, Twiddle Muffs and Twiddle Rugs
Patients with Dementia are often to be seen twiddling with clothes etc. A Twiddle Muff is a simple knitted band to which various items have been attached so that the patients can twiddle with it in their hands. They help stimulation whilst on a ward or in a care home and they are found to be simple and valuable to the patients. A Twiddle Rug is a small blanket that serves the same purpose
Knitted Twiddle Muff
This pattern is perfect for using up left over and odd balls of wool, thinner wool can be plyed together to make the equivalent thickness of chunky wool, or use 2 strands of double knitting.
There are a number of patterns to be found on the internet. This pattern uses 8mm needles, but you can use smaller needles (anything from around 6.5mm upwards, depending on what you have). If you find that the piece of knitting looks very big ( knit half a row and then fold in half to check) then either use smaller needles, or a few less stitches.
People have different sized hands, so differest sized Twiddle Muffs are very acceptable!
Cuff
Using 8mm needles, cast on 40 stitches and work in stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl) for 11 inches. This forms the inner of the muff and is a good opportunity to use up all those bits of wool in sludgy colours!
Muff Body
Continue in stocking stitch, using up oddments of various textures/ colours of wool e.g. chunky, mohair, silky, ribbon – whatever you have. When work measures 23” cast off.
Decoration and Finishing
The body of the muff can be decorated with beads, buttons (with or without loops), knitted/crocheted flowers, pompoms, zips, shoelaces, a thick cord couched in a random pattern, or a pocket for a small teddy or doll to go in and out. Stitch items on VERY SECURELY. Place a few (soft) items on the inner side of the muff.
Join long side seams together with purl side facing out, then turn the muff inside out. Push the cuff inside the body of the muff and sew the two ends together securely.
Twiddle Rugs
These are made from a piece of fleece blanket, which is decorated in the same way. It can have pockets with an inserted zip, open pockets (if you are placing something inside the pockets try to attach it securely with ribbon or cord so that it doesn’t get lost), beads, buttons (with or without loops), knitted/crocheted flowers, pompoms, zips, shoelaces, a thick cord couched in a random pattern etc according to what you have
Cut a piece of backing fabric the same size as the rug – it can be fleece or a contrasting texture. Tack the two pieces together, and sew around the edges, then edge with satin binding or ribbon. The finished rug can be sewn together in the body with a thicker thread using a machine stitch or glittery thread, which the patient can follow with their fingers.
Twiddle Muff Crochet Pattern
To see the full PDF file scroll within the actual file, or click where it says download to download the actual file.
Patients with Dementia are often to be seen twiddling with clothes etc. A Twiddle Muff is a simple knitted band to which various items have been attached so that the patients can twiddle with it in their hands. They help stimulation whilst on a ward or in a care home and they are found to be simple and valuable to the patients. A Twiddle Rug is a small blanket that serves the same purpose
Knitted Twiddle Muff
This pattern is perfect for using up left over and odd balls of wool, thinner wool can be plyed together to make the equivalent thickness of chunky wool, or use 2 strands of double knitting.
There are a number of patterns to be found on the internet. This pattern uses 8mm needles, but you can use smaller needles (anything from around 6.5mm upwards, depending on what you have). If you find that the piece of knitting looks very big ( knit half a row and then fold in half to check) then either use smaller needles, or a few less stitches.
People have different sized hands, so differest sized Twiddle Muffs are very acceptable!
Cuff
Using 8mm needles, cast on 40 stitches and work in stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl) for 11 inches. This forms the inner of the muff and is a good opportunity to use up all those bits of wool in sludgy colours!
Muff Body
Continue in stocking stitch, using up oddments of various textures/ colours of wool e.g. chunky, mohair, silky, ribbon – whatever you have. When work measures 23” cast off.
Decoration and Finishing
The body of the muff can be decorated with beads, buttons (with or without loops), knitted/crocheted flowers, pompoms, zips, shoelaces, a thick cord couched in a random pattern, or a pocket for a small teddy or doll to go in and out. Stitch items on VERY SECURELY. Place a few (soft) items on the inner side of the muff.
Join long side seams together with purl side facing out, then turn the muff inside out. Push the cuff inside the body of the muff and sew the two ends together securely.
Twiddle Rugs
These are made from a piece of fleece blanket, which is decorated in the same way. It can have pockets with an inserted zip, open pockets (if you are placing something inside the pockets try to attach it securely with ribbon or cord so that it doesn’t get lost), beads, buttons (with or without loops), knitted/crocheted flowers, pompoms, zips, shoelaces, a thick cord couched in a random pattern etc according to what you have
Cut a piece of backing fabric the same size as the rug – it can be fleece or a contrasting texture. Tack the two pieces together, and sew around the edges, then edge with satin binding or ribbon. The finished rug can be sewn together in the body with a thicker thread using a machine stitch or glittery thread, which the patient can follow with their fingers.
Twiddle Muff Crochet Pattern
To see the full PDF file scroll within the actual file, or click where it says download to download the actual file.