Shiny New Yoga Bag

Hi everyone!
I FINALLY have a new yoga bag :) 

My class provides yoga mats but I wanted my own (in purple of course) which I got last winter. But I didn't have a bag so I just carried it around like that. Very inconvenient. Then I was given a yoga bag which I consequently also managed to break, the bottom came apart and no matter how many times I sewed it back up it just wouldnt stay together! I guess it was the sewing gods telling me I should really get started on that bag... I still had all the fabric from the tote bag I made for my teacher so it was really just a matter of sitting down and start sewing.

A few years ago, I made this bag for someone else who then never collected it so I gave it away for my one-year blogaversary. It's an Amy Butler pattern and can be downloaded for free here. AND... I was so impressed with myself because when I made the first bag many years ago, I was still much more organised and I made patterns for everything, even plain squares. Oh my how things have changed ;) Not that I don't need the patterns anymore, I just don't make them anymore ;) But with this one I actually had a pattern and it made such a difference! I made this bag in 3.5 hours, completely lined and everything :) Well it did help that my machine didn't have a crisis and managed to run smoothly all the way through. See? Sewing gods, am telling you. Let me show you:

The original pattern doesn't have a closure on the top, but I just made the top a bit longer, folded it over and stitched it closed creating a tube. I used laces from some boots (really who wears yellow shoe laces) and one of those squeezy things to stop it from moving.

I only had one choice for the strap and I only had one piece long enough for this. I love the little frog in the Lotus pose but alas it didn't end up on the strap. 

I made sure it ended up on the bottom though! 

The inside has a layer of linen and this printed cotton. Black with grey swirls to match the yoga fabric. Even if you don't really see it, I know it's there :) And with all these layers, this bag is bound to be sturdy and not break in the near future!

The bag has three pockets which are super handy for things like my mini towel, yoga socks, tissues, keys etc. The pockets are of course also lined.

Random picture of the fabric, this is just so cute! Sadly the girly yoga mouse fabric was sold out, but this is a good second. :)

The bag can be worn on the shoulder or across the back. I think across the back is super comfy (and it doesn't cause my dummy to fall over when taking pictures!) so I wear it like that all the time.

Impromptu photo at yoga class. This would be the one occasion where I should have worn the bag just over one shoulder, but it was already done. Oh well...

And just one more thing, I finally managed to grab my feet! Whoohoo! Yes, it had to be photographed as evidence hihi... It's far from perfect but it's great progress for me, when I started I couldn't even touch my ankles :)