Women from Trinity Lutheran Church, 527 Washington Street in downtown Reading, PA who knit and crochet have taken on a new mission and service project: making “fidgets.” A “fidget” is a small blanket, lap robe or muff worked in all colors of yarn and then adorned with different objects such as zippers or hair scrunchies. Holding the “fidget” can calm or amuse people who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Trinity Church’s “fidgets” will be donated to people who live at Berks Heim.
Making the “fidget” is both a creative and a practical process. The “fidget” lap robe or blanket can be in various sizes: 12” x 18” or 18” x 18” or 24” x 24.” The muff can be any size. You can use any stitch but the piece should be fairly tight. You may use any washable yarn in your choice of colors.
According to the guidelines from the Berks Heim care staff, safe objects include zippers, tassels, large buttons that are tightly secured, and hair scrunchies. Click here to download our example page.
Trinity Church’s knitters and crocheters recently gathered for a tea party and kicked off the “Fidget” Project with a buzz of enthusiasm. Watch the brief video on this page for ideas and inspiration. Making “fidgets” is a great project to do as you chat with your friends or watch television. Trinity’s yarn artists invite anyone who is interested in participating to call the church office at (610) 374-4861, email knitters@trinityreading.org, or join us on the Fourth Wednesday of every month for fellowship and collaboration.
