Can We Show Off Our Crafts?

[Dana Jean]

Has anyone ever made a Fidget Quilt here? Scroll down for a better idea of what they are.

Michele Bilyeu Creates *With Heart and Hands*: Making Fidget Quilts for Alzheimer's Patients: Free Tutorials and Ideas

My husband's grandmother has dementia, she's 99. Physically, she is in great health, but her little mind is just gone. The other night she kept my MIL awake fussing about being late to her 2nd grade classroom, and how the teacher was going to be so mad at her. It breaks my heart.

I thought making one of these might focus her nervous energy and anxiety. Any tips if you made one or have seen one?

 

[Moderator]

Has anyone ever made a Fidget Quilt here? Scroll down for a better idea of what they are.

Michele Bilyeu Creates *With Heart and Hands*: Making Fidget Quilts for Alzheimer's Patients: Free Tutorials and Ideas

My husband's grandmother has dementia, she's 99. Physically, she is in great health, but her little mind is just gone. The other night she kept my MIL awake fussing about being late to her 2nd grade classroom, and how the teacher was gong to be so mad at her. It breaks my heart.

I thought making one of these might focus her nervous energy and anxiety. Any tips if you made one or have seen one?

I'd never heard of them before except for the ones they do for babies. Looks like a great idea, though.

 

[Dana Jean]

I'd never heard of them before except for the ones they do for babies. Looks like a great idea, though.

I hadn't either, but it makes sense. Give them little doodads to fiddle with and focus on. Might be calming to have something tactile in their hands, like they were working on something.

 

[Moderator]

I hadn't either, but it makes sense. Give them little doodads to fiddle with and focus on. Might be calming to have something tactile in their hands, like they were working on something.

You've probably already been there, but found this link to Pinterest with ideas for fidget quilts.

 

[Spideyman]

Dana Jean - do you have a local Alzheimer's support group in your area? They might have info on this project.

 

[Dana Jean]

You've probably already been there, but found this link to Pinterest with ideas for fidget quilts.

hahhha! yep, been there. such good ideas!

 

[Moderator]

hahhha! yep, been there. such good ideas!

Figured as much but just in case.

 

[AnnaMarie]

I will not be making any more stockings. Only exception will be if any of my kids have kids, or if my youngest gets married and his partner wants one.

That last one I made....the grandmother requested it. The parents knew I was working on in time for Christmas. They knew it was a lot of time, even if they didn't actually know it was over 100 hours. Christmas morning the grandma posted some pictures. One was the parents and baby and a stocking on the sofa beside them. Someone commented that they LOVED the fox stocking...she had the same ones for her kids. Yup...that's right. They went out a bought a stocking. If everything given to this child has to have a fox, they should have told me before I wasted all that time.

(The picture was either deleted or blocked from my view. Obviously she didn't realize the stocking was in the picture when she posted it. And if the fox stocking was someone else's, or he used two, she would have replied rather than deleting.)

Never again.

I was also working on some baby toys. I had planned to give one to the baby and one to the grandmother for her daycare. Not now. I'm done!

 

[Spideyman]

I will not be making any more stockings. Only exception will be if any of my kids have kids, or if my youngest gets married and his partner wants one.

That last one I made....the grandmother requested it. The parents knew I was working on in time for Christmas. They knew it was a lot of time, even if they didn't actually know it was over 100 hours. Christmas morning the grandma posted some pictures. One was the parents and baby and a stocking on the sofa beside them. Someone commented that they LOVED the fox stocking...she had the same ones for her kids. Yup...that's right. They went out a bought a stocking. If everything given to this child has to have a fox, they should have told me before I wasted all that time.

(The picture was either deleted or blocked from my view. Obviously she didn't realize the stocking was in the picture when she posted it. And if the fox stocking was someone else's, or he used two, she would have replied rather than deleting.)

Never again.

I was also working on some baby toys. I had planned to give one to the baby and one to the grandmother for her daycare. Not now. I'm done!

So sorry to hear this, AnnaMarie. So many handcrafted gifts are not appreciated by the younger generation. They have no concept of the time and love that is put into the project. All they know is "store bought=instant". They can't see the quality of handmade vs mass produced. You, and all of of us on the SKMB know what you put into that stocking and I personally think it is beautiful- a true keepsake. It makes me sad.

