Over the years we have donated 100's fidget quilts to various home healthcare organizations, nursing homes, and memory care units. If anyone wants kits or fabric to make a fidget quilt at home, please give me a call. If you have a family member or friend who is in need of a fidget quilt or know of a new facility that would like to have some of our quilts, please call Janice Fisher .
Alzheimers patients are "fidgety" because they don't know who they are or where they are. They don't sense what's happening but react to feeling and touching. They begin to fidget with their buttons, zippers ... ears, belts, watches, etc., to calm themselves and sort of center their being trying to find themselves and some peace. We design lap quilts with many textiles such as velvet, fur, satin, nubby fabric, lace, etc. They also have zippers, buttons, pulls, braids, embroidery, etc. We make them with five-inch squares and try to include lots of fabric with pictures, letters, or beading. We use fleece for the backing so they don't slide off their lap.
Sometimes they feel fur, and it reminds them of a pet. Their eyes light up, and they give up a big grin for you.
A big THANK YOU to Scotti McCarthy for all her years of service with this project!
For an excellent tutorial on making a fidget quilt, watch the following YouTube with quilter Rob Appell: