From the President s3

3. Cut out squares of the themed fabric. Place them right sides Mothers’ Union. together and sew round three sides. Turn inside out and press; sew together fourth side. Add tabs to the bottom and sew securely in place (see picture). Attach Velcro to the back Instructions of the tab, and having sewn the square onto the quilt position and sew the opposite piece of the Velcro onto the quilt. for making an 4. Blocks of the tactile fabrics need to be sewn securely top and bottom. Activity Quilt 5. Make a pocket of fabric about 8” square with a zip sewn in the middle of the front of the pocket. Sew in place. (see picture) 6. Add ribbons and cords. These could be plaited or left hanging. They could be looped through wooden rings or have beads threaded onto them. 7. Using a large button sew it onto the quilt; using a piece of fabric make a buttonhole of the right size and then sew the fabric to the quilt just a the top over the button. 8. Attach squares of the tactile fabrics to the quilt ie. the insulated wadding and the brushed cotton.

9. Finally bind the quilt with 2 ½ “ wide fabric. Fold in half and press. Place the edges of the binding to the right side edge of the quilt and sew securely, preferably by machine. Either sew top and bottom and then the sides or join the fabric in one long length and sew in place with mitred corners as you go round. Fold the binding to the back edge and slip stitch the folded edge of the binding in place.

These are just a few ideas. It is also a good idea to add tapes to each side of the quilt (like an apron) so that the quilts can be tied around the person’s waist and will not slip off their knees. These quilts are known as Fidget Quilts or Sensory Stimulation Quilts in the USA and there are a number of websites that you might find useful. It has been shown that REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE ONE QUILT these quilts are comforting and settling for patients with 2 Fat quarters (18” x 22”) or 2 squares of fabric 25” x 25” any colour Alzheimer’s or dementia. 1 Fat quarter of wadding* or to fit the square When a person has dementia they may become very bewildered about their environment and often become *(If you prefer you could just use a fleece fabric cut to the size of the agitated and begin plucking at their clothing. These quilts cotton top fabric; then you have just two layers instead of three. You enable them to be distracted and provide a constructive will then only need one fat quarter or a square of fabric) activity. 1/2 yard/ metre Fabric for binding the quilt will be plenty – if using 2 ½” strips and cut carefully across the width of the fabric you might The aim is to maintain finger skills with buttons, zips, get away with1/4 yard. (A strip from a Jelly Roll would be perfect; ribbons and Velcro and provide stimulation and ask quilting friends about a Jelly Roll) conversation topics. The quilts are ideally made for an individual and so could include photographs. These can be Oddments of themed fabric i.e. animal prints, fabric with flowers, copied onto special sheets of fabric designed for this lighthouses, beach houses etc. purpose and available from craft shops and quilt shops. Zip, button, Velcro, cord, ribbon, photographs if using, large beads, and wooden rings, and D –shaped rings used for making handbags. The quilt will need to be washed frequently so needs to be Also wool wadding, insulated wadding that is designed especially for sewn firmly, the wadding needs to be washable and it is a making place mats and oven gloves and contains a layer of foil and good idea to have prewashed the fabrics to minimise the therefore crackles; and some brushed cotton. possibility of colour run especially with red fabric. The finished measurements will depend on the size of the fabric but The use of a particular colour doesn’t seem to be specific it needs to be at least 18” x 22” although as the disease progresses it seems that lighter INSTRUCTIONS tones are easier for the patient to see. 1. Either make up a quilt sandwich (cotton fabric, wadding and then bottom layer of cotton) or layer up the cotton top and fleece. 2. Sew together securely using a 2” or 3” square grid pattern across the whole fabric.