A "Fidget or Busy" Quilt is a small lap quilt or quilted mat that provides sensory and tactile stimulation for the restless or "fidgety" hands of someone with Alzheimer's or related Dementias.
If you are not a a quilter, these can easily be made in a blanket form using fleece or other fabrics not needing to be quilted down.
Fidget Quilts or Blankets provide sensory or tactile stimulation through the use of fabric choices, colors, value of colors next to one another, textures, and the use of accents or simple accessories such as pockets, laces, trims, appliques, buttons, secured beads, ribbons, braids etc.
Ideas and suggestions are shared through a variety of photos of all kinds of fidget quilts, blankets, mats, aprons, or even bags that I or others have made.
Supplies Needed:
1. A selection of fabrics, especially those with a variety of textures for sensory/tactile appeal.
2. Trims such as bobbles, braid, rick rack, lace, buttons, large beads, pockets, belt rings, zippers (patients wear zippered clothing and I've never known any of them to get hurt by their zippers, contrary to some quilters strange fear of them!), pompoms, ribbons, etc.
3. Sewing machine, thread, scissors and other basic sewing supplies.
Note:Fidget, Tactile, Sensory or Busy Quilts are utilitarian as well as attractive to look at and use and seams need to be secure. Hand stitching, quilting is lovely for Fidget Art Quilts as long as well knotted for repeated laundering. The same for the added touch of hand embroidery.
Many or our patients today sewed, quilted or did handiwork when they were younger so they love seeing these elements. Use hand worked linens for a lovely touch, or hankies, or even pockets saved from used blue jeans as additional fun elements!
No pattern is required to create a fidget quilt or blanket,but for those wanting simple layout and ideas, small quilt patterns are the closest to ideas that will easily transpose as they are by nature smaller as art small format art quilts, lap quilts or even placemats!
Starting Link for pattern ideas:
No pattern is required to create a fidget quilt or blanket,but for those wanting simple layout and ideas, small quilt patterns are the closest to ideas that will easily transpose as they are by nature smaller as art small format art quilts, lap quilts or even placemats!
Starting Link for pattern ideas:
Updated with SO many new ideas!!!
Fidget Quilts, Bags, Aprons: Ideas and Inspiration
I have been working with a wonderful
group of quilters from my local Mid-Valley Quilt Guild (MVQG) as part
of our charity quilting and education focus.
My blog has been filled with countless posts as I, myself, have journeyed through that process of learning about its effects on my loved ones and what it does to families, as well as educating others about this horrific disease.
Each new month is a time of transition as well as fresh starts. But for me, this has always been a month for reconnecting with the past and going forward into the future at the same time.
Each new month is a time of transition as well as fresh starts. But for me, this has always been a month for reconnecting with the past and going forward into the future at the same time.
So, my big project for this month was the creation of 'Fidget Quilts' for Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. I spent years watching my own mother progress through the stages of Alzheimer's Disease as I traveled back and forth between my current home in Oregon and my childhood home on Douglas Island, Alaska.
I saw the increasing distractions, the fidgeting, the inability to stay calm and centered and always sought a multitude of ways to keep her engaged, happy, content, and even busy.
We folded simple towels and pieces of clothing together, we did little art projects, we played 'beauty shop' and 'I remember when' and all kinds of games that I created that would make her laugh (mostly at me!) and keep her entertained and having fun while still engaging her mind, her hands, and help to make her smile.
I saw the increasing distractions, the fidgeting, the inability to stay calm and centered and always sought a multitude of ways to keep her engaged, happy, content, and even busy.
We folded simple towels and pieces of clothing together, we did little art projects, we played 'beauty shop' and 'I remember when' and all kinds of games that I created that would make her laugh (mostly at me!) and keep her entertained and having fun while still engaging her mind, her hands, and help to make her smile.
I made many books, pillows, and quilts with various textures for her to fondle and admire with the tiny bit of vision that she still maintained. Photo quilts were one of our favorites, scenes from her wedding, her honeymoon, her connections with family and friends, her time in the cancer care center here in Salem while we battled (and won!) her supposedly end stage inflammatory breast cancer.
