D.I.Y. Yoga Mat Bag {a tutorial}

Do It Yourself, Yoga Mat Bag!

A Tutorial: 

Supplies:

1 rectangle of fabric measuring 18x24 inches.

1 rectangle of fabric measuring 24x6 inches.

Yoga mat to check your work.

Scissors.

Sewing Machine.

Thread and Bobbin.

 I like to check out tight my bag will be on my personal mat before sewing but if you're okay with a little extra room in the bag you can just have a 1/2 inch seam.

 I start with the handles.  I fold the 6x24 fabric in half length wise, with the ugly side out.  I sew a straight seam down the right side.  Don't forget to back stitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

 The seam distance is not important as long as the line is straight, I probably do a 1/4 inch seam.

 See the difference above of pretty side and ugly side?

Set aside handle until later.

 For the bag itself, I sewed about a 1 & 1/2 inch seam.

Fold the 18x24 fabric in half length wise.  Make sure the pretty sides are on the inside and the "ugly" side is showing.  The ugly side is the unfinished side of the fabric, some fabric is reverseable, so just make sure what you see at this step is what you want to be the inside of the bag.

 From the top of the folded fabric run a seam down the right side and bottom of the fabric creating an inside out long skinny pillow case.

 At the top of the "pillow case" fold down about 1 inch of fabric to make a finished opening at the top of the bag.

 Sew a 1/4 inch seam around the top of the bag.

flip bag and handle inside out so the finished side {pretty side} of the fabric is showing.

 above: finished bag with handle waiting to be attached.

 fold the handle's end inside so the raw edge is hidden in the tube.  

I stuff about 1 inch into the tube.

 Once the raw edge is hidden, place it on the mat bag where you want the top to be connected.

 Pay attention to the seams, I like to hide them and place the handle's seam on the underside.

I place the handle upside down so it will flip later.  

 It should look like the above photo when you attach the handle. 

This is the TOP attachment.

I sew a "x" box into the handle for maximum reinforcement.

Above: "x" box Diagram 

Below: steps in photographs...

Now for the handle to make sense, flip it over so the bottom will be attached and the underseam will be hidden {see below}

Make sure the bottom of the tub is also tucked back into the tub so the raw edge is hidden.

Sew a box onto the handle to connect the handle to the mat.

Once the last box is sewn into the handle, the bag is complete.

Please excuse my bathroom photo, it's the only room in the house with decent lighting.

If you have any questions please feel free to comment below.

Thanks for following along and good luck with your own yoga mat bag!

-Jenn

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