In this instruction we make a strap for your yoga mat using the Makramé technique. To get started, pick up two ropes that are 12 meters long each.

Take one of the ropes and fold it in the middle. Place the loop through the loop and pull the rest of the rope into the loop that is created, see picture. Then do the same with the second rope so that the knots formed on the ring end up next to each other.

Now we are ready for the knots. You will create a knot called a square knot that repeats throughout the pattern. To do this, start with the rope closest to the top and make a “P” by placing it above the middle rope and under the rope closest to the left. Then pass the leftmost rope under the middle rope and through the large hole in “P”. Pull the whole rope out of the “P”. Pull both hands. Get your first square knot ready!
See pictures below for a better experience.

Repeat this sequence but for the next square knot, applying the leftmost rope and making a “4”, following the same sequence as above but in the opposite direction, see pictures below. Once you have completed the first two knots, simply repeat these, alternating 4 and P, until you reach 90 cm.

Hint

One thing that makes it easier to remember if you are going to make “4” or “P” next — it is always the same rope at the top and the same rope at the bottom, they do not change places. So keep an eye on the top rope so you know whether to do a “4” or a “P”.

Once you reach 90 cm, we will change the ropes we tie with to the inner ropes by moving as below. Place the inner rope on the outside and continue to make exactly the same knots again. It doesn't matter if you use a “4” or a “P”. Now you can continue to tie until you reach 180 cm. If you do not make this change of rope at 90 cm, it will run out of rope too early.

When you have reached 180 cm, you want to go to the second ring.
When you reach 180 cm, you'll want to add the second ring. Pull the four ropes through the ring. Place the two ropes in the middle of the ring as shown in the picture, and the left and right ropes on the sides. Swap the positions of the leftmost and rightmost ropes by passing them under all the ropes in opposite directions. Leave about 2 cm of space between your ring and the finished knots, then proceed to make approximately four square knots underneath the ring to secure it. Tighten!

Now you have four longer hanging ropes left. You can either cut them off or leave them for decoration. If you want to add small knots as a detail, do as follows: Start by making a loop as shown in the picture. Then, twist the end of the rope around the loop a few times and pull it tight. Then, cut off the end (if you want).

When you're done, push your finished loop through the ring so it forms a loose loop on one side. That will be where one end of the yoga mat sits. Do the same with the other end. Thread your yoga mat, blanket or towel into each end - now you´ve made your own carrying strap!