As I think I’ve probably mentioned before, I run a monthly arts and crafts group at the local community centre. We’re called the Crafternooners!

We work at all sorts of crafts from knitting and crochet to jewellery making, patchwork and rug making, glass painting and paper cutting.

The idea of producing things called Twiddlemuffs for hospital patients was drawn to my attention.

Twiddlemuffs provide a wonderful source of visual, tactile and sensory stimulation and at the same time keep hands snug and warm for patients with dementia in the community and in a hospital setting. They are knitted muffs which are decorated inside and out with buttons, bells, pompoms and….. whatever really.

They have proved to be very popular with dementia patients who often have agitated hands and are in need of some gentle reassuring distraction.

Having recently had experience of the devastating effects of dementia I was thrilled that the Crafternooners were so eager to support this venture and have already, in just a few weeks, knitted over twenty Twiddlemuffs for our local hospital of St Mary’s which we’ll be able to deliver next week.

They are easy to knit, quick to make and help to use up all those odd buttons, bits of wool etc that all crafters seem to have hanging around.

It’s terrific that something so easy and straightforward to produce can provide such help and comfort for dementia patients.

There are full details and instructions on the internet, it looks as if all hospitals will eagerly accept them so have a go at making one!