 

[AnnaMarie]

The baby's dad is an artist. The grandma also makes a lot of things.


I've given someone one before and they didn't use and though I was a bit disappointed I was not so deeply offended. Because the other one was a surprise, but this one was known.

 

[no bounce no play]

Has anyone ever made a Fidget Quilt here? Scroll down for a better idea of what they are.

Michele Bilyeu Creates *With Heart and Hands*: Making Fidget Quilts for Alzheimer's Patients: Free Tutorials and Ideas

My husband's grandmother has dementia, she's 99. Physically, she is in great health, but her little mind is just gone. The other night she kept my MIL awake fussing about being late to her 2nd grade classroom, and how the teacher was going to be so mad at her. It breaks my heart.

I thought making one of these might focus her nervous energy and anxiety. Any tips if you made one or have seen one?

Your husband's grandmother might also enjoy colorful squares of fabric she can fold and unfold.

Can you write a short story (picture book short) about a young girl named (your husband's grandmother's name) who worried about being late but her teacher never got mad because she was hardly ever late and she was a very good girl? It might relieve some of her anxiety.

 

[cat in a bag]

Marti made me several of these for Christmas, some Christmas themed ones and a couple of the green and black with our last name initial added for year round. I thought it was a cute idea, and so simple!

Tea towel and hot pad sewn together with a button added to hook through the loop on the hot pad, and you have a nice towel to hang on the oven or fridge door!

 

[Dana Jean]

Your husband's grandmother might also enjoy colorful squares of fabric she can fold and unfold.

Can you write a short story (picture book short) about a young girl named (your husband's grandmother's name) who worried about being late but her teacher never got mad because she was hardly ever late and she was a very good girl? It might relieve some of her anxiety.

What a sweet idea! I made her a fidget quilt for xmas. I whipped that thing together in one day, which was easy because I had a off white baby blanket I had bought years ago for another project and stashed away. So, I just went through all my stuff and started sewing on ribbons and baubles.

We laid it on the couch next to her and while we were talking, I would catch her cautiously touching items on it. I hope it helps her. And she knew who I was! But not my family, my husband being her blood relative. She kept asking who he was, who was this man in her house? It breaks my heart because I can see her confusion and fear.

 

[Dana Jean]

Marti made me several of these for Christmas, some Christmas themed ones and a couple of the green and black with our last name initial added for year round. I thought it was a cute idea, and so simple!

Tea towel and hot pad sewn together with a button added to hook through the loop on the hot pad, and you have a nice towel to hang on the oven or fridge door!

View attachment 18852

what a great idea!

 

[do1you9love?]

What a sweet idea! I made her a fidget quilt for xmas. I whipped that thing together in one day, which was easy because I had a off white baby blanket I had bought years ago for another project and stashed away. So, I just went through all my stuff and started sewing on ribbons and baubles.

We laid it on the couch next to her and while we were talking, I would catch her cautiously touching items on it. I hope it helps her. And she knew who I was! But not my family, my husband being her blood relative. She kept asking who he was, who was this man in her house? It breaks my heart because I can see her confusion and fear.

((DJ, MIL and all family)) Dementia is so hard!

Did you take any pictures of the quilt? I'd love to see it. My mom plans to start a few this month.

 

[AnnaMarie]

I would also love to see the quilt if you took a picture.

 

[Dana Jean]

((DJ, MIL and all family)) Dementia is so hard!

Did you take any pictures of the quilt? I'd love to see it. My mom plans to start a few this month.

I didn't take a picture. I made it so fast. It isn't a pretty quilt, it just has lots of ribbons and yarn and lace and bows and silk and fur and beads and all sorts of colors and textures.

 

[do1you9love?]

I didn't take a picture. I made it so fast. It isn't a pretty quilt, it just has lots of ribbons and yarn and lace and bows and silk and fur and beads and all sorts of colors and textures.

That sounds pretty to me! And if it helps her even a bit, then it's beautiful!

 

[Dana Jean]

That sounds pretty to me! And if it helps her even a bit, then it's beautiful!

thanks.

 

[GNTLGNT]

thanks.

....beautiful heart as well....but I already knew that....