Whatever time of year you are reading this, it's likely that moving a bit more and using your body for an activity you enjoy would do you good.
It can start with craft – crafting engages your brain and your hands, and can give you a big boost of creative achievement when you complete a make. But we are unlikely to break into a sweat when we are crafting. These makes here are designed to build on the pleasure of crafting to encourage good habits in the work-out world, too.
How to make a yoga mat bag
Make it easy to keep your mat under control when you are out and about with this easy step-by-step tutorial to make a yoga mat bag. Match fabric colours to your activewear, or go full neon for a fabulous burst of brightness on even the dullest day.
Find our tutorial for free yoga mat sewing pattern
Keep fit hamster
Bounce your way to a healthier endocrine system with a rebounding class – just like this aerobics hamster! This little guy is part of our motivational hamster printable downloads and we'll guide you making an invisible spinner with the power of magnets and a hidden slider element to make this card, too.
Find our tutorial for creative spinner card ideas
Free crochet sweat band pattern
Great for tennis or for getting your sweat on with a full-on 80s aerobics workout. Jane Fonda eat your heart out! Leotards optional.
Find our tutorial for free crochet sweatband pattern
One skein knitted leg warmers
Go for classy with soft and natural colours or keep the 80s aerobic vibe going with hot neon colours! Flax and Twine's chunky ribbed leg warmers are quick and easy to knit with a single ball of yarn, and you'll find the free pattern available on their website.
Find the pattern for one skein knitted leg warmers
Cricut Sports Flex
Activewear is super-comfy as it contains so much lycra, designed to stretch and move when you do! But this means you can't use regular iron-on embellishments as they are not designed to stretch like this. Cricut's Sports Flex iron-on is designed especially for activewear, so any personalised designs you add with this will last through as many gym sessions as you do! The Do It Better Yourself Club blog has this great guide to embellishing your own sports attire using it.
Find the Cricut Sports flex iron on tutorial
How to make a yoga mat carrier roll
Our friends over at Mollie Makes prefer to carry their yoga mats around in this super-soft and quilted carrier roll. You'll find the pattern and step by steps for making this on the Mollie website - it can even double as a pillow!
Find the tutorial for the yoga mat carrier roll
Free city gym shorts pattern
Purl Soho have this gorgeous free pattern for city gym shorts available on their website in both adult and child sizes, too. Designed with a classic tulip hem and easy elastic waist, these shorts have all the comfort and ease of traditional exercise gear but with way more style.
Find the free pattern for city gym shorts
Free yoga socks pattern from Patons
Going barefoot for yoga can leave you with cold toes, which is not good for flexibility, but keeping socks on can be slippery! Knitted yoga socks, with the toes and heel exposed for contact and grip, but warm yarn hugging your foot and ankle are the answer! Better still, you can get the pattern for this classy Patons pair for free from Ravelry.
Find the free yoga sock pattern
