MP3 Player Fabric Sling

Happy New Year!  One of my resolutions is to exercise more.  Of course, this has been a resolution for about the last 25 years of my life, but I really think it's going to stick this year. 

So, I hopped on the treadmill.  (Okay, I didn't hop.  First I had to have my husband clear off all the boxes and junk off of it since it was buried in the garage somewhere, and then I got on it.) The only way I think working out is even mildly fun is to have music.  Unfortunately, my treadmill is an older model and the only place to put my iPod is in the drink holder.  Which means I have to put my water bottle elsewhere and get off the treadmill every time I want I drink.  I know I could wear one of those strappy things on my arm to hold my iPod, but the thought of elastic around one of my chubby arms, with fat squeezing out around it, doesn't exactly turn me on either.

So, there I am, on the treadmill, swinging my arms and listening to my music, when my arm hit the line connecting my earphones and my iPod and I watched in horror as my iPod flys out of the cup holder, unplugs from the earphones, and crashes to the floor.  Luckily, it still works!  But I decided then and there that if this exercise thing was going to work, I needed to find a better way to have my music with me. And thus the Fabric MP3 Sling was born!

Materials:
Fabric
Hook and Eye tape
Sewing machine
Thread

Instructions:

1. Measure around deck of your treadmill (or any exercise machine for that matter).  Add about two inches to your measurement to allow for overlap and seam allowances.
2. Cut two pieces of fabric the length of your measurement by a 4" width.
3. Cut one piece of fabric for the pocket, measuring 4" x 4".
4. Lay your two long pieces of fabric, right sides facing and sew around three sides, leaving one of the short sides open.
5. Turn out pieces and iron flat.  Fold the open end in 1/4" and press.
6. Top stitch around the entire strip.
7. Press all four edges of your pocket square a 1/4" under.  Sew around it to create a finished edge.
8. Place pocket onto middle of long fabric strip and sew the pocket on.  Be sure to leave one of the short edges open at the top for the pocket.
9. Attach hook and tape to the ends of the long strip.
10. Attach sling to treadmill, place MP3 player into it.  Exercise away.

Both my husband and I have used the sling and it really does work.  Your arms can still get a bit tangled in your earphone cord but the sling should keep your MP3 player from flying out.  Of course, if you are a really enthusiastic arm flayer, I can't make any guarantees!  Since the sling is removable, you can throw it in the wash when sweat drips on it (because we all know you are working out REALLY hard) or if you need to take the gym with you.