But when I was gone returning to my own home in Oregon, to my own family, and loved ones there. I tried to leave behind things and ideas that my father could incorporate into her daily routine. Soft pillows and blankets and afghans and of course - quilts!
When we want to make a quilt for someone we don't know, a quilt can be almost anything, but the addition of little bits and pieces that catch someone's eye is very frankly, very similar to catching a new baby's attention. Simple graphic elements, or bright colors, or unusual juxtaposing of either of those, and in my case here - labels and tags that extend out from the edge of the quilt.
But when I was gone returning to my own home in Oregon, to my own family, and loved ones there. I tried to leave behind things and ideas that my father could incorporate into her daily routine. Soft pillows and blankets and afghans and of course - quilts!
When we want to make a quilt for someone we don't know, a quilt can be almost anything, but the addition of little bits and pieces that catch someone's eye is very frankly, very similar to catching a new baby's attention. Simple graphic elements, or bright colors, or unusual juxtaposing of either of those, and in my case here - labels and tags that extend out from the edge of the quilt.
And contrary to an old wives tale that red and orange were the worst colors to use they are the BEST and not the worst colors to include in a Dementia quilt. They are in fact the colors that we are able to see as our vision dims or colors, edges, and patterns begin to blur into one another! So use red, orange, bright fuchsia mixed in with your calming colors!!!
see:
Vision Problems Associated with Alzheimer's Disease
So, incredibly effective - didn't you notice them right off? - yet so very simple.
So, incredibly effective - didn't you notice them right off? - yet so very simple.
Colors and tags,
that's all it takes to make this little quilt, one of many I have just created that stand out and are noticed. And do I care if someone elses seams and edges are a little off? No, because all of ours are inside or out! Now, don't you get the urge, right this minute, to touch them, check out the fabric?
And no, contrary to other beliefs, not every one wants or needs bright quilts. I know many seniors who scoff at pinks and purples and oranges and limes. Give them the old fashioned colors so use those soft pinks and blues, browns and rusts and blues.
We forget that a large percentage of those in care homes are men. And actually a larger percentage in many cases, than women because the wives and daughters cannot physically lift, carry, or do the personal hygiene required where many, many husbands give up their own lives to care for their wives to the very end.
The little tags as they are often called can be touched, stroked, grabbed, and fiddled and fidgeted with. There's no problem with confusing them with the addition of strange items or toys as so many others seem to think a quilt for this cause might need.
My mother would have been very confused, for example, to a teddy bear sewn onto a quilt or hanging from a string and indeed, would have fought to get it off.
And remember! These quilts get washed, often in very hot water, over and over and over. Decorative trims need to be able to withstand this laundering, and any objects that are not part of the quilt, itself, become a problem when washing them.
Many memory centers refuse fidget quilts with items that are hanging by cords etc. You may see teddy bears etc. if you google this type of quilt, but really and truly they only create problems for both the patient and the care giver doing laundry.
But I've also made other styles and am currently make artsy fidget quilts as samples for art quilters as a way of bringing in both worlds into this new one where our focus is on helping others and not just satisfying our own creative needs whether artistic and liberated or traditional with simple ideas and designs. Here, both of these incorporates small panels that add visual interest and allow for story telling ideas.
Benita just learned to quilt from her friend Kate while still up in Alaska, and Benita created this wonderful fidget quilt and best of all said about our Salem Oregon group fidget quilt making day...
"I had an absolute blast!!"
Making Fidget Quilts for Alzheimer's Patients: Free Tutorials and Ideas
Tips on making a fidget quilt:
- These quilts are comfort quilts but meant to be utilitarian...washed over and over again.
- They are best when lap sized... less than 30" in both directions, with about 24" being ideal..
- I have found that patients prefer soft fabrics..especially on the back if not the front somewhere. But there needs to be some stability and the agitated, weight as well.
