Last week one of my co-workers, Vicki Mangum was all aflutter when she came into the office. She stopped at my door, slightly out of breath, and said, “I couldn’t sleep last night! All I could think about was your dog Louie in the bike basket and he needed a quilted little pad to ride around on.”
I guess she thought my wadded up terrycloth towel could be improved upon:
Then she whipped this out of her tote:
“Since you are new to Texas, I thought it should have a Texan flair,” she added.
I was very grateful for this unexpected gift. And now while I admire the fabric with hunky men in cowboy hats, Louie can now cruise through Houston in style!
I know Louie looks a little glum in this shot but it’s because he knew this was just a photo op–I wasn’t actually going to take him riding, as I had to go to work!
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How to Make a Quick & Easy Bike Pad for Your Pooch
Materials
• Batting
• Sewing machine, thread, scissors, and general quilt supplies
Directions
1. Measure the bottom of your bike basket and add 1″ all around. Cut top and backing fabric and two pieces of batting to these dimensions.
2. Pin the two layers of batting to the top fabric. (Extra batting/cushioning makes for more comfortable cruising!)
3. With your sewing machine, free-motion stitch through these three layers.
4. Place your backing fabric on top of your top fabric, right sides together. Pin in Place.
5. Sew all the way around, leaving a 1.5″ opening.
6. Pull everything through the 1.5″ opening so it is right sides out.
7. Slip stitch the opening closed.
This is a very simple project that any pooch would appreciate.
Thanks, Vicki!
I can’t believe he actually stays IN the basket! Our pug would be all over the place trying to jump out and greet EVERYone! Cute, adorable, nice-thank-you-Vicki, and love the pool! That ain’t New England!
Sarah, he doesn’t jump out, but once he tried to stand up, but he promptly sat back down when he realized he was going too lose his balance. It is SO cute to watch him sit up in the basket and look around at everything. He thinks he is King over all of the lands. I wish I could bike to the George Brown for Fall Festival, but alas, I couldn’t sneak him onto the floor. 😉 Hope to see you in Houston later this year…
Oh, that adorable little Louie! You can see the disappointment in his face… that little boo boo. What a thoughtful gift! Louie will get to go on a real bike ride very soon I’m sure. 🙂
Enjoy your day Pokey!
What a sweet gift! I thought of you and Louie today when I saw a post on Public Bike’s Facebook page (Bike company in San Fran). There was an adorable dog in a special made padded box on the back of the bike. Cute but no where as adorable as Louie in the front of your bike.
So cute! I have the dog, but not the bike. I don’t think my pooch would sit in a bike basket anyway…
I would like to see you take a victory lap on that bike during festival or Market, with Louie on board, naturally. Looove that cowboy basket pad. Leave it to Vicki to come up with that! Love it!
Leslie,that would be funny. Maybe outside on Discovery Green. 😉 Are you going to be in Long Beach?
Louie loves these photo ops!!! Sure do miss him!! Deborah
Bikes are allowed on the show floor during set-up, prior to vendor arrival and between shows, at the GRB. Talk to Andy with TEXPO about their guy with the cool bike riding instead of walking to his destinations. Alas, no cute Louie in his basket, only show deliveries! Perhaps you can disguise Louie as a package??