Crochet yoga bag pattern

Recently I decided I needed a new yoga mat bag… I already had a yoga bag, but I could never use it to travel with if I went to London because it carried my mat horizontally, meaning I was bumping into people on the trains, buses and pavements. So I thought I’d make a bag that I could sling over my shoulder to carry my mat vertically, but I also wanted it big enough to also carry some spare clothes, a purse etc. As I’m loving crocheting at the moment, I thought I’d crochet myself a solution, and here it is…. It’s a fairly quick to crochet yoga bag and as a bonus the yarn I used is quite affordable too. I paid around £3.15 for a skein, and with only 2 skeins, the bag cost me £6,30. I do however have one warning when it comes to crocheting bags, don’t be tempted to make the handles too long, they stretch quite a lot, and use a sturdy yarn with cotton or wool. 

Yarn: Patons Wool Blend Aran

1x skein charcoal (yarn A)

1x skein taupe (yarn B)

Crochet needle 5mm

Pattern

(Please note that I am not a professional pattern writer, so there might be some errors. I made this pattern up as I went along. Do email me and let me know if you spot a mistake.)

Crocheting in the round, use a stitch maker at the end of each row.

Row 1: Ch 5 , sl st into first st to make a loop

Row 2: 8 sc into loop, sl st into first sc.

Row 3: 3 ch, 1dc into same stitch as the chain, then 2dc in each st until end, sl at into the top st of the turning chain. (16 stitches)

Row 4: Same as row 3 (32)

Row 5: 3 ch, (2dc into next dc, 1dc into next dc) – repeat until end sl st into chain. (46 stitches)

Row 6: 3 ch (dc into next two st, 2dc in next st) – repeat until end sl st into chain. (61  stitches)

Row 7: Same as row 5 (82 stitches)

From row 8 onwards, crochet in a continuous spiral, no need to make a ch at the end of the row, use a stitch marker like a different colour thread of yarn to keep track of rows.

Row 8: (Sc in each of next 5 st, 2sc into next st) repeat 13 more times (96 stitches)

Row 9 -11 : Sc in each st

Row 12: Join yarn B, sc into next stitch with yarn B over yarn A using the tapestry crochet technique where you carry and crochet over the yarn not in use. Change back to yarn A, sc into the next 15 st by crocheting over yarn B. *sc with yarn B, sc in next 15 st with yarn A* repeat from * 4 more times.

Here’s a link to a video tutorial to show tapestry crochet where you work over the unused yarn colour.

Continue to follow the chevron pattern chart working in a spiral in single crochet stitches throughout.

Repeat the chevron pattern once more and then break off yarn B and work in Yarn A for 3 more rows or until the bag is the desired length (remember it will stretch). Bind off and thread in the loose ends.

Make Handles:

With either yarn A or B (I used half and half as I ran out) Ch 7, sc into 1st ch to make a loop. sc 7 stitches into the loop, and then continuing in a spiral dc into each st to make a continuous tube (or sc if you want the handle to be less stretchy). Continue until the tube measures between 80 cm and a metre (but remember to stretch the tube when you measure). Bind off leaving a tail of yarn with which to sew the two ends together.

Sew the tube to the top of the bag as shown in the picture below using a tapestry needle and yarn. The part where the two ends of the tube are joined, should be sewn to the top of the bag so that it does not form part of the handle.

And there you go, a yoga bag that can also double as a shopper. I hope you crocheting yogis enjoy the pattern.

Love,

Hanri & Banjo xxx