Wheelchair/Walker bag with tutorial

My grandmother recently started to use a walker on a regular basis.  I offered to make her bag for the walker so she can move things around more easily around the house or if she was out and about.  I really only measured the width between the handles and an approximate depth.

 Here is the finished project.  I have put together a tutorial in case any of you was interested.  I ended up using the Joel Dewberry fabrics I won from Tales at Wayne Manor.



 I ended up wanting my finished measurements to be approximately 21" wide by no more than 10" tall. Here are my requirements:

2 pieces of coordinating fabric 23.5" x 17.5" (you lose some width when you box the bag)
batting or fusible fleece
4 strips of fabric 2" wide by about 18" long for the straps
2 5" squares of fabric for inner pockets
button or other method of closure

Here I used a layer of fusible fleece as well as a thin layer of batting as well.  I wanted the bag to be nice and sturdy!

I then used my walking foot to quilt lines in the outer bag. I suppose any design might work.  I trimmed all the excess off after this step.

Next, fold your fabric in half right sides together and sew up each side, using your quarter inch seam.

The next step is to box your corners.  I decided to take about 2" off each side.  You reposition your side seam so it runs down the center of your bag.  You then line everything up making sure you are centered.  Take a ruler and mark your spot.  Pin, sew on the line, then trim.



Make sure to do this on both sides.  now the outer bag is done and you can set it aside for a while.  Take your bag liner fabric. I decided I wanted to make an inner pocket.

I drew a line across the back of the liner fabric and marked where I wanted my pocket to be.  My pockets are about 4" wide.  I then sewed around that line with a satin stitch (almost like how one may make a button hole).  I then cut between my satin stitch lines.  If you want wider pockets, you would have to change the size of your squares so they are bigger than the width of the pocket hole.

After this step, take out your 5" squares. Cover the hole with your square of fabric, making sure that the right side of the fabric is down.  Pin well and sew around the edge of the square.

Voila, you have a pocket! Do this for the other pocket too.  Your liner will then be done!

After your pockets are assembled, sew your liner in the same way as the outer bag.  The only difference is that you leave a space in one of the sides  (2 or 3 inches) unsewn so you can flip your back right side out when you are done with the assembly.

Next, it is time to make your straps. Take your straps and fold each side of the strip in toward the center.

Next, fold in half and press again.

Sew down each of the straps to hold it all together.  I have not taken a picture of this, but you may want to tuck in the ends of one side of the strap in a 45 degree angle so it looks pretty.

Time to assemble!  Keep your bag and liner inside out.

Place your liner inside of the outer bag.  Line up the side seams.  Make sure you put two straps on each end of the bag. Leave about an inch or so of the straps poking out so they can be sewn down again in the next step.  Pin well.  Sew around the outside then flip out.  You can sew down that open seam in your liner on your machine or by hand.

After you complete this step, pin around the outside of the bag and sew again around the outside to secure the liner in place.  this will also add some more security to the side straps.  Sorry I didn't get a picture of this step either!  You can see it a little in the top finished picture!

Happy quilting!

Ana White Pantry

Last weekend, my husband and I had little to do.  So, what else would we want to do other than build a new pantry for my kitchen!  Mine is literally falling apart.  Have any of you heard of Ana White?  She makes easy to read plans for furniture and other handy items!  There is even a plan on there for a rustic quilt ladder.  I found the plans and then we made some slight adjustments to make it work for our kitchen.  It is now almost assembled.  This weekend, we will install the doors (they are complete and just need the hinges) and then sand.  Perhaps there will be some painting too but I don't want to push it.  I am so excited!  I even was able to help with the assembly.  Sure I broke a few drill bits but it is all in the name of a new experience, right?  I will be doing all of the staining/painting though.  That is my domain and I look forward to it.

Here it is!  Made of stain grade pine and MDF.  This baby is NEVER going to fall apart!  it is 7 feet tall, 36" wide, and about 14" deep.  It will be fastened to the wall since it is top heavy.  

