Sew a Yoga Mat Handle with Bias Tape

Carry your yoga mat to class in style with a fun carrying handle complete with a velcro pocket! Follow along as Stacy Grissom shows you how to measure for and make your handle using only a small amount of fabric, some fusible fleece, and bias tape. This easy to construct handle can be simply wrapped around your yoga mat for transport, or the design also allows you to slip one handle through the other in order to hold it tighter. Adding the optional pocket to the front makes the perfect place for your I.D. or keys.

As mentioned in the video, this project can be made using store bought bias tape or you can make your own. Making your own bias tape gives you a wider selection of colors and prints, and makes it possible to match the bias tape to your project by making them out of the same fabric.

Making your own bias tape can be easy. To begin, you will need to cut strips of fabric on the bias or the diagonal of the fabric. This is the length of fabric that has the most stretch and will allow the bias tape to ease around curves. To make ½” double fold bias tape, like the tape used in the video, you will need to cut strips that are 2” wide. Fold the strips of fabric in half lengthwise and press. Open the strip back out and fold each raw edge toward the pressed line in the middle, and then press in place. Fold the strips in half lengthwise again along the previous center fold and press. Now your bias tape is ready to apply to your project! If this seems too tedious to do, or you are making a bunch of bias tape, consider using a bias tape maker. This is a simple tool that allows you to feed your fabric through one end, and the tool then folds your fabric for you and you simply press it as you pull it out the other end. This tool comes in multiple different sizes, depending on the width of bias tape you want to make.