Saddle Bag for a Walker, Wheelchair or Easy Chair,

Materials needed:

Two fabrics that go together, Fabric #1 , which will be the fabric that shows when this laps over the bar of the walker, and Fabric #2, which will be the fabric that shows when the pockets are folded up. Prewash.

Cut each fabric 30 inches X 10 inches.

This is an approximate measurement. It can be changed for a wider or deeper Saddle Bag.

Fabric #2 can be two different fabrics pieced together, but don’t piece them exactly at the 15 inch mid-point.

Thread, either to blend in or to show for the top stitching.

Velcro 3 inches in length.

Optional:

Very thin batting or interfacing.

Embellishments or decorative stitching.

This is a good use for the type of inexpensive fabric that never gets soft when it is washed. If you use this kind of fabric, you can leave off the batting, saving time and money.

Directions:

Place Fabric #1 and Fabric #2 right sides together [if using batting, place fabrics right sides together and the batting on top of that.] Sew around the edges, ¼ to 3/8 inch seam allowance, leaving a large enough opening to turn the “pillowcase” right sides out.

Clip the points off the corners, turn right sides out. Press the seams. Press in the seam allowances of the opening and sew closed, by hand, or (HINT) glue them closed with light fabric glue.

Top stitch across the short ends, plain or decorative stitching. You could embellish the last three or so inches of each end of Fabric #2. A name could be embroidered on the fabric.

On Fabric #2, mark the mid point {A} of the fabric, along the long side. Measure 7 inches from the midpoint, toward each end. Mark. Separate the Velcro and place a three inch piece of Velcro at these points, but centered {B}, parallel to the ends of the Saddle Bag. Sew the Velcro on. [Another way to explain this is: the two velcro strips are to be placed 7" from either side of the midpoint, parallel to the short ends, and in the middle.]

(HINT) A blind hem foot works well for Velcro. Don’t worry about stitching through both fabrics since this stitching will be hidden when the pocket is folded up.

On the Fabric #1 side, measure and mark about 5 inches from each end {C}. Fold up the ends (short sides) at that mark. That forms the pockets.

Top Stitch around the Outside edge, with an extra few back stitches where the edge of the pockets meet the “saddle” part of the fabric to secure them. The top stitching holds the pockets in place and also acts to slightly stiffen the bottom of the pockets.

Christmas lights for the near-sighted

My favorite way to look at the Christmas tree is without my glasses. I've very near-sighted. I tricked my camera into taking a photo of this view. If you have perfect eyes, enjoy the lights in a new way.

Nigerian Clothing and Fabric Creations

Look at the clothes these women are wearing in Nigeria and see the quilting that they are learning and doing to increase their income.

Ah, the Christmas season…the Christmas shopping season. What to get; what to give? Who do I include on my list? Who do I lop off my list? What a problem: what do I get for the person who has everything?

Well, few of us have “everything” but many (most of us who would be at a computer to read this) have “enough.” Enough stuff. Too much stuff. What do I get rid of now? How can I get rid of that; it was a gift from my dear ___? But I don’t need more things.

I’m not a shoppaholic in the usual sense, but I’ve been known to have my moments. I will seldom come home with “too many clothes” but I’ve been known to buy more for ME than I buy for others if I get pointed in the direction of a store that carries items related to my hobbies, and you, dear readers, know what those are.

And so I’ve been reevaluating my own possessions. Yes, I have too much in certain categories. Compared to the closets of many Americans, my collection of clothes is small, but that is only “in comparison.” After all, I can only wear one pair of pants, one shirt, and one sweater at a time. There is a saying, “She who dies with the most stash, still dies.”

Back to Christmas shopping: How should I reevaluate my shopping in light of the too much stuff stuffing the closets of many of my giftees? Three ideas come to mind: Give the gift of time, give the gift of service, or give to a charity in the name of my loved ones.

A worthy charity that I have personal knowledge of and which puts the donations directly to service is The God’s Child Project. There are lots of links to follow. Please consider this group when you make decisions about giving to others this Christmas. We've found that some of our relatives have been pleased and touched when we've given in their name to this organization and others like it.

Instead of a gift this Christmas....

Please consider giving to The God's Child Project as a way to honor a loved one this Christmas. This is a worthy organization that some of my family members have volunteered with in Guatemala. They have seen the needs first hand and they have witnessed the effectiveness of this organization on the ground.

ABC News recently profiled this organization.