How to make your own Yoga Mat Bag

This bag came about because I was looking to upcycle a few old sports tank tops that were too stretched to wear but I really liked the words and quotes on the front.

Thinking of sporty things to make, I started with a sports duffel bag with the first top:

Then I decided to make something new with the second one.  My eldest daughter has recently started doing yoga and got her own mat for her birthday a few months ago. So a bag to carry her mat it and keep it clean seemed like a good idea!

I just made a simple drawstring bag with a carry handle and add the quote from one of my old tank tops to the main part of the bag.

Here's how you can make your own yoga mat bag!

You will need some fabric, and cord and a toggle for the drawstring.

For the bag cut:

 a rectangle of fabric 80 x 52 cm (31.5 x 20.5")

a circle 17 cm (6.75") diameter

( you can download the free circle template here)

for the strap 104 x 14 cm (41 x 5.5") 

I also cut the slogan from the front of my old tank top to attach to the bag too.

you also need, cord 66 cm (26'") and a toggle

If you have a logo or picture you want to add to the bag - do this first.

I used fusible webbing to iron my tank top part onto the main bag part and applique stitched around the edge to secure.

To make the strap.

First fold one short end of your strap over and iron.

Then, take your long piece of fabric and iron in half length-ways. 

Then open out and fold both edges in towards the crease and iron again.

Then finally fold the whole strap in half and iron again. 

All your raw edges will now be enclosed except for one end of the strap.

Top stitch along both sides of your strap.

Your strap is now finished.

To make the bag.

Fold your main rectangle in half length-ways, Pin then stitch the edges together.

To prevent the seams from fraying, as this bag is not lined, finish off the seams using either an overlocker (serger) if you're lucky enough to have one; or just use a zig zag stitch or pinking shears.

Now turn your bag right sides out and pin then stitch your strap along the seam, with the raw edge in line with the bottom, 

And the finished end about 14 cm (5.5") down from the top end of the bag. Secure this end with a square and cross in the middle like this.

Now turn your bag back inside out and pin, then stitch your circle of fabric to the base of the bag, right sides of the fabric facing.

And once again finish the seam edges off with an overlocker (serger) , zig zag stitch or pinking shears.

Finishing the top of the bag

Using a seam ripper - open up a small gap in your seam about 2.5 cm (1") down from the top. This is to feed your drawstring through. Run a couple of stitches either side of where you have opened the seam to prevent the stitches from unravelling further.

To finish the top opening of your bag, first fold the top edge down about 1 cm (0.5") and stitch.

Then fold the end over again to form the casing for your drawstring. Make sure that the gap you just opened up in your seam is above your line of stitching.

Stitch all the way around.

Now take a large safety pin and use that to thread your drawstring cord though the casing.

Take the two ends of your cord and thread them through your toggle and tie securely. If you like you can use a small scrap of your fabric to enclose your knot. This makes it look prettier and also stops the knot from coming undone!

And that is your yoga mat bag finished!

All ready to go!

For the free downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

2 Tank Tops upcycled..

2 more to go. Do come back to see what I make with those later this week!

If you liked this tutorial, then for over 100 more ideas, take a look at 

My Free Sewing Tutorials Page.

Never Give up Sports Bag - tank top upcycle

This week I made a start on the tank tops in my pile of clothes to be upcycled.

I love my Lorna Jane tank tops and wear them over and over until they are stretched and saggy but I still can't bear to get rid of them!

So - yesterday I cut up the first pink tank top and made a sports bag using the quote from the front as the front pocket of the bag and fabric and zips from my stash.

I used my own duffel bag tutorial which gives measurements for 4 different sizes to make.

This one however, is a different size again - the same as another sports bag I made for myself three years ago - also with a worn and stretched Lorna Jane top!

I put just one zipped pocket on the inside of this new one - always useful to have.

And the main bag zip has two zip pulls on it - this was a reclaimed zip from an old backpack of my daughters.

This bag has gone to my younger daughter who I know will get good use out of it!

Here's a selection of some of the duffel bags I've made using this pattern.

I use my Sports Duffel Bag every week, and my daughters use theirs for swimming each week too.

 I hope my daughter gets as much use out of her new bag too!

Do come back next week to see what I make using the remaining three tank tops!

For lots more clothes upcycling ideas, why not visit the Clothes Upcycling Linky. There are over 600 ideas linked up!

Socks Upcycling

Ever been left with a single sock after washing? What do you do with those lone socks?  There are endless possibilities for reusing and upcycling old socks - from tying them together to make a skipping rope, to putting your hand inside them to use as a car cleaning cloth!

Wiki How has a great list of 31 uses for old socks.

But what about something a little cuter to make from an old pair of socks?  I have found so many cute cuddly creatures that can be made from socks - here are a few.

Have you heard of sock monkeys? They are probably the best known animal to be made out of an old pair of socks.  

I checked up on their history to find where they originated. As with most clothes upcycles, their origins can be found back when people made the most of the resources they had, reusing and upcycling rather than buying new when they needed something - largely due to financial necessity, but it was a way of life then. 

Soft toys were probably made from whatever materials were at hand, old worn clothing included.

The first 'Sock Monkey' is believed to have appeared during the Great Depression in the early 1900s America with old worn out socks being given a new lease of life as Sock Monkey toys for kids.  Why a monkey? One theory is that exotic African animals were popular at that time, and a monkey was a suitable choice as a child's toy as monkeys were 'safe animals' that wouldn't be the kind that would 'eat' children!

There were also a brand of socks produced at that time by Nelson Knitting Mills that had a distinctive red heel (the red heel becoming the monkey's mouth).  Finding that their socks were being used to make sock monkeys with, this company began including Sock Monkey making instructions with each pair of red heeled socks sold!

 I love this idea - companies encouraging upcycling and providing instructions for how to do so when your clothes become worn!

The sock monkey tutorial I have used several times and find very clear is this one from Craft Passion. Here are the monkeys I've made - including a sock lion made using this pattern also from Craftpassion.

I also made a pair of Incredible Hulk Sock Monkeys using the same tutorial.

Then I tried a Sock Kitten,

and a Sock Elephant.

And finally I produced my own tutorial for these cute Sock Dogs.

I also found a tutorial for Sock Skeletons - perfect for Halloween which is just around the corner!

For other ideas to upcycle old socks...

Here's a nice simple refashion..

Toe socks to arm warmers from The Shiny Bubble.

Or how about this cup cosy made from an old sock by Free Styl Creating by Villy.

For LOTS more cool sock upcycling ideas, you can go to my 

Socks Upcycling Pinterest Board 

(I have a board for each clothing item). 

Have you ever upcycled a pair of old socks? What have you made them into? I'd love to here any more suggestions and see pictures too!

For over 600 clothes upcycling projects and ideas to upcycle everything from socks to t-shirts and sweaters, head over to the Clothes Upcycling Projects Page, 

get some upcycling inspiration, and even add your own projects too!