Yoga mat strap: Here's how to make a sturdy macramé carrying strap!
This beautiful carrying strap lets you conveniently carry a yoga or exercise mat over your shoulder. The fastening mechanism is straightforward and easy to use. You can also use this sturdy strap as a handy yoga prop.
Strap length: about 2 meters.
Yoga mat carrying strap: supplies
- 2 wooden rings (5.5 cm in diameter)
- macramé cord
- measuring tape
- scissors
Yoga mat carrying strap: instructions
1. Cut four 12-meter lengths of the braided cord. Thread the cords through the wooden ring so that one end is about 2.5 meters from the ring.
2. Cut a 70 cm piece of cord and tie a wrapping knot just after the ring.
A: Form a loop with one end of the cord and wrap the other end around the entire bundle of cords.
B: Thread the remaining end of the cord through the loop on the top and pull the loop inside the wraps from the cord end (below the wraps).
C: Trim the ends of the wrapping knot.
3. Separate the eight cords so the shorter ones (2.5 m) are in the middle, and the longer ones (about 9.5 m) are in pairs on each side. Wind the longer cords into small skeins around your palm to make knotting easier. Then begin tying square knots with the cords in double strands.
4. Here’s how to tie square knots:
A: First, take the cords on the left side over the center bundle and under the cords on the right side. Then bring the cords on the right side under the center bundle and over those on the left side. Tighten by pulling them outward.
B: Next, reverse the process: Take the cords on the right side over the center bundle and under those on the left side. Then take the cords on the left side under the center bundle and over those on the right side. Tighten.
5. Keep making square knots, alternating steps A and B, until the macramé is about 1.8 m long or around 10 cm shorter than your desired length.
6. Thread the four center cords through the other wooden ring. Bring them back to the center and make 3–4 more square knots around all the center cords. Cut another piece of cord, about 70 cm, and tie a wrapping knot that also secures the cords used for the knots. Finally, trim all ends.
7. Pass the macramé cords through the wooden rings at both ends and slip the exercise mat into the loops.
Tip!
If you use a thicker braided cord, you can knot with single strands as well.
