Sew Your Own Yoga Strap

A yoga strap is handy for yoga, stretching, and exercising in general—and for carrying your yoga mat. Having one on hand can make working out easier.

Straps can be purchased or can be made by purchasing webbing and finishing the ends. However, this article will show you how to make one from materials in your fabric stash. We will use two fabrics, layered for strength. One is fabric you never want to see again, and one is fabric that inspires you to work out.

Floral on this odd background pattern is not my taste. I find this deep blue fabric delightful.

Materials

• Not-my-taste fabric (quantity described below)

• Delightful fabric (quantity described below)

• Thread that coordinates with your delightful fabric

Choose and Cut Your Fabrics

This project will use up some of your not-my-taste (NMT) fabric for the core of the strap. I hate to call any fabric “ugly,” but I certainly have a lot of fabric I’ve acquired from door prizes, swaps, and “hey, do you want this, I’m not going to use it” gifts that I absolutely would not have chosen for myself. How about you? Now is the time to put it to use.

Dig out your NMT fabric and eyeball it to see if you have enough to make 6-inch wide strips totaling about 6.5–8 feet (78–96 inches) in length. You will need a little more to account for seam allowances, especially if you are using up smaller scraps, or if you want a longer strap.

For example, three 6-inch wide strips of 30 inches in length will total 78 inches in length. Two 6-inch wide strips of 45 inches will total 84 inches. This math is because six inches of length is lost every time strips are joined.

It does not matter which way the pattern of the NMT fabric is oriented (because you won’t see it again), but it does matter which direction you cut the fabric. The core’s length needs to come from the “length of fabric.” To find the length of fabric, try to stretch the fabric one way, and then the other. The direction that has a slight give to it is the width of fabric (WOF). The direction that resists stretching is the length of fabric (LOF), and this is the direction we will use for the length of our strips. This will make the core of the strap strong.

Now, find a fabric (or fabrics) that delights you to use on the outside of the strap. Do you want a serene pattern in subtle oceanside colors or a bold, energetic fabric that symbolizes your strength? The finished strap will be launderable, but consider fabrics that will resist showing grime in the first place.

Grab enough delightful fabric that you can make 4-inch wide strips totaling about 6.5–8 feet (78–96 inches) in length.

For example, three 4-inch wide strips of 30 inches in length will total 82 inches. Two 4-inch wide strips of 45 inches will total 86 inches. This is because four inches of length is lost every time strips are joined.

If your delightful fabric has a directional pattern, you can match its horizontal axis to the strap’s length or its width. Do whichever you think looks best. Otherwise, you can use the same stretch test as the NMT fabric to provide additional stretch resistance.

Connect Your Strips Together

Sew the strips together as you would when making continuous binding:

This example shows the 4” delightful strips.

1. Lay the ends of two strips together at a right angle (90 degrees). They need to be placed right sides together with the ends overhanging a little.

2. Draw a diagonal line (45 degrees) between the points where strips meet. Pin the strips in place.

3. Sew on the line.

4. Trim to a 0.25-inch seam allowance, straighten the strips, and press the seam open.

5. Continue adding strips until you reach the desired length.

Repeat the steps for the other fabric. Be sure that your delightful strip is longer than your NMT strip by at least one inch.

Fold the Fabrics Together

Prepare the core:

Two not-my-taste fabrics are spliced together to form the core.

1. Fold the NMT fabric strip in half lengthwise and press a sharp crease down the center of the fabric.

2. Unfold the strip. Fold both long edges into the center and press. Try to preserve the center crease.

The delightful fabric is wrapped around the core.

Combine the layers:

When the whole thing is folded together the not-my-taste fabric will never be seen again. Only the blue delightful fabric is visible.

1. Fold the delightful fabric strip in half lengthwise—right side out—and press a sharp crease down the center of the fabric.

2. Unfold the delightful strip and lay it right side down.

3. Lay the prepared NMT core on top, with the center crease lined up on the center crease of the delightful strip. The delightful fabric should be visible all the way around.

4. Fold the edges of the delightful fabric over the NMT fabric and press them down.

5. Fold the entire project in half lengthwise—delightful fabric out—along the center crease. Press the entire strap to sharpen the creases. Pin or clip along the edge.

6. Stitch along all edges of the strap, sewing about 1/8 inch from the edge.

7. Add additional lines of stitching over the whole strap for strength.

Finish the Ends

If you want a plain strap just for stretching, not a mat carrier, you can call it done and use it now.

If plan to carry your mat with the strap but prefer to have buckles or D-rings, you can finish your strap with those. There are tutorials out there.

If you would like self-tightening ends made with no extra parts, follow these steps:

The straight pin prevents accidentally sewing into the “trapped” strap. The yellow marks indicate where the box will be stitched.

1. Wrap the end of the strap around the strap (about a foot in). Fold the strap so that about 1.5 inches extend past the length of the “trapped” strap. Pin or clip in place.

2. To sew a box, sew on the end seam of the end of strap. Pivot and sew along the side seam for one inch or so, being sure to stop about 1/4 inch from the “trapped” strap. Pivot and sew parallel to the “trapped” strap. Pivot and return to the start. Pivot and sew an X in the box.

Repeat these steps for the other end.

Now, just slip your rolled up mat into one loop and pull it tight. Then slip the other loop on and pull it tight. Away you go!

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Note: If you would like to learn how to use a yoga strap for stretching, please read my article “How to Use a Yoga Strap.”