Walk(er) With Style- Easy Gift for Kids to Make

At 94, my neighbor finally ordered a walker.  She felt that she was getting a little unsteady on her feet.  However, it was not an easy decision.  When it arrived she was sad, she said the walker was ugly, made her feel old and that it would cause people to look at her differently.  She said all of her friends have said similar sentiments. Some canes have cool designs, but standard walkers are utilitarian metal medical devices. :(

My neighbor is a dynamic, vibrant woman, she deserves better.   I was pondering a solution and wandering through the craft store…paint, ribbons, fabric and  rounded the corner and found Fat quarters were on sale 10 for 10 dollars!  FUN Fabrics!  I could make simple, fast, no sew covers for her walker. There were more than a hundred choices. I  picked a yellow- her favorite color, one with birds- she loves feeding the birds, pink with daisies - her favorite flower, a bright rainbow…and cupcakes because her birthday is coming soon.  Walk(er) with style turned out to be  a quick, easy, fun solution, I was able to make eleven covers  in less than one hour!  My neighbor was delighted!  If you know a senior with a walker, please brighten their day- it is really easy.

Fabric (small prints work well, but any fabric will work)

Velcro dots, sticky back

Pinking shears

Measuring tape

Cutting mat (helpful, but project can be done without a mat)

Use the measuring tape, to find the length of each bar that you want to cover, then measure the circumference of the bar.  Add one inch to the circumference. 

Flatten the fabric on the cutting mat, wrong side up .  The mat makes it easy to draw straight lines.  Use a sharpie to draw the required sizes and cut with pinking shears.

Place the  Velcro dots on the right side of the fabric. Wrap the fabric around the bar.   Then stick the other dot on to the first dot Velcro to Velcro and pull the fabric over it.  Repeat for each bar

Check that the covers do not infer with the folding mechanism. Give!  My neighbor was really happy with all of the covers.  However, the best part of the project happened two weeks later. My neighbor told me that many  people had given her compliments  on the covers. but at the grocery store another senior admired the covers and wished that someone had made some for her.  My neighbor just undid the Velcro and secured them on her walker. I plan to make more, for my neighbor, for the senior center and for  my local nursing home. Instant happiness, please try it.