Knitting Projects - Bags

For my birthday 2005 Kate bought me a kit to knit a yoga mat bag! It was rated level 3, so it took me a bit to work up to that skill! ;-)
I used long (14") US 7 (4.5 mm) needles and 100% cotton Bernat yarn (popular for soft baby blankets). The bag is ~28" long and has a diameter of ~3.5". The pattern stitch is quite stretchy so it can accommodate many sizes of yoga mats.
Cast on 114 stitches
Row 1: * k1, yo, sl1, k2 tog, psso, yo * (repeat from * to *); k last 2 stitches
Row 2 (and all even rows): purl
Row 3: k2 * yo, sl1, k2 tog, psso, yo k1 * (repeat from * to *); k last stitch
Row 4: repeat row 2
Repeat this pattern until its 12" long from the cast on edge. End on either row 2 or 4.
Bind off leaving a 40" tail.
Sew up the side of the bag. Then sew up the bottom of the bag.
Flip the bag right-side-out.
For the drawstring, create a 3 stitch I-cord that is 28" long.
Weave the I-cord through the 1st row of the open pattern stitch on the top of the bag. Start at the opposite side of the bag from the handle. Weave the cord in and out of every other hole. End with the cord coming into the space which holds the beginning of the cord.
To make the shoulder strap, cast on 6 stitches
Work in garter stitch for 28"
Bind off leaving a 8" tail
Sew the handle 3" from the bottom center and over the side seam. The top of the strap can be sewn just below the I-cord.
Sew in any remaining loose ends.