I supoose it’s a good thing that Larry is so supportive of my little sewing business, always handing out my business cards. So far, his efforts have gotten me a request from Phyllis (a member of our church) to make a new bag for her walker. She didn’t have any specific requests other than straps to attach it to the walker, so I took a few measurements & came home to beg help from my online sewing friends. Here is what I came up with; I’m pleased with the overall appearance but have no idea yet if my design will actually work!
Everything is from stash, other than picking up red jeanstitch for the topstitching. The outer is a natural denim from JoAnn’s; the lining is a fat quarter from the local quilt shop. I used 1″ beige touchtape for all fasteners; my personal preference would have been snap source snaps, at least to attach it to the walker, but I wasn’t sure if she could open/close the larger snaps.
My sewing friends have warned me that, as she lives in a nursing home, I may find myself flooded with requests to make more bags! I don’t think they realize how small a small town nursing home can be, but to be on the safe side I wanted to put down some notes for my future reference. . .or for others to use. I will add updates later on the functionality of my design!
All seams are double stitched and then finished on a serger. The lining & outside are assembled the same way: fold in half width-wise, right sides together, and stitch the sides. The bottom corners can then be squared off to add depth to the bag, in this case 1″ deep.
For the outside layer I cut a rectangle 16″ x 24″; this included 1.5″ for the top hem. For the lining, I cut a 16″ x 21″ rectangle. I didn’t do any inner pockets; the outer pocket is a 10 1/2″ x 7″ rectangle with a 1″ hem and 1/4″-3/8″ turned under on the other 3 sides, topstitched in place. If I had had a better idea of what would be in the pocket, I might have also added a line of stitching down the middle to make it a double pocket.
The strap that holds the bag shut is made of a 2 1/2″ x 7″ strip of denim and a 2″ x 7″ strip of the quilting cotton. Stitch the long sides together and press so that the narrow strip is centered with a little denim showing on either side (may need to turn right side out to press then wrong side out for next step). Stitch across one short end and turn right side out. Topstitch 3 finished sides and set aside.
The straps to hold the bag to the walker are cut 10″ x 6″. Fold in half lengthwise and press; fold in each side to meet at the center and press again (finished straps will be 1 1/2″ wide and 4 thicknesses of denim). Open out to fold down one short end and then close & press again. Secure 3 sides of straps by topstitching in place.
Before inserting lining in bag, serge-finish top edge of outer bag, attaching ends of straps to the back side of the bag at the same time. If decorative topstitch thread was used, take care of direction so that the right side shows when bag is finished. The closure tab is centered between the side seams; the straps are about 3″ in from the side seams. Press 1 1/2″ hem at top of bag. Insert lining into outer fabric, wrong sides together, and pin top hem in place. The lining fabric should rest in the fold of the hem. The hem is stitched twice; 1 1/8″ from fold and 1/8″ from fold.
The last step is to add the touchtape. I used 3 2″ strips for this bag. All are attached by stitching a square around the edge and then an X in the middle; again I used the topstitch thread on the outside, meaning sometimes I stitched with touchtape facing up and other times facing down. For the closure: the hooks are at the center front of the bag, lined up with the top hem; the loops are at the free end of the strap, lined up with the existing topstitching where possible. The other end is topstitched to the back of the bag with the square/X for added security. For the straps: the hooks are attached to the bag, one end lined up with the bottom hem and the other extending onto the strap; the loops are centered at the free end of the straps.
