scooter seat gets HOT

[dj2]

I never realized it before, but we were out in the sun and the vinyl seat gets really hot. we're heading to wdw next month---hot!!!!

other than sitting on a towel, is there something "nicer" i can do to be more comfy. low cost is more important than polished looks, but i wanted a little nicer than a beach towel

if needed, i'm not great with a sewing machine, but can handle a straight line. just not sure what to do, what type of fabric, etc.

anyone have any suggestions?

thx.
dj

 

[mykidsintow]

We went in June. My daughters power chair has a black leather seat.

I went and got a HOT PINK towel from walmart. I cut it to fit her chair and sewed it. made a pocket for the top of the seat and then elastic around the bottom. For the seat I made the pockets and ran elastic all the way around the under side. I took the cushions off so all the raw edges are hidden (I did zig zag the edges so they would not fray when washed). I then cut out for the arm rests. I made a pocked for the ends and then ran elastic around the back.

I then took the trusty embroidery machine and put her name on the seat back in purple to match her chair.

So, its a towel, but its custom. When we saw our wheelchair rep last week he wanted to know where we bought it . I told him I made it and he asked if he could give other moms my number. Sure, why not?!

Can't have burnt bums.......

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Park in the shade if possible or use a white towel from the resort, it will stay cooler than any other color towel.

Suzanne

 

[SueM in MN]

You could do the same thing that Beth did, but with a beach towel.
Or get some printed fleece fabric - it comes in many colors and prints. It's soft, easy to wash if it gets soiled and easy to sew.
Scroll down the page here and you will find Princess, Mickey and Tinkerbell print fleece among other things. If you have a fabric store nearby, they might have the same fabric. I was at Joann Fabric last weekend and saw the Princess and Tinkerbell prints and one of the Mickey ones. After you buy the print, you can sew it like Beth described; no need to finish the edges since fleece doesn't fray.
Here's a link to Joan Fabric's licensed fleece page.
I get a little more complicated with my DD's wheelchair. Her cover is black nylon mesh, which doesn't get that hot. I do cover the seat part, but not the seat back. I use the nylon cover as a pattern.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If I park outside and it is bright sun, I will flip down the back of the seat and it will cover almost the entire seat in shadow so there is no problem when I get back on.

 

[dj2]

yes - i do try to park in the shade. i also flip the seat down, mostly because, amazing as this sounds, people, mostly kids, have been known to SIT in my scooter. ugh!

fleece would definitely be more comfy that terry--does fleece stay relatively cool? i usually think of it as something for warmth. we luckily have a joann fabrics near us and they usually have a sale or coupon going (yay!).

i'm pretty sure i can sew something for the back part, the part that flips down. i would cut a piece to size, fold it over, stitch up both sides and then sew off a "triangle" on each corner to give it depth. if there's a better or easier way, please let me know. i'm NOT a great sewer....

i could use a little more direction please on how to create the piece to cover the bottom part of the seat. i never bring the arm rests anymore, so they won't be in the way. but the seat is not "open" on three sides the way the back is. it's connected at two points--to the back, and to the scooter underneath. would i just do it as if it's not connected underneath and then cut some sort of slit? i'm having a hard time envisioning this. if someone wouldn't mind helping me i would greatly appreciate it!

thanks again!

dj

 

[Vijoge]

yes - i do try to park in the shade. i also flip the seat down, mostly because, amazing as this sounds, people, mostly kids, have been known to SIT in my scooter. ugh!

I've had this happen, too, but it's always been adults who sit on mine. I've also had a few who thought my basket was there personal trash bin.

fleece would definitely be more comfy that terry--does fleece stay relatively cool?
dj

I think I'd prefer terry. It's more absorbant (think sweaty and or humidity) and it dries pretty fast if it's not a heavy weight cloth. I have a fabric seat but I still put a towel on it.

 

[dj2]

i bought two bath towels last night, one for each part of the seat. only $1.50 apiece, so if I mess up, no big deal! i'm still having trouble figuring out how to do the bottom part. my dd says i shouldn't even bother, just drape the towel over, but i think it will be better if it's affixed somehow. wish me luck.

 

[mamaloya]

For the bottom of it you could cut it to a size a bit larger than needed and then sew a hem around the edges about 1 inch in size. Then, put elastic in it. I use a safety pin attached to one end of the elastic to feed it through the hem. Then it will stretch to go over and then grab underneath. The shorter the elastic, the tighter the grip.

Hope this helps and makes a little bit of sense.

 

[dj2]

For the bottom of it you could cut it to a size a bit larger than needed and then sew a hem around the edges about 1 inch in size. Then, put elastic in it. I use a safety pin attached to one end of the elastic to feed it through the hem. Then it will stretch to go over and then grab underneath. The shorter the elastic, the tighter the grip.

Hope this helps and makes a little bit of sense.

yep, i understand what you're saying perfectly. my mom told me the safety pin trick, too. boy do i miss her. 12 years, and it seems like yesterday.

the thing i'm having trouble with is that the bottom part of the seat is attached to the back part of the seat with large pieces of plastic at both corners. that's what's hinged for the seat back to fold down. i'm not sure how to put on a cover. it's almost like it needs "arm holes" for the plastic part, if that's not too weird of a way to describe it. i'm just about to log out for the day, but maybe i can find a picture of it on line tomorrow if that would help - it's a pride victory scooter.

i wonder if i should do what you say and also cut a huge slit, slip the back through it, and then hand stitch it closed after it's on. it wouldn't be easily removable that way, but at least it would keep the seat from getting too hot at wdw next month.

anyway, thanks for posting. i appreciate your help!

