Need help for very special project!
 

My 9 year old granddaughter has recently been relegated to a wheelchair for the forsee-able future. On the bright side, she has just received a fuschia wheelchair made just for her! My DD (a non-sewer) was thumbing through a Nancy's notions catalog and got the idea that I could make her a quilted book bag to hang on the back of the wheelchair. We live 1000 miles apart, which makes for not too good communication. Do any of you know of a pattern that could be altered for this purpose? I believe what she liked was made out of a jelly roll. So I need a pattern and the suggestion of a good jelly roll that would go with a fuschia wheelchair. I have to shop on line, so I can't tell about colors very well. I did see Daisy Mae by Benartex, but can't tell if it is hot pink or fuschia. Any help would be appreciated. TIA!

I would google wheelchair book bags or something similar and you'll find some ideas.

So sorry about your granddaughter!. I would think hot pink and fuschia are very near the same. Fuschia I believe has a touch of purple. Oops! maybe that's magenta. I would look at the MSQC page and check out their jelly rolls or any of the other sites. Prayers from the gulf for your grand.

found this link which might help: http://www.sewingsupport.com/sewing-...lker-bags.html

I scanned through the newest Nancy's Notions catalog and did not specifically see a pattern. Nancy's notions is also on-line so you can look there. I would suggest going with batiks based on the colors and your DGD's age.

I second the batik idea. Unless she likes more "traditional' fabric. I would also go with them because they will grow with her. You could maybe modify a walker type bag to the wheel chair. I might also make a special wheelchair throw with some steps or ties to help keep it on. Maybe make the two items out of the same fabric. Have your daughter measure your gd while she is in the chair to get a good idea of size to make it. I am guessing probably around 30x40ish in size. Also with the batik you can get a a jelly roll or charm pack that would have many shades of pink that would work.Hope this helps

Just curious, how can she get into the bag if it's tied to the back of the wheelchair? Wouldn't it be better if it were tied to the side of the wheelchair? Just my brain thinking.

I don't know if this helps, but if you search the school catalogs there are bags that hang off the back of chairs. They are primarily made for kinder students, but the concept is the same. It is more of a flap that goes over the back of,each chair.....just a thought.....best of luck!

I think it's for convenience for whoever may be pushing her or accompanying her? I think fuschia is a great color for a little girl's wheelchair!

When my Dh was using a walker due to a broken leg, he used a lumber yard nail apron to carry the phone, etc., in it. (I was too overwhelmed to make one!) Even something that simple would work, but you probably want a flap.

I have a son in a wheelchair. I've made him simple bags, but you 1st need the measurements of the wheelchair. As someone suggested you can also make one for the side. That would be smaller and fit to the inside of the chair. We used this for valuables, money, keys, pencils or pens, etc. so that it wasn't available to everyone. Someone helped him get things out of the back bag. You do need to measure to know the width for all bags.

I've heard that she has lots of "helpers" at school. It's a very small school, and the kids are very good to each other.

Simplicity has a pattern for bags that go on wheelchairs and walkers and such. I bought the pattern a while back for my FIL but never used it. If you'd like the pattern, I'd be happy to mail it to you.

My son uses a wheelchair, and I've often adapted bags for use on the back of his chair. Some things to keep in mind-- often it works better to have shorter handles with easy release buckles on the handles-- these can loop over the push handles on the chair. You will probably need a photograph with measurements showing the chair back in order to have a good idea of the size and shape that will work best. Too large a bag will rub against wheels and get scuffed up. I like to use a bag with a flap closure, much like the standard messenger bag style. as that secures items better. I also like to have a small zippered section hidden on the reverse side that keeps valuables and medications secure but within reach.

RST

I just received a copy of Annie's Quilt and Sew Catalog in the mail. They have a pattern for a wheelchair bag and a walker caddy. Their internet address is AnniesCatalog.com Good luck!

This site has good prices on batik jelly rolls, and I think there are a couple of sets that would go with fuschia.

http://www.balibatiks.com/

Annie's Quilting and Sewing catalog has a pattern for a saddlebag helper (I downloaded mine). It went together easily, and is a big help to the recipient. Maybe you could make a smaller version?

If you could get the brand and model of the wheelchair, you could probably look up all the specifications you need online. This way if there is a measurement that you forgot to get, it would be readily available. They might also have accessories for sale for that particular chair that you could use to get a better idea of what is needed. Good luck.

Thanks, everyone for the help. I think I have a pretty good handle on what I'm going to do now. I've got two patterns and 3 jelly rolls ordered. The only thing I'm worried about is the stiffening interfacings and the hardware (buckles, etc.) Haven't found them yet. Any suggestions as to a good website?

