Becca, By Design.: Working out is more fun with a new gym/yoga bag!

I like going to the gym already, but having a pretty bag to take your stuff in, makes it even more fun (I swear!) I found this pattern quite awhile ago, and have been wanting to make it ever since! This would make a great gift for someone who loves yoga (time to start thinking of home made Christmas gifts already!!.....I know..... it's early.... I'm sorry:) ! )

My new yoga/gym bag!

Last year (as one of my first sewing projects) I made a yoga bag. I got the pattern from Amy Butler's website. (http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/free_patterns.php) This pattern is the 'Nigella Yoga Bag'.

I was making a cosmetics bag for someone last Christmas and had bought this really neat striped material. At the time, the fabric store had buy 1 metre get two free, so of course I had to get 3 metres. That is A LOT of fabric, because it is drapery fabric which comes on those really long bolts. Needless to say, I had a lot left over after that tiny cosmetics bag, and I still have tons left after making the yoga bag. The yoga bag I made last year is just to hold a yoga mat (with pockets, to hold things like a cell phone or keys. I really like it, but I have been wanting something a bit bigger, that was long enough to hold my mat, but also maybe a water bottle, shoes and my wallet.

Yoga bag! (I LOVE this fabric)

I found the pattern at sew4home.com. THIS SITE IS AWESOME!! (http://sew4home.com/tips-resources/interviews-inspiration/678-s4h-fave-11-yoga-mat-tote). I love the fabric I chose, and it came from the drapery section again. The fabric store had the same deal this time for buy 1 get 2 free, but I refrained myself.... because I seriously don't need 3 more metres of a drapery fabric right now. I bought half a metre, which was almost perfect, but since each piece was 33in, I needed to add some other fabric to the ends (the cream coloured fabric). I actually like the other fabric on the ends. I think it makes the bag look more interesting. The lining fabric is a bed sheet that I am using for another sewing project, I just had some left over. The handles are 1.5" webbing. I covered a button in the same fabric as the ends of the bag.

Main fabric pieces

Lining fabric, handles and button loop fabric

Handles sewn on!

This is right before I flip it right side out. This is always such an exciting part. It's like the moment right before you unfold a home made paper snowflake :) (I got to use my new pinking shears to cut the edge!)