10 Free Sensory Crochet Patterns for Healing and Comfort

Sensory Cube Free Pattern

Bright and colorful this fun Sensory Cube has different textures (I especially love the tree) and shapes to fiddle with. Whether you use all the pieces to make a cube, or pick and cheese squares to seam together for a sensory mat, this is a great project to try.

Stroke me Soother Twiddle Muff Hand Blanket

This pretty Twiddle Muff is lovely, soft and feminine. If you read Sarah’s post it totally made me think of my own Nana and the kind of muff she might have considered wearing. This great pattern is written in UK Terms so be sure to remember dc means sc in US terms!

Fidget Muff Pattern

This Fidget Muff Pattern from Tracy Wesolek is crocheted with Medium Weight Yarn [4] and a 5 mm (H) hook. This muff includes hidden beads on the inside too!

Twiddle Muffs for Phylis

This pretty twiddle muff was designed by Hooked on Sunshine for her Ouma. You will need DK Weight Yarn [3] and a 4 mm (G) hook.

Twiddle Muff Pattern

Crochet a twiddle muff using Medium Weight Yarn [4] and a 8 mm (L) hook. These twiddle muffs come in sizes S/M and M/L. This pattern is available from Shirley MacDonald and available in both UK and US terms. Watch the video here.

How to Crochet a Twiddle Muff

This video tutorial helps to explain how to make a Twiddle Muff. The instructions are provided by LoveCrafts.

Many of you know my Gramps had Alzheimer’s disease. We cared for him for as long as we could in our own home; with helpful assistance provided from Veteran’s Affairs in Canada.

But once Gramps started to become immobile (his one leg stopped supporting his weight) and he kept forgetting that he couldn’t stand and walk by himself, things became more dangerous for him. His Alzheimer’s made him forget he couldn’t walk and he would constantly start to get up and then he would slide slowly to the floor.

Once he was on the floor we couldn’t get him back into his chair without my husband’s help – and my husband was at work during the daytime – it became very distressing for all of us. Especially for him. So we had no choice but to have him placed into a Nursing Home near us.

The Nursing Home in Milverton was wonderful. They cared for him like he was a member of their family and he appeared happy there. He lived there for just over 3 years (2011-2014). He was always quiet and respectful – peaceful and kind. He never remembered who we were exactly, but he knew we were family.

Strangely, he always knew who my children were though – and he adored their visits – as did the other residents in the home. They all “lit up” as soon as my two (Drew was 1 and Darla almost 3) came into the building.

We visited as frequently as we could (3 times a week for the first year and a bit) until it became difficult to contain my little boy to his stroller for the hour long visit. If Drew got out of his stroller and the room door opened he flew out that door and down the hall.

My son Drew wanted to explore (like any little toddler) and he wanted to touch and taste EVERYTHING. He also liked to run about like a wee devil (which made the residents smile and point) – but was not safe for anyone.

Plus, because Drew was born with Neutropenia, I was terribly concerned about him getting sick. The tasting of anything his grubby little hand could find was more than this worried mama could handle. As it was, he had to go to the Hospital every Wednesday for finger pokes to check his blood to be sure he was still at safe levels.

As a result, we had to start decreasing our visits and thankfully this corresponded to when my sister and her husband were able to visit more often. I still feel terrible for not being able to keep up those visits. I do know that he would have understood.

One thing I noticed during all of our visits was how his fingers ‘picked’ at things – things that none of us could see. Imaginary crumbs on his table, on his sleeve, on his hands. He was constantly trying to pick something up that we could not see and he seemed surprised when he couldn’t find it in his fingers.

We usually had Darla’s iPad with us when we were there and he intuitively knew how to use it – having never seen one before in his life he played games with her and her little characters easily (she loved all the Toca Boca apps).

I didn’t crochet back then, but if I had, I would have made him one of these Sensory Patterns. Or designed one myself that would have items in it that he used in his life (like that measuring tape he always carried in his back pocket) and his keys.

I hope you will be able to find something useful in this collection to make for your loved one who has Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Sending prayers that your loved ones are safe and healthy,

Rhondda
XO