Sew a handmade yoga tote

If you tote your yoga gear back and forth to work, here's the perfect bag for your mat. Paired-up straps let you wear it as a backpack, leaving your hands free to grab the overhead bar on the bus, hold a book or rummage through your purse on your commute. And a small pocket sewn into one end accommodates your health-club membership card.

Backpack suits 177 x 61.5 cm (70 x 24 in) x 6 mm (1/4 in) thick mat. If your mat is a different size, see Designer's Tips, on page 2.

You need
Piece of outdoor canvas or other sturdy fabric, 82 cm (32-1/4 in) square
2.50 m nylon braid, 2.5 cm (1 in) wide
Matching or contrasting thread
60 cm zipper
2 parachute-clip buckles that accommodate 2.5 cm (1-in) braid
Strip of Velcro hook-and-loop tape (both sides), 2.5 x 1 cm (1 x 3/8 in)
Dressmaker's chalk pencil, ruler, set square and compass

To make:
(Note: Use 15 mm (5/8 in) seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise indicated. If desired, machine-zigzag raw edges of seam allowance to bind.)

1. From fabric, cut rectangle, 66.5 x 46.5 cm (26-1/4 x 18-3/8 in). With chalk pencil and compass, draw three 16.5 cm (6-1/2 in) diameter circles on remaining fabric; cut out.

2. Measure 12.5 cm (5 in) from bottom edge of 1 circle and mark; draw straight line across circle at mark. Cut out for pocket, discarding smaller circle top. Press under 6 mm (1/4 in) twice across straight (top) edge; edgestitch, then stitch again, 3 mm (1/8 in) down from first stitch line. With raw edges even, lay pocket, right side up, on right side of 1 circle; baste 6 mm from raw edge. Centre 1 Velcro side on wrong side of pocket just below top edge; stitch in place. Position remaining Velcro side on right side of circle; stitch in place.

3. Fold rectangle so right sides are together and long top edges are even, forming tube; beginning at each corner, stitch 3 cm (1-1/8 in) across top edge, backstitching at beginning and end. Press seams open. Turn right side out then press under 1.5 cm (5/8 in) along each top edge for zipper opening. With zipper foot, stitch zipper in place, then stitch again, 3 mm out, from each stitching line, to reinforce. If desired, machine-zigzag bar tack across each end of zipper to reinforce. Leaving zipper open, turn wrong side out.


Page 1 of 2 -- On page 2, find designer's tips for small touches that will make your tote your own.