 

[dj2]

okay - just in case i haven't totally bored everyone with my seat problem---here's a picture of what the scooter looks like. sorry to be so dense about this. if any people who sew or are crafty are still with me, please share some thoughts for how to make a cover that will stay on. thanks
dj
http://www.pride-scooters.com/images/victory3.jpg

 

[videogal1]

okay - just in case i haven't totally bored everyone with my seat problem---here's a picture of what the scooter looks like. sorry to be so dense about this. if any people who sew or are crafty are still with me, please share some thoughts for how to make a cover that will stay on. thanks
dj
http://www.pride-scooters.com/images/victory3.jpg

There is a ready-made seat cover originally manufactured to cover seats on riding lawnmowers that should work. It fits all seats that have a backrest up to 12" high. (I imagine that could be extended if the seat back on your scooter is longer) It is slightly padded, has little pockets in the flap that covers the back rest (behind the back rest). It is made of water-resistant nylon and has a drain hole to prevent puddling in an unexpected storm. Cost is $17.00 plus shipping...The catalog is located at ShopPicketFence.com

 

[mykidsintow]

I think for that type seat I would take a towel and drape it over the back. Cut down the sides and then I would make it a "pocket" to just slide down over the back. You can add velcro or something if it slips,but i would not think it would be a problem.

For the bottom I would but it big enough to have some depth and fold under. I would sew the 4 corners to give it the depth. Sew it to go up and around the sides and have a flap that goes down in the back. In the front just make it as suggested before. Instead of elastic, use a string/loose rope. Go around the front sides, then out and back in for the back flap, out and then connect to the front. You can tie the string as tightly as needed and hold it on. This would allow for the "cut out" you need for the sides.

Clear as mud?

 

[ntsammy5]

Can't have burnt bums.......

I have to clean the coke off my monitor now!

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

We had the nearby seamstress make my daughter a custom seat cover.

She really likes it. It is much better than the black leather.

Amy

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

We went in June. My daughters power chair has a black leather seat.

I went and got a HOT PINK towel from walmart. I cut it to fit her chair and sewed it. made a pocket for the top of the seat and then elastic around the bottom. For the seat I made the pockets and ran elastic all the way around the under side. I took the cushions off so all the raw edges are hidden (I did zig zag the edges so they would not fray when washed). I then cut out for the arm rests. I made a pocked for the ends and then ran elastic around the back.

I then took the trusty embroidery machine and put her name on the seat back in purple to match her chair.

So, its a towel, but its custom. When we saw our wheelchair rep last week he wanted to know where we bought it . I told him I made it and he asked if he could give other moms my number. Sure, why not?!

Can't have burnt bums.......

I would love to see a picture of that. We are always looking for new ideas for Emma's wheels. My daughter has the purple Koala. Is that the chair your daughter has?


Amy

 

[dj2]

thanks everyone! you guys are terrific!!

after reading everyone's suggestions i realized i would NEVER understand what needed to be done unless i jumped in and tried, so i experimented with the $1.50 towel this morning.

I sewed it like a pillow case to fit snug going on from the front of the bottom seat to the back, and where it inevitably got stuck on the bottom post, i just took the scissors and sliced into it to make an opening. then i used lots of safety pins to reattach it back together on the other side of the post.

if i were a better seamstress, i would have taken it off again and hemmed the cut parts so they wouldn't unravel, but, oh well. then i fed the top part between the two corner posts and pinned it to the bottom parts (which had been cut and pinned together). felt like i was diapering the chair.

not very professional looking, but that doesn't matter too much. the main thing will be if it stays put and doesn't get as hot as the vinyl does. i'm testing it out on a short trip next week before the big trip to wdw at the end of august. wish me luck!

videogal1--hi again! --thanks for the link. i'm bookmarking it, in case my contraption doesn't work too well. i really don't have too much faith in what i've done, but at least the supplies weren't too much $ and i can always cut it up for car rags....

 

[mykidsintow]

I would love to see a picture of that. We are always looking for new ideas for Emma's wheels. My daughter has the purple Koala. Is that the chair your daughter has?


Amy

Hey Amy! I will take pics tmw and post them (we have company today). My daughter has the Robo. Its similar to the Koala, but a bit larger and also has the hydrolics to go to the floor..... very similar tho.

If we had known then what we know now..... she would have a Koala

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

Hey Amy! I will take pics tmw and post them (we have company today). My daughter has the Robo. Its similar to the Koala, but a bit larger and also has the hydrolics to go to the floor..... very similar tho.

If we had known then what we know now..... she would have a Koala

Thanks.

If you want to check out my Emma...here is her website

www.emmahopeworld.net

Amy

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks.

If you want to check out my Emma...here is her website

www.emmahopeworld.net

Amy

Emma is darling - thanks for sharing.
I liked the picture where it looks like she is showing Cinderella her manicure.