Twiddle mitt knitting pattern

Twiddle mitts are knitted cuffs or hand warmers, which have different textures and materials attached, such as beads, ribbons and buttons, that people with dementia can hold and ‘twiddle’ to help any restlessness and agitation that they might experience.

We’re calling for crafty folk to put their knitting know-how to good use and create twiddle mitts for some of our service users with dementia.

For a downloadable version of the pattern, click here..

To make a twiddle mitt you will need:

Ball/s of double knitting or chunky wool – this pattern is great for using up odds and ends of wool. Please feel free to use any colours of wool you would like – the brighter and more colourful the better.

Knitting needles – 8mm circular or 6.5mm straight needles

Method:

Cuff:

Cast on 40 stitches of wool – if you are using double knitting wool, use two strands or just one strand of chunky

Work the stocking stitch (knit a row, purl a row) for 11 inches

Body of mitt:

Continue with the stocking stitch until the work measures 23 inches – you can work in new colours as you go

Cast off

Finishing off

Join the sides of the mitt together with the pearl side facing you and turn inside out

Push the cuff inside the body of the mitt and sew together two ends

Add beads, zips, materials, pomp oms and buttons to suit – the more different textures and materials the better

Donate your twiddle mitt

Your twiddle mitt can be donated to any of our Abacare offices:

Bangor
9 Ash Court,
Parc Menai,
Bangor,
Gwynedd,
LL57 4DF.
Newtown
St David’s House,
New Street,
Newtown,
Powys,
SY16 1RB.
Ystradgynlais
Unit 300, Ystradgynlais Business Centre,
Trawsffordd Road,
Ystradgynlais,
Powys,
SA9 1BS.
RCT
Ty Cynon,
Navigation Park,
Abercynon,
Rhondda Cynon Taf,
CF45 4SN.