- Fabric that is relatable to their memory age group, thing they might love or remember.
- Brights are good somewhere in the quilt, but peaceful is good, somewhere in the quilt, too.
- Add on ideas: ribbons, mesh sewed securely, rickrack, prairie points, lace, decorative trims. I like to add a vinyl and zippered pocket and put small but safe items inside.
- Photos are lovely if they can still see and they don't have to remember who is who.
Sew an Alzheimer's Activity Mat/Sewing With Nancy Zieman ...
Sew an Alzheimer’s Activity Mat with free sewing instructions as seen on Sewing With Nancy! Marcia Engquist, who designs Alzheimer’s Activity Aids, designed these activity mats after watching residents at a care center restlessly fidget. These easy-to-sew activity mats help sooth the agitated fidgeting of people with dementia or autism. Plus, the mats help focus their attention, stimulate senses, exercise hand muscles, and entertain users.
Here's the link: Touchy Feely Quilt Instructions for Dementia and Autistic patients
Other ideas:
Lap Weighted Blanket Free Pattern. This pattern has been devised by Claire Taylforth for Sunshine Linus Inc.Crochet Butterfly Pattern from Sunshine Linus.
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I have lots and lots of free apron patterns that can be used for Dementia aprons! Just add the bibs and baubles and trims just like you might for a quilt!
And if you were looking for, or wanted to sew a simple child or infant's fidget quilt, read my post:
Tips and Hints:
Adult Bibs, Clothing, Quilts, Blankets: (add some visually interesting fabric and trims! We kept my home sewn adult bibs on my mom for almost all of her 8 year battle with this disease! And how she loved fidgeting just with the collars and bows and quilted surfaces I put into different ones!
Adult Bibs, Clothing, Quilts, Blankets: (add some visually interesting fabric and trims! We kept my home sewn adult bibs on my mom for almost all of her 8 year battle with this disease! And how she loved fidgeting just with the collars and bows and quilted surfaces I put into different ones!
Making a fidget apron for Alzheimer's or Dementia!
Cover-Up Apron Tutorial
My nursing apron for feeding infants is perfect for a fidget apron. There are no ties around the sides if you are always seated and the big pocket on the front could hold a beloved item(s) hankies, soft stuffed animals or a little dollar, momentos that a patient cannot be without, etc. Add trims, tactile fabrics etc. just as for a quilt!
Here are some cute ideas!
Ideas for Fidget or Fiddle Aprons for Alzheimer's or Dementia Patients:
Lots of decorative ideas for Fidget Quilts, Aprons, Pillows, etc!
Love to make bags? How about a Fidget or Fiddle Bag for Alzheimer or Dementia patients???
Fiddle Bags for Dementia Patients and Special Needs Children
Free Fiddle Bag Instructions
Wheel Chair Bag - Free Instructions
Wheel Chair Bag Free Instructions
Hospital Patient Bag - Free Instructions
Hospital Patient Bag Free Instructions
Making Alzheimer's or Dementia Fidget and Fiddle Pillows
My Personal Links for Understanding and Coping With Alzheimer's or Dementia
www.with-heart-and-hands.com
Coping With Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative | Alzheimer's Reading Room
LINKS:
www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/.../Sep 30, 2012 - The Alzheimer's Art Quilt
Initiative (AAQI) recently received its 12000th donated quilt. Imagine
12000 quilts. (this group earned over 1 million dollars for research and
I was so proud to be a part of it! Now, we have closed the group but
many, like myself, continue to do good and help others with this
disease!
In a nutshell, dementia is a symptom (once called senility) one of its causes is Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Information and Help
Alzheimer's Information and Help
Additional Sources:
Updated August 29, 2023
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2015/08/making-fidget-quilts-for-alzheimers.html
1 comment:
Hi Michele I hope you don't mind I have shared this article on my Facebook page, Fidget quilt folk. I have been mAking fidgets for some years mostly usingdonated fabric and trimmings. I found you article very thought provoking and interesting
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