FUN and CREATIVE!
Since ladies love their handbags, I was asked to make some ‘sensory twiddle handbags’, similar to the Twiddle muffs for the Dementia patients at our local hospital.
As a SaLT I also have 10+years experience in care homes and both my parents had Alzheimer’s, so I have developed this FREE pattern which provides purposeful activity, and sensory stimulation. The bags also help to distract hospital dementia patients from fiddling with their catheters and bandages.

The 5mm needles suggested are for those who use Aran weight yarn for the handles, instead of chunky. Handles can be sewn across or at one side of the bag.

I add similar twiddle muff embellishments such as a curtain ring on a length of tape; a pom pom on a length of icord; I knitted a little ‘wallet’ with clothing labels sewn inside; beads and some pearl beading, plus a toggle clasp; some braid to twiddle with and a fluffy, elasticated hair band, squeeze stress ball etc. See here for more idess

It’s a chance to use up left over yarns and charity shop ‘finds’ with doubled strand of Double Knit or one strand of Chunky weight yarn and to get creative with beads, buttons, ribbons and other embellishments that will provide the person with dementia some interest and occupation.

If you contact your local hospital and nursing homes, I’m sure they would appreciate you making some of these for the dementia sufferers in their care.
Thank you.

Please feel free to contact me with any queries. I hope you enjoy unleashing your creativity as much as I have with this project.