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ann_leckieI crocheted a yoga mat bag. Here's a washed-out phone pic of it:
In fact, I crocheted it on the fly, but I thought I'd write down what I did so I can link to it in my Ravelry queue. So. Beneath the cut, my yoga mat bag pattern.
this isn't anything more than a cylinder with a strap, a variation on the scrap-yarn mat bag I made for paidhi-girl (a dc circle bottom, and then a tube of trc mesh, and a strap of solid trc) that is itself a variation of my basic water bottle holder (which I've never made a pattern for, but it hardly needs one--have your water bottle handy for measurements, make a circle and then crochet up to make a cylinder, trc mesh is fast and easy, but use whatever you want, change to flat to make a strap, attach other end of strap, fill water bottle, go!). The big revelation, my first water bottle holder, was just how much the whole thing would stretch from the weight of the bottle. I made that strap way too long and had the bottle swinging against my shins! I'm fairly sure the strap for the yoga mat bag could be made a good deal shorter than I have it and still stretch out to an acceptable length. Go ahead and rip it back if it's too long, you'll be happier with the result.
This pattern is all sc, which makes it ideal for self striping yarn, or something multicolored and interesting all by itself. It should be easily adaptable to any yarn and hook size--just make the beginning circle the size you need, remember which row was your last on it (for instance, I have the pattern stopping the circle at 2sc in next sc, sc 5, but if your hook is bigger you might want to make 2sc in next sc, sc 3 your last flat circle round) and start your decreases for the top end in the same place you ended your increases (in the example, 1sc in next 2sc, sc 3, next round 1sc in next 2sc, sc 2, etc).
You should also be able to adapt it easily to a more interesting stitch pattern along the body of the bag, if you feel so inclined. Watch for the effects of stretchiness, though! The yarn will stretch under the weight of the mat way more than you think it will. Before you start working the flat section, stick your mat in the little tube you have and see how it fits. If it's really loose, rip back and take a row or even two off the beginning flat circle.
Yoga Mat
Bernat Baby Jaquards, color I'm a Big Boy (No, I am no joking about the name of this colorway. I get very irritated with baby yarn--I want a lighter yarn sometimes, but the rack is full of bulky and worsted, and the only 3 is baby yarn--in pastels with cutsey names, never anything dark or really bright. The twee is just icing on the cake. Yes, I could go to a yarn shop--and I sometimes do, but not for on-the-fly water bottle holders and such. Anyway, this yarn is a self-striper in light green and blue and looks quite nice, sorry my picture doesn't show it well.)
hook size K
ch 4, join with sl
BOTTOM
1 8sc in ring (place a marker here if it helps you)
2 2sc in each sc around
3 *2sc in next sc, sc 1 in next sc* repeat 7 more times
4 *2sc in next sc, sc 2* eight times
5 *2 sc in next sc, sc 3 * eight times
6 *2sc in next sc, sc 4* eight times
7 *2 sc in next sc, sc 5 * eight times
This is the bottom circle. Once you've got that, sc in each sc around, spiraling up until piece is 3.5-4 inches long (test this by putting the end of the mat in and seeing if it reaches about 3.5 inches) Now you start working flat, to leave a long opening along the side of the cylinder.
WORKNG FLAT
1 --ch 1, sc in each sc until you reach starting ch1.
2-- ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across
repeat row 2 until piece measures 18-20 inches
join with sl to make a circle again.
sc in each sc around, spiralling up until piece measures 21-23 inches
TOP
1 place marker. *1sc in next 2sc, 5 sc* 8 times
2 *1sc in next 2sc, sc 4* 8 times
3 *1sc in next 2sc, sc3* 8 times
4 *1sc in next 2sc, sc2* 8 times
5 *1sc in next 2sc, sc1* 8 times
6 *1sc in next 2sc* 8 times
fasten off
STRAP
picking up sides of stitches, sc 10 across the center of the bottom circle.
1 ch1, turn, sc in each sc across
repeat row 1 until strap is about three quarters the length of the bag (I used a mat to measure). Depending on how stretchy your yarn is you might want to make this shorter or longer. (shorter for stretchy yarn, longer for not-stretchy yarn).
Last row of strap--sc in each sc AND sides of stitches across center top. Fasten off, weave in ends.
BUTTON LOOP
In center of long opening, on one side, join yarn with sl to the side of a stitch. ch 14, join with sl in the place you started, fasten off. Sew on button on opposite side (check placement by putting your mat in the bag and testing where the button needs to be for the loop to hold)
Weave in last ends.
