The community crochet group was launched in November 2018 by Victoria Robertson – a Community Engagement Officer at Epping Forest District Council. Her vision was to ‘bring the community together with creative crochet mornings”.They started off making simple phone cases and flowers using the double crochet stitch. The ladies in the group then started a project, creating twiddle muffs to benefit those with dementia at a local care home. On Tuesday 26 February the community crochet group gave the twiddle muffs to dementia residents at the Lower Queens care home (Buckhurst Hill).
What is a twiddle muff?
A Twiddle Muff is a knitted pocket or glove that has attachments added to it that patients can twiddle and fiddle with. Also known as Twiddle Pockets, they are used to calm patients with Dementia or Alzheimer’s by giving them something to do with their hands.
Victoria said “It took us four weeks to make the 14 twiddle muffs for residents in their care home. We attached lots of sensory items to the crochet muffs. Buttons, bells, ribbon, fur, silk and lots more. Many of the dementia residents were bed bound. We were taken around to meet the residents so they could select a twiddle muff as a gift. The happiness and joy was easy to see in the residents faces and many of them expressed their sincere gratitude”.
The group received a thank you email from the care home stating what a big difference the crochet twiddle muffs made to the lives of the residents.
Wendy the activity coordinator at Lower Queens care home said “Thank you so much for your gifts yesterday, I can see the ladies and yourself had worked so hard on these and they went down a treat. I am so pleased that your ladies got to see the true help and comfort these simple little things give to residents in care homes”.
The group are now working on their next project which will become a work of crochet art, creating a crochet garden. It will be on display attached to the Monkhams pub fence from Easter.
Would you like to join the community crochet class?
Learn how to crochet, all levels welcome. Come along, make new friends and get creative.
- Every Tuesday 11am – 1pm
- Monkhams Pub, Buckhurst Way, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6HY
For more information
Contact Victoria Robertson:
- Email vrobertson@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
- Call 01992 564 732