1930's Quilt Kit

An internet friend of mine sent me a beautiful quilt kit a few months ago.  I guess the story is that in the early 90's. a kit was made up as a gift to an older woman.  She passed away before she could make it, and it ended up in an estate sale.  It was purchased by my quilting friend some time ago and eventually it came to me. 

All the pieces were cut out and there was a neat diagram to help me in putting it together.  The only problem was that many of the pieces were either a tiny bit too big or a tiny bit too small.  I hope it doesn't cause any issues later on.  this quilt will end up being a twin size and I have all the supplies to make the top.

I am at the point where I am making these larger blocks.  All 120 4-patches are complete.  I do, however, have to put it away for a while.  I have two things that have jumped up on my list.  I have a walker bag to make for my grandmother who is newly walker bound as well as my first pillowcase dress!

Finally, here is a peak of my kids who were able to play in a quilt fort!  Can you see a little leg in there?

Happy quilting!

Not enough quilting going on.

Life has been busy and different lately.  I probably mentioned I have returned to school, and therefore a big transition is taking place.  My children and I are adjusting to some changes and that has taken me away from my hobby.  I reward myself with quilting after I have finished my papers and homework assignments.  Therefore, I have made some progress on projects.

The last two weeks I have been working on quilting the Evelyn Sloppy string quilt.  All of what I have done has been with a walking foot, and last night I finished enough of the quilting so that I was able to put on the binding.  I will then go back and work on some simple freemotion in the middle border and in the string blocks.

One of my favorite things about the quilting process is how the quilt looks when it is folded.  Strange, right?  When a quilt is just basted, it looks bulky while folded.  The more quilting is finished, the better the quilt looks folded.  When the binding is sewn on and I trim the excess backing and batting from it, it looks awesome!  I feel like I have accomplished something.  What parts of quilting do you enjoy?  Is it a stack of quilt blocks piled up and ready to assemble?  Is it a finished top?  Is it putting on the binding?  Me?  Definitely a pretty folded quilt.

I hope to show you the final project in the next week or so.  Until then, happy quilting!

For any readers out there who like CW prints.

My local quilt shop is having a sale on their Jo Morton fabrics...only 5.95 a yard!  I purchased a good deal of CW prints the last time they had a sale, and perhaps some of you may be interested.  You can either phone in an order or email them with an order  (with your phone number attached) and they can ship it to you!  If you do, tell them Natasha sent you!  Another Quilt is a wonderful store run by a mother and daughter team.  They have helped me so much over the last few years!

Here is the link  to Another Quilt if you want to take a peek!

Feeling lucky!

Tales at Wayne Manor recently had a giveaway of some Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley fabrics.  I was so excited to win!  I was even MORE excited to get the squishy in the mail.  She was so kind as to send me a little bundle of scraps too!  I LOVE scraps and strangely enough am getting low because of the many scrap projects I have finished this year.  If you have not yet visited Tales at Wayne Manor, check it out! 



I recently hit a big milestone (well, more of a personal goal) with my GFG quilt.  I am about 75% done with the quilting!  One more big section to go!  I have a few more months of quilting (you know how it is...your personal deadline keeps getting pushed back more and more) and I will FINALLY be able to sleep under it!  Also, I have begun to quilt my Evelyn Sloppy string quilt.  It will take a few weeks because I am pretty busy right now and don't have a lot of time to work with it!



Basket Blocks are finished and trimmed

Today I had some rare afternoon time to myself.  My youngest son has a double ear infection and my oldest son fell asleep in the car on the way home from the pediatrician.  After getting them to bed, I actually was able to work on quilting for the first time in a week!  Since school began (I am a graduate student beginning an internship) and the kids started daycare, I have been busy, busy, busy.

Here are the blocks.  I have no idea yet what to do for sashings.  Ideas anyone?  I just don't like wide sashing unless it is pieced somehow.  Colors?  Green or cheddar or red?  Ideas aren't coming yet.