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Sunday 26 May 2013

Wizzy's bag

I won’t bore you with the nitty-gritty but I use a wheelchair for quite a bit of the time (you can read the reasons why etc in another of my blogs ‘The Joint Journals’*).

Shortly before we were going on our cruise last summer Mr Gertie asked if I could make a bag what would fit on the back of Wizzy (my wheelchair).

When we were on a cruise the previous year Mr Gertie not only had to push Wizzy but also carry a rucksack so thought maybe Wizzy could do some of the carrying this time around...

Mr Gertie took Wizzy’s vital statistics then I set about making a bag that would fit on the back of Wizzy.

As Stickies, my elbow crutches, would also be at the back of Wizzy, I had to make sure that the bag would sit ok with them.

 I based the design of the bag on a rucksack. It would have a long body to accommodate four large pockets at the front and sides. These pockets would be used to hold things like bottles of water (handy for heat in the Mediterranean). 

I also added an inside zipped pocket into the lining so we could keep things safe, like passports etc. For ease I fixed the length of the handles. 

The fabric for the rucksack needed to be hardwearing and waterproof so decided on leatherette, black weave patterned to be exact, with red cotton fabric (for a bit of brightness) for the lining.

 

I’d never sewn with leatherette so had to do a little research beforehand. Not been able to press the seams open (the iron would melt the fabric....) was a problem so I just had to finger press them and hope for the best!!!!

I was a lot slower at machine stitching the pieces together as mistakes could not be unpicked because the needle left a hole in fabric. The same thing applied to pins so had to use paper clips, pegs and tape to hold the pieces together.

It was a bit of a challenge using leatherette for the first time. However overall I’m happy with how Wizzy’s bag came out – and so too is Wizzy!!!

Have a great week.

Gertie xx

PS pop over to Handmade Monday to see what other fellow craft bloggers have been up to.

*I also have ‘The BOGOF Blog’ which I share with Mr Gertie

26 comments:

  1. It looks a great bag, and a little bit like some kind of insect/beetle thingy hanging onto the back of the chair.
    I've been writing about oilcloth this week - same problems as with the leatherette - I like using soft pegs for holding things together whilst I sew.

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    1. You're right, it does look like a beetle. So maybe instead of Wizzy's bag, it should be called Ringo....

      Even though pins can be a bit of a pain (literally sometimes in my case !!!), it's only when you can't use them, like with oilcloth or leatherette, do you really miss them xx

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  2. Wow, the Wizzy bag looks amazing, and very practical. I love how your chair and sticks have names.

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    1. Thanks Wendy.

      I found by giving my elbow crutches and wheelchair names made them seem less clinical xx

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  3. I too love the names of your items - now you just have to think of one for the bag! It looks amazing - I hope that it lives up to the expectations.

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    1. I also named my stairlift. It's called Gordon after the guy who installed it.

      At the moment the bag's just called 'Wizzy's bag' but after CatkinJane said it looked like a beetle, I might start calling it Ringo - get it!!! xx

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  4. I like the basket weave leatherette you used, it makes the bag more striking, as does the red lining. I've only ever sewn small pieces of tough fabrics like leatherette so I think you were so clever to complete such a large item at your first go.
    Have a lovely week.

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    1. I agree - the basket weave patten really does stand out. The red lining was Mr Gertie's choice. He does seem to have an eye for fabrics.

      I think in my case ignorance was bliss. Had I know how difficult working with leatherette was, I probably wouldn't have done it !!! xx

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  5. I am always amazed with the details in what you make. You never go for the easy option, which is great.

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    1. Thanks Ginx.

      You've summed up the story of my life - I never go for the easy option... xx

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  6. I love your bag, the black and red together look great. I haven't sewn with leatherette before either but am just about to embark on some oil cloth bags for the first time. I like your tips for using paper clips, pegs and tape instead of pins, will try that. X

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    1. Good luck with your oil cloth bags. Can't wait to see them xx

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  7. i think you did an amazing job! Isn't that one of the loveliest things about making things yourself, you can make sure that they are tailored to your exact requirements. I'm sure your hubby will appreciate not having to carry everything on your next holiday! :)

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    1. Thanks.

      I agree - I so much prefer making things than buying them. Mr Gertie loves to load up Wizzy's bag now that he doesn't have to carry it... xx

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  8. Wow I think your bag looks amazing. All the compartments are a wonderful idea and so useful. I can image a lot of wizzy users wishing they had one. Have a great week.
    Ali x

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    1. Thanks.

      Believe it or not, there aren't that many bags out there for Wizzys. The ones that are tend to be big and blunky. I might have found a gap in the market... xx

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  9. It's a brilliant bag with lots of useful places - well done. Hope you have a good week.

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  10. A great bag! I'm sure your hubby and wizzy are equally pleased x

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  11. You made me laugh with your names! Great idea. I too think there is a gap in the market for 'aids' and have been trying to come up with a bag for my walking stick for months! Your bag seems perfect for Wizzy. Have you made seat covers for Gordon?! xx

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    1. Hmmm, a walking stick bag. I'll have to think about that one.

      Sadly I can't make any seat covers for Gordon as the seat folds in half and there's no where to attach them.

      Shame really as sitting on Gordon in the summer is horrible - I keep sticking to the vinyl seat!!! xx

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  12. Wow Gertie that's brilliant!! I've been contemplating the ways I could knit or crochet a wheelchair rucksack for me for years that could also be swapped over to my walker when I'm staggering round places and scaring people :-) There is definitely a gap in the market for stylish accessories for people using crutches ( don't even try carrying bags), walking frames and chairs. Do you reckon its possible to adapt something like an arm chair remote cosy into a bag to hang over the side of an electric chair?

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    1. It should be pretty easy to make the rucksack interchangeable.

      All you would need to do is attach a couple of extra straps to the bag, then use velcro to secure it around the walker.

      I don't see why you couldn't adapt an arm chair cosy for an electric chair. It might be best though to simply take the measurements of the cosy then design a bag to purpose fit the chair. Hope that helps xx

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  13. Leatherette sounds quite complicated to work with. The bag looks great and Wizzy gets a new stylish accessory.

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    1. One you get the hang of leatherette it's not too bad. All you got to remember is to go slow as there's no unpicking xx

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