I have started making a few Christmas presents and this yoga mat is one of them. Why? Because I couldn't find one to buy that was made out of nice material...too many om signs...too much hemp...to much purple.
I have used a beautiful striped denim, it is hard wearing and I love stripes.
You will need half a metre of material, something for the strap (1/2 metre), a piece of cord (1/3 metre), either a toggle or in my case two bells, to hold the cord in place.
Here's how:
1. Before you start make sure that your yoga mat fits the length of the material.
2. Fold the material in half, right side (or pattern side) together.
3. Pin one end closed (in my case the left hand side)
4. Fold the ends of the strapping at a right angle back on itself, as shown below.
5. Do the same with the other end. Open the long edge of the material and place the strap along it.
6. Leave a 1/2cm to 1cm of strapping over the material, you can cut this off at the end of the process.
7. Fold the top of layer of material back into place.
8. Pin both ends of strapping in place.
9. Pin along the length of the seam.
10. Mark with a pin, the side of the strapping, at your open end of your bag, in my case the right hand side. This is to used as a guide only when sewing the opening at the top of the bag that allows the yoga mat to fit in. You will know when to stop sewing the seam, when you hit the pin.
11. Turn the material over and mark with a pin on the other side too.
12. At the top of the long seam, fold a long triangle of material back.
13. And again.
14. Pin this triangle of material, from end to end.
15. Turn the material over and do the same on the other side. Take care to make sure each side matches.
16. This is what the material should look like if you opened, the open end, out.
17. Place the cord along the open end of the material. Fold the material over the cord, leaving enough room for the cord to move easily. Pin the material down. Don't forget to pin the cord, to keep it in place at each end.
18. Pin the material flap down, around the whole of the open end of the bag.
19. Time to start sewing. Sew the shortest seam, the closed end of the bag.
20. Turn the material 90 degrees and sew the long seam (the side that the strap is attached to).
21. Sew the seam until you hit the pin marker from Step 10.
22. Double sew the end of the strapping. This will keep them secure when the bag is carried over your shoulder.
23. Sew the triangles at the open end of the material. Make sure you sew the outer seam, as shown.
24. Sew from the top of the triangle to the bottom. Do this on both sides. You will have to take out the pin holding the ends of the cord flaps down.
25. Fold the flaps holding the cord down again and pin.
26. Sew the flat holding the cord down.
27. Make sure you leave about 3/4 cm between the cord and the seam, as you want the cord to be pulled and move easily.
28. Attach bells (or whatever you decide to use) onto the ends, of each end of cord.
29. Bells or a toggle, you choose.
30. Cut off the seam excess.
31. Turn the bag inside out, or the right way round. Finished!
32. Slide in your yoga mat.
33. Pull the cord tight, this should gather and hold, or you can tie it is a knot or a bow.
Hope the recipients of this present love it as much as I do.
