Hey everyone! Just a quick post to let everyone know that I have decided to start selling yoga mat bags through my new website under the Yoga Bags link.
I will have ready to purchase bags for sale on a regular basis, plus photos of fabric choices for custom bags. Most will be drawstring bags with a pocket on the front, although I can make ones with a zipper in them instead.
Check them out, and if you want to go ahead and order a custom one, let me know!
I have this group of internet friends that are pretty cool. One of these cool kids told us back in 2011 how she makes it a habit to cast on something for herself on the first day of the new year. One of those superstitions about if start off with something for you, that you want, that maybe your year will go more like the way you want it to. No additional requirements, just cast on.
I did it back in 2011 with my wedding veil. In 2012 I was so busy with wedding prep and trying to find a job that I didn’t join in, but I did it again this year. I decided this year I absolutely needed a pair of mittens. HAD to have a pair. Could not LIVE without a pair. And so, I started bella’s mittens.(sidenote: I haaaate twilight. But these mittens are adorable. The making of these mittens was in no way, shape or form an endorsement of those awful books or movies).
It only took me about 6 days, and I ended up with these adorable mittens.
They are knit with Cascade 128, which is a “chunky” yarn. Perfect for a quick knit project to wear out while it’s still cold.
I may have an unholy love for these mittens. I wear them even if they don’t match my coat. I wear them even if it’s really a bit too warm for mittens.
I have also learned mittens are extremely impractical for important things like “buttoning your own coat.”
I don’t care. They are mine and I love them.
What do you do to get the new year off to a good start?
I would make an excuse for why I am late with this…but I have none. Better late than never, though! This is a tutorial for the yoga bag I made a few months ago to carry my mat in. It’s more convenient than just rolling it up, and way cuter than the ones available at most stores.
To begin with, you’ll need:
1/2 yd of fabric ( I prefer quilt weight cotton)
32″ of ribbon or webbing
length of cord (I used a shoelace)
and 1 cord lock for the drawstring.
Here’s my starting fabric
I love the neon paisley! It’s so bold and “look at me!” definitely more interesting than the generic canvas bags.
Ok, so you have your fabric. Make sure you iron it out! After it’s ironed, you are going to cut a 17×30″ rectangle out, and a 6″ circle out of your fabric.
on one side of the rectangle, 1″ from the top and bottom, you’ll want to pin in your ribbon (or whatever material you chose for the strap). Because of the length, it might want to twist a bit. Try and get it lined up on the seam as straight as possible- you don’t want it pulling out while you are carrying it!
Fold the rectangle in half long ways, right sides together. The strap should be inside the fabric sandwich now. Like so:
Well, the photo is sideways, but you get the idea. You are going to leave a 1″ opening at each end.
This is going to be where you sew the bottom on, and where you insert the drawstrings, so make sure you don’t sew them closed!
Starting at 1″ in, sew the seam on the rectangle, stopping 1″ short of the bottom.
now you want to attach this piece:
cut small v-shaped notches around the outside of the circle, to help it bend and fit better while sewing (not shown). Pin it right-side facing in to the bag, and sew them together.
At the top of the bag, fold the remaining fabric down to form a tube, and sew it all the way around. Leave the sides open-that is where your drawstring will come out.
Turn the bag right-side-out, slide the drawstring in, and put a choke on it. Ta-da! your very own, personalized yoga bag!
(cat not included)
