I’ve received many emails about walker bags made for loved ones and some donated to the VA and other organizations.
Let me just say to all of you, “You are awesome!”
Fabric Selection
Heavier densely woven fabrics work best for this project and will last longer. I have used heavy cotton twill, poly/cotton blends, and upholstery fabrics. The fabric used in the bag shown here was a medium weight blend. I doubled the fabric for more stability. You can also add a fusible interfacing for additional support.
- Cut two (2) rectangles 18 X 14 inches for the front and back.
- Cut two (2) rectangles 18 X 9 inches for the front and back pockets.
- Cut four (4) rectangles 10 X 6 inches for the button tabs.
- Finishing off the top edge of the front, back, and two pockets
Serger Method:
- Serge the edges, trimming off a ½ inch as you go.
- Fold down 1½ inches.
- Press.
- Sew it down with a straight stitch on top of the serged stitching.
Non-Serger Method:
- If you do not have a serger, fold down ½ inch.
- Press.
- Fold down 1½ inches.
- Press.
- Sew along the edge of the fold with a straight stitch.
Pockets
- Lay one pocket on the front and the other one on the back aligning them with the bottom edge.
- Pin in place. See photo below.
- Mark a center line on one pocket. This one will have two openings. Mark the other pocket 2½ inches on either side of the center – this one will have three openings.
- Sew from the bottom to the top edge of each pocket following along the drawn line.
- Once at the top, stop with the needle down in the fabric.
- Turn the fabric and stitch two to three stitches across the top, on each side of the line.
- Now, sew back down to the bottom for reinforcement.
“You won’t believe all the stuff folks put in their walker bags.” – VBG
Button Tabs
- Fold the 10 X 6 rectangles in half with right sides together.
- Sew along the long side and across one end.
- Turn and press.
- You will need to serge or zig-zag finish the raw ends on two of these.
See the photo below as a guide. The button tabs are outlined in a narrow black line.
Walker Bag Straps
- Using the two tabs with both ends finished, place the serged/zig-zagged finished end two inches in from the side and one inch down from the top edge of the back. This should make a finished eight-inch flap. Be sure they are the same length or the bag will hang crooked on the walker.
- Sew them in a rectangle followed by an X across as shown in heavy black lines on the photo below.
- Place the raw edge of the other two tabs, two inches up from the bottom edge of the back, and sew them on as shown by the thick black lines in the photo below.
Final Assembly
- Place the front on top of the back with right sides together.
- Sew the two sides and the bottom at least twice for reinforcement.
- Zig-zag or serge finish the edges.
- Sew buttonholes at least ½ inch from the ends of each of the tabs.
- Sew the buttons on the front as shown in black in the photo below. Add two small rectangles of stabilizer to the back of each button for added support when you sew them on.
Caution – Be sure to caution the recipient of your walker bag against having heavy objects in the bag or keeping a lot of stuff in the bag all the time. It makes the front of the walker heavy and less stable when the front of it is weighted down. It can tip over.
It also requires more energy to use a heavy walker.
Laura Waterfield
Laura’s Sewing Studio
www.LaurasSewingStudio.today
Copyright © Laura M. Waterfield, 2002-2020
Terms for Re-use and Redistribution
If you would like to share these instructions with your friends, please be fair and send them to this website to read it.
If you are a teacher or retailer and would like to use the information contained here in your classes please distribute the contents in its entirety giving full credit to Laura at Laura’s Sewing Studio. Thank you in advance.
Thank you Laura for this awesome pattern. I wish I had known about this when my father was alive to use on his walker. He would have loved it.
You’re very welcome Gail.
Laura
Thank you so very much for sharing your walker tote-bag patterns. I wish I had known about these patterns years ago. These are great gifts for those who need a “little extra” in their lives. Thank YOU so very much, your gift of sharing will “keep on giving”….
Rita M
You’re very welcome Rita. Thank you for making them.
Laura
Thank you “sew” very much Laura! I have several friends that use a walker, now I can make them bags!
You’re welcome Rosalee.
Laura
could you make this printer friendly. i really want to make some of these.
Brenda, no I”m sorry. It’s just directions and not a pattern that has to be printed a certain size. So it will be fine giving you the directions you need to make it.
Laura
I am about to make this for a friend. Your tutorial looks clear and concise. I love the look of this bag. I also appreciate the warning about heavy things will make the walker heavier and top heavy, I will let her know when I mail my completed carry all bag to her.
Thank you for sharing!!
You’re very welcome Cheryl.
Please share photos of your finished bag.
Laura
Thank you so much for sharing this! This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! I am making mine to use as a headboard caddy, so that I always know where that pesky remote is! After that, I plan to make several for my local rest home. I did not think about the weight, so I am super happy that you brought that up! Thanks again!!
That’s a great idea. thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Laura
Hello Ms. Laura, I stumbled upon this tutorial last year and wanted you to know that I have used it to make walker bags that have been donated to our Veterans. It is one of the most requested items that I make free of charge for them. Now I also offer it to any person in need.
Thank you so much for offering your talents so that I can continue my mission of helping others.
Thank you Anita for making them. They are very useful when you need a walker.
You are very kind.
Blessings,
Laura
I’m wondering how I can adjust this type of bag to suit my walker which has a small padded seat and has a padded curved backrest bar. (The walker can be folded for transport.)
The backrest can be up for a higher support or folded backwards for a deeper support.
I’ve been a sewer all my life but I’m darned if I can think how to make a bag to suit this walker.
The only way I can think of it would be hung a bit too low for comfort or too shallow to be much use.
Has anyone got any ideas that might help?
It sounds like you have a rollator. https://www.google.com/search?q=rollator
I think there are patterns for that. Some are a bit pricey but since you have been sewing forever you may be able to just follow the illustrations. Kwik Sew pattern K3927. I don’t know if this is current but may be available through ebay or Etsy. I buy patterns from both places.
You can go through these too http://www.sewingsupport.com/sewing-how-to/free-patterns-and-projects/bags/wheelchair-walker-bags.html. It may have something.