How to Sew the Sidekick Organizer: A Beginner-Friendly Saddlebag Pattern
Some projects earn their keep long after the last seam is sewn, and the Sidekick is one of them. This is a printed paper pattern for a multi-pocketed saddlebag organizer — a double-sided bag designed to drape over an armrest or attach to a walker or rollator, so the things you reach for most stay organized and close at hand.
What the Sidekick Is
The Sidekick is a purse, tote, and bag pattern sewn with standard machine sewing techniques, and it is rated for beginner sewists. The finished organizer measures 11-1/2 inches high by 11 inches wide by about 3-1/2 inches deep when attached to a device. Because it is double-sided, the organizer sits over an armrest and holds itself securely in place, with storage on both sides rather than a single flat pocket.
At the heart of the design is a roomy zippered main compartment, with additional back pockets for extra storage. That combination gives you a secure place for valuables and quick, easy access to the day's essentials — the items you want protected stay zipped, while the things you grab constantly remain within easy reach.
Why Sewists Love This Kind of Organizer
At home or in the office, Sidekick drapes over a chair armrest to corral a current project, reading material, and small supplies. At sporting events and while camping, it keeps essentials together in one portable spot. For those with mobility needs, attaching it to a walker or rollator means carrying the essentials in style, hands-free and without balancing a separate bag.
It is also a satisfying make because the result is genuinely useful for almost anyone — which is why the pattern is suggested as a great class project for all levels of sewists, from soccer moms to grandmas.
How to Sew It: Step by Step
- Read the pattern first. Before cutting, read through the printed pattern completely and watch the Introduction and A Closer Look videos, plus any Add-on Videos, for ways to attach and use the Sidekick.
- Prepare the components. Work through the early steps of the pattern to prepare the various components of the organizer — the pockets, panels, and zippered compartment — before assembly begins.
- Build the body. Follow the later steps to prepare the Body Front and bring the components together, forming the double-sided saddlebag shape.
- Assemble the organizer. Complete the final assembly so the zippered main compartment and back pockets are finished cleanly, then check that the organizer drapes evenly on both sides.
- Test the fit. Drape it over an armrest, or attach it to a walker or rollator, and load it with your everyday essentials to confirm everything is secure and easy to reach.
Practical Tips
Take the two-session approach the pattern itself suggests if you are learning in a group: prepare components first, finish any remaining prep as homework, then assemble in the second session. Press each component as you finish it, and choose placement with real use in mind — keep the zippered compartment for items that must not slip out, and reserve the open back pockets for things you grab most often.
Care and Storage
Store the printed paper pattern flat and dry, back in its packaging, so the pieces and instructions stay together for your next make. Keep the finished organizer draped where you use it, and empty the pockets periodically so the zippered compartment stays easy to close and nothing small gets forgotten in a back pocket.
Project Ideas
Sew one for your own sewing chair to hold a hand project and tools, one for a loved one who uses a walker or rollator, and one for game days or camping trips where a personal organizer is welcome. It also makes a thoughtful handmade gift — practical, personal, and used every day.
Shop the Sidekick at Linda's Electric Quilters.
