Hello there! I'm looking to get some funds just for fabrics (and sewing thread, maybe some other notions) for crafting some stuff to donate to either assisted living facilities, senior facilities, or maybe other similar places (if you have any ideas let me know, although I feel very strongly about senior centers). Recently, I have used up some of my stash on 100% cotton microwavable bowl cozies, but I know places like shelters or senior care facilities won't really have need of that. So I pulled out my old pattern for walker bags, and thought that might be helpful.

I'm a government employee currently furloughed that's just really wanting something to do/spend my energy on. I do best when I have a purpose and am working toward providing useful things to others. My stash is currently limited, so I just wanted to hit up the local Michael's for some (inexpensive) broadcloth fabrics they have now that JoAnn has closed. It's pretty good for price, if not better than used sheets from Goodwill. Michael's has plain fabric for 1.99-2.99/yd and each walker bag needs around a yard depending on the style. Just wanted to sew as many as I could. (I just put up a picture of the cozies for stuff I've already done that mostly had on hand - paid a little for the cotton batting but otherwise I had that on hand.) These bags do have notions like elastic and other things, some I have on hand, some I might craft myself (like my own bias tape) but if I get help I'll do the best I can. :)

Edit 10/15: work has commenced! I was pretty close to budget but could use maybe $20 more for more velcro.

Edit 10/24: yesterday I donated one of the original Simplicity wrap around Walker bags, but she said that their need was really more for wheelchairs. So I am Switching gears and I found some DIY patterns online and they're pretty quick and easy to crank out. I have 7 ready to go and 8 more cut. I hope to donate a bunch on monday. I wish I could post more pictures here!

Update 10/30: The nursing facility has an order for "my" new bag - 8 of those, and 8 bowl cozies, which I made using another DIY pattern where you can microwave the bowl inside a cozy and not deal with a hot bowl. Anyway, I have now since posted both the free pattern I made and a video how-to. https://cantoocrochet.blogspot.com/2025/10/back-o-wheelchair-bag-diy-pattern-by.html and YouTube: https://youtu.be/xp11vsOZc8A

Still could use maybe about 75-100$ for solid fabrics to now contrast with some printed fabric I have on hand - as well as the stash a long-time coworker donated that contained some quilting cotton fabrics.

Update 1/3: 64 small bags, 51 cozies, 54 big bags. Im CONSTANTLY needing solid fabrics. People tend to donate printed fabrics/quilting stash but it's hard to put 2 prints together. That's where I need the most help!! :)