Sorry to hear about your granddaughter! I do a lot of charity sewing and there are a lot of free patterns for wheelchair bags on the internet. I believe that they have bags for smaller chairs. You could even make her a small matching lap quilt with a pocket on the back to hold pencils, or small treasures.
Hope she gets out of that chair soon.
Bonnie K

I am glad you have located some of the items your needing, I was going to suggest Annies but others beat me to it, : ) As for the remainder of the items I have been shopping on Ebay for items like that, for making purses and such, so maybe they will have what your looking for. Good Luck.

Our hospital wants wheel chair bags, and asked volunteers to make some. The directions are to use a piece 20 inches wide by 28 inches long. Fold that in half, line it if you wish, and attach handles (3 1/2 inches wide by 21 inches long, folded to make a strap 1 inch wide). Use Velcro to attach.

As for color, I would use a neutral background with a pink, purple, fuschia pattern in it.

My family lovingly calls me "the Queen of pink" because I am drawn to all shades of it. Having said that, because I work with so much of it, I have learned that you will never match it perfectly, so while others have given you a site for patterns, I thought I would suggest that you use a variety of pinks with maybe purple or aqua for an accent color since she is a girly girl in a fushia "set of wheels". Many blessings to you all.

Wheel chair bags
 

Another type of wheelchair bag was requested a few years back. It attaches onto the arm rests and could hang inside or outside of the chair. I would put mine on the inside. LOL Very easy for user to get at contents.

These could be as long (wide) as the chair handle would accommodate and as deep as you like. Six inches or so seems about right. Ours were held on with four straps that tied.

Should have said: This strap holds the bag onto the wheelchair handles. So it would be cut into four pieces. Or maybe two pieces Velcroed to the bag at one end. Sometimes I sew a line down the middle or to one side of the bag to create two pockets.

I would look at McCalls/Simplicity patterns on line, because I have seen patterns to make such bags. My prayers for healing for your DGD and hope she isn't in the wheelchair for long - but I think she has a hot one in fushcia. I'm sure there are great fabrics out there that would really jazz up the wheelchair.

Most totes will work on a wheelchair if the bag is wide enough and the straps long enough. You do have to allow for the straps to wrap around the handles or else the straps may slide down the edges. I've made a blue zillion out of jeans and pants. very simple, very quick. Just switch the straps around for use on a wheel chair

How do you hand a bag over the wheel and not create a huge problem with movement? Even hanging inside--couldn't be very big and wouldn't allow for more than a couple books

In my experience, most velcro will hold only a limited amount of weight, unless you use industrial strenght velcro-------------which is available.

One thing to remember, make the bag easy to pull off to give her access to the contents-------without help from someone else. Which is why I like a bit longer straps and no velcro

I just saw the new lakeside line and it might work great for what you are describing. Hot pinks and girly type of prints. Hope your granddaughter recovers quickly.

My favorite source for professional quality hardware and interlinings is here: http://www.seattlefabrics.com/products.html#Hardware. When a developer is creating prototype hiking backpacks or baby carriers, they get their stuff at this place. Plus the prices are good.

I think it's important to use heavy duty hardware-- wheelchair bags get heavy use and a lot of unusual stress points.

I'll hazard a guess, since it's a pediatric chair and it's in a custom color, that this is not an off-the-shelf chair. The sizes of the arm rests and seat back are custom, so looking online is not accurate for knowing how to fit it. It probably would be helpful to know if she is going to self-propel (large wheels to the sides) or if it's an assistant driven chair (more room to the sides, but important to keep the back streamlined so that attendant can get to the handles to push. It's also likely that she will have a tray attachment, which can get in the way of accessing side-mounted bags, but which is very useful.

Another item which we find very useful for my son is a caddy mounted on the back of the van driver's seat which holds items he may need while in the car-- you've probably seen lots of them made for toddlers-- usually velcro attached strap that goes around the headrest, plus a belt to hold it flush to the seat.

There are some fushia fabrics listed for sale on this board - if they aren't sold out. Good price for them too.
Look a few days back.

I saw a bag made from jelly rolls on MissouriStar Quilting (I think). It could be modified to work on the back of the wheelchair with some changes to the straps. I teach sped and I like when parents include backpacks on the wheelchairs...it makes it much easier for the child to keep track of their things. :) Blessings for you and your family.

It's true, this small bag would not hold a lot, six inches is not very deep, but I think it would not interfere with the wheel on the outside, and would be easy to get at if it were on the inside. It would just be for things she wanted to have on hand and not have to ask someone for: tissues, pencils, note pad, etc.

I thought the same thing. But the hospital gives us the Velcro to use, and it does look like industrial strength. That stuff really holds. And I would hope it wouldn't be loaded down with a ton of stuff.

Thanks for your input.

you can try "charity wheelchair patterns ", they have free patterns.