In fact, I crocheted it on the fly, but I thought I'd write down what I did so I can link to it in my Ravelry queue. So. Beneath the cut, my yoga mat bag pattern.
this isn't anything more than a cylinder with a strap, a variation on the scrap-yarn mat bag I made for paidhi-girl (a dc circle bottom, and then a tube of trc mesh, and a strap of solid trc) that is itself a variation of my basic water bottle holder (which I've never made a pattern for, but it hardly needs one--have your water bottle handy for measurements, make a circle and then crochet up to make a cylinder, trc mesh is fast and easy, but use whatever you want, change to flat to make a strap, attach other end of strap, fill water bottle, go!). The big revelation, my first water bottle holder, was just how much the whole thing would stretch from the weight of the bottle. I made that strap way too long and had the bottle swinging against my shins! I'm fairly sure the strap for the yoga mat bag could be made a good deal shorter than I have it and still stretch out to an acceptable length. Go ahead and rip it back if it's too long, you'll be happier with the result.
This pattern is all sc, which makes it ideal for self striping yarn, or something multicolored and interesting all by itself. It should be easily adaptable to any yarn and hook size--just make the beginning circle the size you need, remember which row was your last on it (for instance, I have the pattern stopping the circle at 2sc in next sc, sc 5, but if your hook is bigger you might want to make 2sc in next sc, sc 3 your last flat circle round) and start your decreases for the top end in the same place you ended your increases (in the example, 1sc in next 2sc, sc 3, next round 1sc in next 2sc, sc 2, etc).
You should also be able to adapt it easily to a more interesting stitch pattern along the body of the bag, if you feel so inclined. Watch for the effects of stretchiness, though! The yarn will stretch under the weight of the mat way more than you think it will. Before you start working the flat section, stick your mat in the little tube you have and see how it fits. If it's really loose, rip back and take a row or even two off the beginning flat circle.
Yoga Mat
Bernat Baby Jaquards, color I'm a Big Boy (No, I am no joking about the name of this colorway. I get very irritated with baby yarn--I want a lighter yarn sometimes, but the rack is full of bulky and worsted, and the only 3 is baby yarn--in pastels with cutsey names, never anything dark or really bright. The twee is just icing on the cake. Yes, I could go to a yarn shop--and I sometimes do, but not for on-the-fly water bottle holders and such. Anyway, this yarn is a self-striper in light green and blue and looks quite nice, sorry my picture doesn't show it well.)
hook size K
ch 4, join with sl
BOTTOM
1 8sc in ring (place a marker here if it helps you)
2 2sc in each sc around
3 *2sc in next sc, sc 1 in next sc* repeat 7 more times
4 *2sc in next sc, sc 2* eight times
5 *2 sc in next sc, sc 3 * eight times
6 *2sc in next sc, sc 4* eight times
7 *2 sc in next sc, sc 5 * eight times
This is the bottom circle. Once you've got that, sc in each sc around, spiraling up until piece is 3.5-4 inches long (test this by putting the end of the mat in and seeing if it reaches about 3.5 inches) Now you start working flat, to leave a long opening along the side of the cylinder.
WORKNG FLAT
1 --ch 1, sc in each sc until you reach starting ch1.
2-- ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across
repeat row 2 until piece measures 18-20 inches
join with sl to make a circle again.
sc in each sc around, spiralling up until piece measures 21-23 inches
TOP
1 place marker. *1sc in next 2sc, 5 sc* 8 times
2 *1sc in next 2sc, sc 4* 8 times
3 *1sc in next 2sc, sc3* 8 times
4 *1sc in next 2sc, sc2* 8 times
5 *1sc in next 2sc, sc1* 8 times
6 *1sc in next 2sc* 8 times
fasten off
STRAP
picking up sides of stitches, sc 10 across the center of the bottom circle.
1 ch1, turn, sc in each sc across
repeat row 1 until strap is about three quarters the length of the bag (I used a mat to measure). Depending on how stretchy your yarn is you might want to make this shorter or longer. (shorter for stretchy yarn, longer for not-stretchy yarn).
Last row of strap--sc in each sc AND sides of stitches across center top. Fasten off, weave in ends.
BUTTON LOOP
In center of long opening, on one side, join yarn with sl to the side of a stitch. ch 14, join with sl in the place you started, fasten off. Sew on button on opposite side (check placement by putting your mat in the bag and testing where the button needs to be for the loop to hold)
Weave in last ends.