Have you heard of a twiddle muff? I had to look it up the first time I heard of it. It’s a hand muff (either knit or crochet) designed to be a stimulating activity patients for suffering from dementia.
It’s a double thickness and the items attached can be joined in right as you are knitting or crocheting or attached when finished. You use different textures of yarns and different stitches to provide a tactile experience.
I used crochet as it worked up very quickly. I cast on 55 stitches and worked the inside in rows of double crochet until it reached about 28-30 cm. in length. The next part is where I used different yarns and stitches. I have a lot of eyelash yarn that was gifted to me by a friend and some softer yarn leftover from another project. I used the bobble stitch in a few rows for a different feel. On one of the rows I added loops as I went along.
On one row I had pre threaded beads onto the yarn and then just brought them up one at a time and used them right in the dc row. This meant they were very secure.
When finished I folded it and joined it all together to make the muff. Goodness knows why I didn’t work it in the round the first time, but learned my lesson and did the second one in the round. Everything is a learning experience.
The photo to the left above shows the second twiddle muff made in the round. For the inside of this one I chose to use two strands of yarn, one a worsted weight and the other an polyester eyelash yarn. The second photo to the right shows how I turned it inside to measure how much more needed to be done. The blue part is actually the inside so I had a few more rounds to complete this one before stitching the open ends together. And then there is a peek inside when it is finished showing the soft inner layer.
I also added a curlycue, a key, a jingle bell, a ribbon, buttons, and some bigger beads. It is very important to attach the things very securely or better still join them in while you are working.
January is Alzheimer Awareness month and the Rosehaven Yarn Store in Picton, Ontario is having a knit along to make them and will then be giving them to the local Alzheimers Society for distribution. What a great initiative. I’ve made two for my contribution.
You really only limited by your own imagination. There are patterns to be found if you search twiddle muff but the finished item depends on the types of yarn you have and the objects that you work into the muff. It is a great stash busting project.
The Crafty Side dabbles in: knit & crochet, sewing & plastic canvas, Crafty’s projects, craf-tea ideas, kids crafts, rock crafts, Christmas Ideas
