Twiddle muffs are some times used to help people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, autism or learning difficulties. The textures & embellishments give them something to do with their hands, distracting from picking at their skin or pulling at medical equipment and bandages.
They are constructed as a muff rather than a blanket as they can be slipped onto an arm with less chance of being dropped.
I was asked to make one a bit before Christmas; at the time I was in the middle of my Christmas Stocking mountain so this week was the first chance to have a go.
I had never made one before but I have seen them and I knew the basic theory.
You need a tube that is large enough to fit both hands inside comfortably, so I aimed for approximately 30 – 40 cm long and 20 cm wide when laid flat.
A variety of textures is best using different blends, weights & textures of yarns.
I raided my oddments bag, begged a few different yarns off a friend and also bought some tinsel and pompom yarn while at the Wool Haven. The colour mix may not be the most subtle but I thought a selection might be stimulating.
Materials (identifiable)
Chunky weight – worked on 6 mm hook – approx 40 stitches per row
- James C Brett marble, had 3 different colours
- King Cole Tinsel, yellow
- Lopi Icelandic, navy
DK weight – worked on 4 mm hook – approx 60 stitches per row
- Woolcraft Pompom, pink ‘& white
- Louisa Harding Kashmir – brown
- standard acrylic double knit – oddments
- wool double knit – oddments
4ply – worked on 4 mm hook to give a loose stitch, assorted oddments of acrylic
I’m not writing out a pattern as such, these tend to be unique depending on what you have to hand.
I have included rows of bobbles, fans, crossed treble crochets, and crocheted in back loop only to give a ridged effect as well as rows of double crochet, half treble & trebles
The final rectangle measured 63 cm long and approx 38 cm wide, it’s not very straight due to the changes in yarn weight and stitches.
Next I sewed the sides to form a long tube, there’s no need to weave the ends in as they add to the textured effect (Result! I hate sewing in ends)
The tube was then folded in half to give a double thickness muff, with the last and foundation rows crocheted together.
Finally adding the embellishments;
- plaited chunky yarn
- toggle
- buttons
- beads on a thread (securely attached)
- pompom
- ribbons, as a bow & threaded through the stitching
- crocheted flower
- curlie cues
- crocheted twisted ring
- twisted string
The project is easy but more time-consuming than I expected. I think it’s taken about 9 hours from start to finish.
