A sample of the Fidget Quilt made by Kerstin Seifert and Carol Smith.
Alastair Stone receiving a Fidget Quilt for a relative, made by Kerstin Seifert
What is a Fidget Quilt? It is a small quilt made with different textured fabrics and often adorned with assorted objects to help busy the nervous hands of people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Frequently they get fidgety hands, and the fidget quilts are a soothing thing to give their hands something to do and giving them a feeling of security when their hands are engaged and their sense of touch is stimulated.
The fidget quilts are generally small enough to fit on their lap. Objects could be keys and key chains, buttons, netting, satin, ribbons, lace, soft fleece or fur-like materials, empty thread spools, washers, zippers that can be opened and closed. Almost more important than objects are strips of Velcro along the edges of the quilt, letting the person open and close it like a book.
With some minor modifications these fidget quilts can be made for autistic children, providing them with objects they can squeeze, pull and open.
The SaddleBrooke Ranch Stitch N Chat group has made several different types of fidget quilts so far with two given out: one to a local resident and one to a family member in a different location.
If you would like to have a fidget quilt made for a family member or friend, please contact Linda Shannon-Hills, [email protected] or Carol Smith, [email protected].