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OT crossbody

by Linda Theil


Who knew that a beautifully designed cross-body bag could be important occupational-therapy equipment for anyone with only one functional arm!

When my cousin broke her arm and reached out for suggestions about how to navigate daily life with only one hand, the first thing I found on the Internet was advice to use a cross-body bag instead of a handbag, allowing your body to act as carrier and stabilizer instead of a nonfunctional hand/arm. What a great idea!

The advice seems obvious since the main benefit of a cross-body bag is to allow  hands free while shopping, but it never occurred to me that a cross-body bag could be invaluable to anyone with limited use or mobility of one arm. That's a lot of people!

Diane Spencer Ogg's "Amplector" cross-body pattern is perfect for this use. She designed the bag specifically to be small, light, unobtrusive, and super-comfortable to wear. 

Now that I know how useful they can be, I think cross-body bags should be standard issue to everyone with a broken arm. I made sure my cousin would have one!

I made this Spencer Ogg "Amplector" pattern, 9 x 6-inch cross-body bag with front-pocket and zip closure with fabrics from the "Tea with Bea" collection by Katherine Lenius for Riley Blake. 

"Amplector" rear view

UPDATE: August 1, 2021

Ghastly Spencer Ogg "Amplector" large size, 11 x 8-inches, in "a ghastlie family reunion" from The Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection, 2011

(front above, back below)


UPDATE: January 1, 2022


Small Spencer-Ogg "Amplector" pouch in "Nordic Noel" by Jim Shore for Benartex, with black #5 zipper and self-strap.



Resources

"Perfect travel pouch" AppletonDance post
https://appletondance.blogspot.com/2021/06/perfect-travel-pouch.html#.YPxCjJNKhIY

Spencer Ogg "The Amplector Pack PDF Sewing Pattern"
https://www.spencerogg.com/product/the-amplector-pack-pdf-sewing-pattern/

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