Wiggly Bags Tutorial (for Hickman Lines)

UPDATED: Sadly, The Liberty Rose Trust seems to have closed. However, if you know of somewhere that needs them, then you're welcome to use this tutorial to make wiggly bags. Please be aware though, that different hospitals require different sizes of wiggly bag.

Last month one of the lovely readers of my blog wrote to me and told me about some 'wiggly bags' that she was hoping to make for the Liberty Rose Trust and asked my advice about colours as she was having problems visualising what would work well. I'd actually never heard of Wiggly Bags, but following the link that she sent, found that they are bags that children undergoing treatment for cancer use to hold their central line, which will be with them throughout their treatment to give medicines and take blood (thus avoiding the need for needles). So that the line (that's the 'wiggly') doesn't get dirty or pulled while playing each child needs a wiggly bag to keep it in. Sarah Hill (Director of Family Support at the Liberty Rose Trust) told me that a child will often have their line with them on a constant basis for around 18 months and so the wiggly bag that holds it will become a big part of their daily life and the child will often become very attached to it. The bags are needed for children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers and so there's a call for bags bearing pictures of animals, fairies, dinosaurs, rockets...but there's also a real need for bags that teenagers will be happy to wear.

So anyway, back to the reader who wrote to me...I could see exactly why she was having problems visualising the Wiggly Bag as although the Liberty Rose Trust have a pattern piece and instructions for how to make one, they don't currently have on their site a picture of the finished bag or any step photos...which is tricky if you are a visual person. So, with the Liberty Rose Trust's permission, I've written up a step-by-step photo tutorial based on their original pattern piece in the hope that it might make it even easier for other sewers to help. They can take as long or as little time to make as you can spare...they can be embellished with appliques or made from patchwork, or they can just be made from one simple fabric piece as shown in this tutorial (the latter means that you can whip up around 3 bags in an hour). Please remember though:

• The bag will be washed every 2/3 days, which means that all wiggly bags need to be made from  cotton.
• The drawstring must be made of soft tape (not ribbon, as that can be scratchy against the skin).
• The tape must be 1 metre long so that the ends can be cut to size to suit the height of the child wearing the Wiggly Bag.
• A variety of bags are needed for boys, girls, toddlers, children and teenagers.
• You can find a downloadable PDF including the Liberty Rose Trust pattern piece and this photo tutorial at the bottom of this post, which can be downloaded to your computer and printed out.
• This tutorial covers the basics in the hope that beginner sewers won't be put off.

Requiring just one piece of fabric at around 11" x 6", I can't think of a better excuse to go stash raiding and cut into that favourite bit of fabric that you've been saving for something special. The Liberty Rose Trust are hugely appreciative of any bags that you can make.

1. Print out a copy of the pattern and cut it out along the heavy black line that runs around the perimetre. With your chosen fabric wrong side up, trace around the paper pattern piece and then cut out. If you're working with a directional print then please be sure to keep your pattern print going in the same direction as the lettering on the pattern piece (A is the top).

2. Place the pattern next to the edge of your fabric and make a small mark to show where line 'A' runs. Do this at each side, and then join the two marks using a ruler to create a straight line.

3.Now fold over so that the top edge rests on the line that you just created. It should finish looking like the piece below. Pin in place and sew - I used a zigzag stitch to minimise fraying.

4. Now fold in half (along line B, as marked on the pattern piece) and mark on lines C and D as shown on the pattern piece - extend these lines all the way to the top and sides. Sew along these lines. When you reach the corner, make sure the needle is down in the fabric, lift the presser foot, pivot the fabric, lower the presser foot and continue sewing.

5. Now line the fabric piece up next to the paper pattern piece, with the bottom edges level. Make a mark at each side to show where line E should go, and join marks with a ruler. Turn fabric over and repeat on the other side.

6. Mark on to one side a central opening measuring 3/4" (1.5cm), depicted by XXX in the pattern. You can see my little purple marks showing this opening. If your Wiggly Bag has an applique or feature that you want to appear on the front of the finished bag, then make sure that you place this opening on the other side from this, as the side with the opening will be at the back of the bag.

7. Turn the top edge over so that it rests on the line that you've just drawn. Pin all round, pinning the side seam allowance to one side when you reach it (do not open it out, as this will make it hard to thread the drawstring later).

8. Turn right side out. Starting at one of the opening marks, sew all the way along this pinned seam until you reach the other opening mark. Sew as near to the bottom edge as possible and be sure to do a good few securing stitches at the start and finish as this opening will often be pulled against as the drawstring is opened and closed. The left-hand picture shows the front of the bag, the right-hand picture shows a close-up of the back of the bag.

9. Take the tape and attach a pin to one end. Feed this in through the opening hole in the bag and work your way around using a push-pull motion until you are able to push it out at the other side of the opening.

If you want to make your own tape from co-ordinating fabric, cut a piece measuring 3.8cm (1.5") x 1 metre long and fold in half lengthways, pressing with an iron as you fold. Next, fold the raw edges inwards to meet at the creaseline, fold in half, press, pin and sew.

11. Pull the tape through until both sides are an even length. Press with an iron.

12. Loosely knot the two ends together. Pull the drawstring closed to check it is easily drawn. Hurrah! Your first wiggly bag is complete...you can either send it to the address above...or make a few more and then send it to the address above!

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Now for some dressmaking...Made by Rae's summer tops week has inspired me to do something...I just don't know what yet...

Florence x