How to sew a yoga mat bag: drawstring backpack or sling

To sew a yoga mat bag, cut two body panels and a round base, sew a pocket onto the front panel and stitch a drawstring channel along the top of both panels. Sew the side seams with the strap tabs caught in, leaving the channel open, then sew in the round base. Turn the bag, thread the cord through the channel, add a cord stop and attach the adjustable straps. The Sewzy Yoga Mat Backpack fits a standard mat or a thick XL mat, works as a backpack or a sling, and takes about 2 hours.

TL;DR

• Sizes: Standard fits a mat rolled to about 6 x 26 in (21 in around); Thick XL fits about 7½ x 26 in (25 in around).
• Fabric: 7 to 10 oz cotton canvas or duck, water-resistant nylon or heavy denim. About 1 to 1¼ yd of 54 in fabric for either size.
• Straps: about 112 in of 1½ inch webbing, with two 1½ inch sliders.
• Closure: a ¼ inch drawcord with a spring cord stop.
• Time: about 2 hours, intermediate. The round base is the part to take slowly.

Which size fits my mat?

Roll your mat and measure around it and along it. Most standard mats fit the Standard size; thick cushioned mats and mats rolled with a towel inside need the Thick XL. The ⅜ inch seam allowance is included.

What fabric is best for a yoga mat bag?

A firm fabric holds the drawstring channel and the strap tabs best: 7 to 10 oz cotton canvas or duck, water-resistant nylon for wet walks to class, or heavy denim. The pocket is self-lined, so it can match or contrast. Quilting cotton alone is too soft for this bag unless you interface it first.

What you need

• About 1 to 1¼ yd of 54 in main fabric.
• About 112 in of 1½ inch cotton or nylon webbing for 2 straps and a handle.
• 2 tri-glide or ladder-lock sliders, 1½ inch.
• ¼ inch drawcord or paracord (41 in or 45 in) and a spring-loaded cord stop.
• Thread, clips and a heavy needle.

How to sew a yoga mat bag, step by step

These are the steps of the pattern in short. If you have not printed a PDF pattern before, read how to print PDF sewing patterns first.

1. Cut. Print your size and cut 2 body panels, 1 base on the fold and 1 pocket on the fold. Cut the straps, handle and tabs by measurement.
2. Mark the casing rows and side notches on both body panels, the pocket line on the front, and the two tab points on the base.
3. Make the pocket. Press and topstitch its folded top, turn under the other edges and edgestitch it to the front panel along the sides and bottom.
4. Make the casing. On each body panel, press the top edge under twice and topstitch two rows to make the drawstring channel.
5. Prepare the straps and handle. Fold each tab around a webbing end and bar-tack it close to the fold.
6. Sew the side seams with the top tabs basted in at the corners, leaving the casing channel open between the notches.
7. Attach the base. Pin the round base to the bottom edge, matching the tab marks, and ease the straight edge around the curve. Stitch and clip small notches in the seam allowance.
8. Turn and add the cord. Turn the bag right side out, thread the cord through the channel, add the cord stop and knot the ends.
9. Finish the straps. Feed each strap through a slider and bar-tack the tail for the adjustable end, then sew the bottom tabs into the base seam opposite the pocket.

Sling version

For a crossbody sling instead of a backpack, skip the bottom tabs. Make one long strap with a slider and sew both ends into the two top tab corners, so it hangs in a loop worn across the body.

Tips for the round base

• Clip small notches in the seam allowance every inch or two so the curve lies flat, but do not cut to the stitching.
• Ease, do not stretch, the straight tube edge onto the curved base. Pin generously and sew slowly.
• The same round base and drawstring channel are used in how to make a bucket bag and how to sew a drawstring bag, which are good warm-ups.

A gift for the yoga lover

A yoga mat bag in a bold canvas makes a great New Year's gift for someone starting a fitness habit. Add a contrast base or a second pocket for a strap or block. For more bags, see how to sew a duffel bag and how to sew a crescent sling bag. The Yoga Mat Backpack is a Premium pattern in the Sewzy app, with both sizes and a photo for each step.

Care

Machine wash cold on gentle, reshape while damp and air dry. Take the cord stop off first if it is not wash-safe.