We are very grateful to our local community who continually support us by using their creative talents to knit and crochet blankets and twiddle muffs.
These items are fun to make and can provide a person living with dementia with stimulation for improved wellbeing, including keeping restless hands busy. These are perfect craft projects to use up any left over and odd balls of new wool you may have, and once knitted can be decorated with a variety of spare items.
Blankets
Ideally, these should be 90cm x 90cm (or 3ft by 3ft), brightly (multi) coloured crochet or knitted new wool blankets. They are given to our patients when they are settled on the ward. They help to provide a less clinical feel to their bed as they are brightly coloured and, a way of identifying where they are sleeping. Most of our patients are of the age group where they remember their mum’s or family members knitting/crocheting, and this then provides an opportunity to talk about their memories. The blankets are single use only and our patients are encouraged to take them home.
Twiddle muffs
These are brightly coloured knitted hand muffs with textured items attached, approximately six items or more on the outside and four on the inside, that provide people living with dementia visual, tactile, and sensory stimulation, with the added benefit of keeping hands nice and warm too!
Decorating twiddle muffs
You can use your imagination to decorate the twiddle muffs inside and out, with textured strands of ribbons, flowers loops, pompoms, etc. or knit a separate pocket for a favourite photo or a handkerchief. When making a twiddle muff, please make sure that there are no loose threads and that everything is sewn on tight, so attachments cannot be pulled off. Please be mindful that no sharp object is used.
As with the blankets, patients are asked to take their twiddle muffs home with them when they are discharged from hospital.
Please ensure that only new wool is used in the production of these items to help us maintain infection control along with the 'single use' policy.
How to support this appeal:
If you are a crafty creative type and enjoy knitting, you can follow the twiddle muff pattern here or use your own if it has similar dimensions.
Donating your items:
Any donations of blankets or twiddle muffs can be left at the main reception desk, St. Mary’s Hospital.
Thank again for supporting our patients living with dementia and making a real difference to improve their experience during their stay.
