magical pretend life, I don’t ride the train for an hour each morning to sit cubicle-bound under a whirring air conditioner vent. My ideal lifestyle has more sun and more pajamas: I spend the early hours lolling around in bed drinking coffee out of brightly-hued latte bowls, the day pursuing creative endeavors, and the afternoon at yoga.
So my ideal isn’t a reality quite yet, but any serenity in my current life is thanks either to ice chocolate, happy hour, or yoga. But man, carrying those yoga mats is a drag. Personally, I feel like enough of a pack mule on the range carrying the day’s necessities; the last thing I want to lug is a cumbersome and unwieldy yoga mat. When I looked into buying a bag for my mat, the options were either ugly and expensive, or really ugly and really expensive. I’m no Betsy Ross, but I figured I could save myself some money and the humiliation of carrying a prefab bag by running one up myself.
I cannot sing loudly enough the praises of Hancock Fabrics. They have great prices, a dazzling array of fabrics, and my shipment arrived in a jiffy. I am still learning how to sew, so it’s a Girl Scout’s honor when I say that this project is simple (and gratifying!) enough for a beginning sewer. It could also easily be accomplished by hand if you have a rainy afternoon and When Harry Met Sally is on TBS. And as if you needed a bonus, this is a two for one special: if you shrink the whole project, you’ve got a fine looking wine bottle sleeve for your next hostess present.
Alison: I can’t believe that I am the first comment here because this project is so fantastic! Of course, I can’t sew, but if I could I would definitely make this nifty bag immediately! You will be the envy of every yoga studio and of every yogi searching for enlightenment. Yay!
7 years ago
alison: I, personally, was speechless! (and also a bit self-conscious that I am such a POP junkie, as evidenced by all my rantings)
Brava!!!
7 years ago
Katy of the Luke: like sticking your hand up an elephant’s trunk. you’re my new go-to girl for analogies. though i do not think the elephant in question would like that very much.
7 years ago
Dawn: I’ve been looking all over for a yoga mat bag pattern, and your video inspired me! I just finished my bag a few minutes ago and absolutely love it! Thank you so much, and keep up the good work.
7 years ago
corey: i think that video might have been the cutest thing i have ever seen. i’ll be toting my mat in style as soon as i get to the store for some fabric. thanks for the how-to … so brilliant!
6 years ago
Merrie: OMG. I so loved this video. This bag is so E-A-S-Y. Can’t wait to make my own yoga bag. hmmm I am getting some good ideas for fabric!!!
5 years ago
Kristy: Love this! I made mine today and instead of ribbon I used excess fabric. It was easy even doing that!
Thanks for the easy idea!
4 years ago
Natalia Buleson: I just happened upon your site and I love it! The Yoga mat bag carrier what a great idea! I’m going to make one for mine!!!
Thanks!!
4 years ago
Jee: Yay! Thanks for doing the little video…you made it look “sew” easy and I’m totally going to try this when I get the chance!
4 years ago
Jee: Yay! I had written you on October 5th and came back to say I finished mine…I messed up a little because I was doing it from memory and didn’t follow at what point to sew in the strap but I easily fixed that anyway because I needed to make mine a little wider to accommodate two mats (either rolled together or side by side). Thank you again!
4 years ago
sarah: I’m so glad it turned out, Jee! Don’t you feel so cool toting a handmade yoga carrier?
4 years ago
Sherry: THANK YOU Sarah for this fun video. I’m making several yoga mat carriers for Christmas gits!!! Making them is fast, fun and affordable!
4 years ago
Alexis @ The Posh Passy: love your site, love the videos….will be back for more!
Alexis
http://www.theposhpassy.com
4 years ago
Justine: Only a super-fab lady sews in such fantastic heels. Cheers!
4 years ago
sarah: Those were the absolute best heels of all time and I wore them into the ground. I need to find a cobbler who can work some magic and restore them to their former glory!
4 years ago
A different Sarah: SO Easy! For a little bit of an extra touch, I sewed three narrow tubes (two inch wide, long strips of fabric sewn right sides together and then turned inside out) and then braided them for my strap. I can’t wait to show off my new yoga mat bag to my fellow yogamates.
The heels are a classy touch. I usually sew barefoot.
4 years ago
Awesome idea on the strap, Different Sarah!
4 years ago
Lisa: Love this video tutorial. Love your personality, you need to do more.4 years ago
K: De-luring to say that I made this bag (one of my first ever sewing projects) and four people have asked me where I bought it. So thank you for the awesome yet easy tutorial!4 years ago
Yay K!4 years ago
Mandy: THANK YOU…this was my first project and so easy!!! The video was great!!!!3 years ago
josie: Love your video! I just decided to get my 75 year old mom a yoga mat for Christmas. She recently started doing yoga. But, a lot of the mats that I saw were pricey. And, I thought “I can make that!” So, I searched the internet and “voila!” Your site popped up. I am going to make this for mom. She will be thrilled!3 years ago
Cat: THANK YOU for creating this tutorial — this was my very first sewing project and I’m so proud of it! This is my kind of sewing: down and dirty, no pattern needed. I added a little pocket to the outside of mine for keys and whatnot. Thank you thank you thank you!3 years ago
Heather Grilliot: Sewing in RED heals! I LOVE IT! Great Video!3 years ago
Greta: Wow. Super video. Thanks.3 years ago
Erika: Thank you!!!!3 years ago
emily: Thanks for this user friendly version yoga mat carrier! I whipped out 5 in no time for my yoga students as a New Year gift. Haven’t sewn in years and they came out great!3 years ago
Chelsea Bell: What a great idea! I am going to try a modified version and let you know how it goes.
3 years ago
Chuck: Thank you so much for this video. I went out yesterday and bought fabric with no idea how was going to make it into a mat bag. You made it simple, now I can’t wait to get my sewing machine out and get my kokopelli mat bag put together and into the gym!3 years ago
s.: OMG. THANK YOU!! i went to yoga this morning and thought, my goodness, lugging around this mat is so not easy…wish i had a cute yoga mat bag. And Voila! i found your tutorial and made THE CUTEST bag ever. i love it! and your video was totally entertaining too!! thanks
2 years ago
krissy: AMAZING! I just made my bag, hand-sewn, using a reusable shopping bag for fabric!! thanks for the awesome and easy-to-follow video =)2 years ago
Eimeenah: Yippie, great tutorial…and although I did not use this for a yoga mat, I did make it to carry my long knitting loom and yarn in. Thanks so much, your the best!1 year ago
Elizabeth: THANK YOU! I was scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present and this took me all of 20 minutes to do with materials I already had. Amazing. I feel like you should be on TLC or something.1 year ago
Caroline: OMG! I watched your video and made your yoga mat in minutes using remnant fabric and ribbon! So simple! Your video editing skills are awesome BTW. Thank You!1 year ago
Caroline, I’m so glad you liked it! And the mad editing skills are all thanks to the very talented Sebastian.1 year ago
Zaya: This is great!!! I’ve been looking at yoga mat carriers, and I have to agree, they’re ugly and expensive!
I just have a quick question, I don’t have a weather resistant outdoor fabric, but I do have this tough heavy duty fabric that you use for upholstery and furniture, would that be alright to use instead?41 weeks ago
Zaya, yes, that would work great, as long as the fabric’s not too thick to be folded and sewn through. You just want a textile durable enough to be withstand repeated use. Happy sewing!41 weeks ago
Elijah: This posting, “Look Ma! No Pattern: Sewing a Yoga
Mat Bag 11 weeks ago