Make Your Own Yoga Mat Tote

It's fun and easy to create your own yoga mat carrier. Match the fabric to your mat or your outfit, or pick fabric that matches your backpack or purse. With minimal sewing skills, this mat tote can be created in less than an hour. Choose midweight woven fabrics for best results, and pick fabrics you love to carry your yoga mat. The mat bag pictured uses a solid duckcloth for the body and Tana Lawn from Liberty in a William Morris print.

Materials

½ yard print fabric for bottom of bag, strap and drawstring

½ yard solid fabric for body of bag

3" x 28" strip of flannel for padding

Sewing machine, thread, pins, scissors, chalk, safety pin

6" saucer

Cutting Pieces for the Yoga Tote

Label each piece as you cut. For the shoulder strap, cut a strip of print fabric 6 inches by 28 inches. To create a circular bag base, place the saucer face down on a section of print fabric and trace around it using chalk. Cut on the chalk line. Cut a strip of print fabric 2" by 24" for the drawstring. From the solid fabric, cut an 18" by 30" rectangle.

Making the Shoulder Strap

Fold the large strip of print fabric in half, right sides together. Press the folded fabric. Layer the flannel strip on the folded fabric, matching the edge to the fold, and press all fabrics together. The flannel will provide padding and reinforcement for the shoulder strap. Stitch along the long side. Trim the excess flannel to the seam line. Turn the strip right side out and press. Topstitch along both sides of the strap ¼ inch from the edges. The shoulder strap for the yoga tote is complete.

Making the Drawstring

Fold the 2 inch wide strip of fabric in half lengthwise and press. Unfold, and fold both sides in to meet the center crease. Press, then refold to create a ½ inch wide strip and press again. Topstitch near both edges to hold the strip together.

Assembling the Body of the Yoga Bag

Fold the solid fabric lengthwise, right sides together, and sew the long edge together, creating a 30 inch long tube of fabric. Press the seam open. To create a casing for the drawstring, fold down ½ inch along the end and press, then fold down an additional 1" and press. Lay the shoulder strap parallel to the body of the bag. Tuck the end of the shoulder strap into the folded casing, press, and pin in place. Sew along the fold, catching the shoulder strap in the seam and leaving a 1" opening to insert the drawstring.

Pin the other end of the carrying strap to the bottom of the tube, edges flush. Turn the tube inside out and pin the bottom circle in place, notching as needed to get a good fit. Stitch in place, catching the shoulder strap in the process and stitching it securely to the bottom of the bag.

Finishing the Yoga Tote

Pin the safety pin through the end of the drawstring and feed it through the casing at the top of the yoga bag. Remove the safety pin and knot both ends of the drawstring. The bag is complete!

Variations on the Yoga Tote

Add a pocket to the outside. Stitch a hemmed 6" square of fabric to the solid fabric before piecing together the body of the bag.

Create a yoga backpack tote by adding two straps instead of one, stitching them side by side.

Use a piece of cording rather than a fabric drawstring.

Topstitch with contrast or metallic thread.

Run a strip of machine embroidery in a mehndi pattern up the side of the bag.

Enjoy your personalized yoga tote, and may it bring joy to your practice!