Sew a hanging cup colder to put on a walker or a stroller
So in addition to the walker caddy tutorial, I also made a velcro-on hanging cup holder tutorial to share with you. This is great for Granny’s walker, but could also easily work for a stroller missing a cup holder.
You’ll need
- Two fabrics – one a sturdier fabric like denim or canvas and one a lightweight fabric like quilting cotton
- Sew on velcro
Trace out a circle that’s as big you want the holder to be, then add at least a 1/4″ seam allowance. Measure around the circle. Cut a rectangle piece that is the same length as the circumference of the circle plus a seam allowance. You want it to be at least 2/3 of the height of the cup tall. Sew the rectangle into a tube, then pin it to the circle around the bottom. Stitch.
Repeat with the lining fabric, so you have two cup shapes. Iron the top edge of each to the wrong side 1/2″. With the sturdier main fabric right side out and the lining fabric wrong side out, place the lining inside the main fabric.
Cut two rectangles for the hang tab – mine were 2″ x 5″. Sew them around both long and one short side, right sides together. Turn the tab right side out, press, and sandwich between the lining and main fabric cups. Topstitch around the top edge, securing the tab and closing all raw edges inside.
Add sew on velcro to the tab and the side of the cup. Stitch in place and you’re done!
PS – this is super similar to how I made my Toy Storage Buckets, and that post has more pictures of the process that may help you.
Anne
Thank you for sharing this tutorial!! My grandfather used a walker in his last years, and he had one of those caddies. I’m not sure how he could have gotten around without one. When both hands are on the walker, there are no hands free to hold a newspaper or a remote or anything else you’d carry from one room to the next. Thank you for showing how to make items that are of such service to people, and also for the sweet memories that your tutorial brought to mind on a cold, yucky, sleety morning.
I’ve linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip here:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-walker-caddy-and-cup-holder/2013/11/25/
–Anne
Irene
Thank you, Melly. I love how you always have tutorials that inspire me. I plan to make this (with shorter strap) for my bicycle. I am sure I’ll think of more places to put this handy bottle holder…Happy holidays, peace and joy…
Iris Estes
I was inspired by your tutorial to make a walker bag for a friend who fractured her pelvis in a fall. I used a print fabric that was one way directional, so I had to make some changes so the birds wouldn’t stand on their heads. It turned out great and I know she will like it. I just finished it about an hour ago. Thanks. I am going to do a cup holder or two for some others that may need them. It sounds so easy. Thanks for your information. Love your blog.
Charlene
I am going to make a lot of these for the people at the assisted living facility. They will love it!
joann stephens
I think you are very spceical person to put such a nice idea for the people that are in need of something like this for most are in assistance living home anyway, and this would be very nice for them. Any thing to bring some bit of caring. Thanks for your idea. Joann
Eva Ruiz
I made my mother this cup holder and she really liked it. My mother is 90 years young and uses her walker all the time to get around.
I plan on making one for my neighbor also. Thanks for the tutorial.
gloria
I made mine deeper for a larger bottle or item….
Connie
Thank you!
Teri
This would also work great with crutches and hooking it on the handgrasp part. Car keys, small wallet, etc would fit in it! Thanks!
Sarah Wale
That sounds great but do check that it doesn’t upset the balance of the crutches; I use them and have come to grief by hanging a very light bag off one of the hand grips! Maybe two small ones for keys and a small wallet – evenly distributed between the two handles would work well. and I am sure would be much appreciated by the user. I also use a stroller or Travelscoot electric scooter and will be making them for those, too!Happy sewing! Sarah
Sheena
This would be great for a shopping cart too 🙂 I like getting a coffee early Sunday morning to sip while I grocery shop but there’s never anywhere to safely stow it while I bag my fruits & veggies!
Tove
I’ve been making walker and wheel chair bags for a nursing home for a long time, this bottle holder will be a wonderful asset to add to make a nice set for the residents. Thank you for the pattern
Delores Russell
Thank you for the pattern 4 cup holders are bottle holders for a walker or wheelchair. I have been looking for a long time to find a cup holder that will not break. I was looking at your website and noticed that you had the Walker bag and the cup holder and thought to myself that would make a great cup holder for my wheelchair. It won’t get broken and I could turn it either way either inside or outside on the arm of my chair thank you again for your willingness to share your patterns with us.
Thank you very much.
Jo Peterson
This is also going to work on my scooter , including use for Church coffie and tea timel Jo
Beverly Schurfeld
Thank you Melly! This something that can be made out of scraps ! I had a beauty shop at a nursing home for 8 years ! They are always looking for gifts for bingo. And extra gifts at Christmas ! I have lots of scraps and I am ready. Thanks for the idea. I am going to share your post with all my sewing friends.
Shelia Darlene Minor
My husband bought a tri glide 3 wheel Harley a few years ago and I didn’t have a cup that would fit the holder so I made a holder to hold a large cup or what ever I was wanting to take that would fit in it but I put elastic around the top and Velcro to fit over the ring of the holder to attach to sides and it worked out great it is time for me to make another one for this summer when we ride . my daughter in law had me to make her one . Now I have to decide how I want to do my new one . I love everything that you make . Thanks A BLUE MILLION !!!!!!
Carin
Hi Melly!
Thank you so so much for this free tutorial. I made a walker caddy for my stepfather who just had his knee replaced and he absolutely loved it! I added a narrow pocket for a pen holder as well. I’m on a fixed income, so finding free patterns and being able to use fabric I already have is such a blessing! I used KC Chiefs and red Oly fabric I had on hand and it was perfect! 😊. I also plan to make some to donate to those in need. Again, THANK YOU 🙏🏻 and God Bless!
Joyce
I’m 85 years old and need a walker since I broke my hip. I am going to use this idea for my cell phone which I take with me always. Tjanks for sharing.
Beverly Petterson
I love this pattern! I work with Seniors and the biggest complaint with their walker is that they don’t have a cup holder. I saw the laminated pattern as well, but going to start with this one but with an increase length.
Thank you for the tutorial 🙂
Joyce Ward
I made a carrier for my mother walker out of a pair of old jeans. Used the part wit pockets so it has a cup holder on it.
Amanda
Thank you for posting this. I cane across it quite by accident. I was looking for a pattern to make a cup holder for my hammock chair but nothing really suited what I was looking for until yours. It gave me the logistics to make my own version, in truth the only part I changed was the strap instead of velcro I made a loop and sewn in both ends, so it could hang off my chair and not spill my cup or be in my way. Thank you so much!
Heather
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I’m a novice sewer and this was perfect! I visited my son’s class recently and saw that the drink holders they have for their desks are flimsy plastic ones that are falling apart. Using your design, I made a sturdy version for desk water bottles to replace those poorly abused plastic ones 🙂