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Arts & crafts

Keeping a 90 yr old amused

(51 Posts)
LizHand Sun 06-Nov-22 22:07:26

My darling mother wants to pick up her knitting needles again (my last memory was a jumper that didnt fit over my head as a 10 yr old!!!) but she wants more than a "boring" blanket sq./scarf and nothing as fiddly as anything for a baby... any pattern suggestions?

Lathyrus Sun 06-Nov-22 22:11:04

Topless mittens?

I’ve had a lot of fun making striped ones out of oddments.

crazyH Sun 06-Nov-22 22:12:41

How wonderful ! I learned to knit years ago but gave up. Like your mother, I would like to get back to it and will follow this thread with interest.

p0Sy Sun 06-Nov-22 22:38:15

I saw some lovely knitted baubles at a craft fair - I'm not a knitter so have no idea how tricky this would be.
Also my sister and friends knit hearts for local hospice, again don't know how easy/ hard these are to make.

Norah Sun 06-Nov-22 22:48:47

In her 90s, mum liked to knit lap throws, "for elderly folk." hmm

paddyann54 Sun 06-Nov-22 22:50:30

Tiny hats for prem babies in SCBU.

MissAdventure Sun 06-Nov-22 23:02:01

Knitted knockers?

I've no idea how easy or hard they'd be to do, but they're for a good cause.

Wizend is a lady here who does some lovely projects, she may have some suggestions.

Snowedunder Sun 06-Nov-22 23:08:34

Covers for hot water bottles for care homes and hospitals.

Whiff Mon 07-Nov-22 05:14:02

Toys for children. There will be more help needed this year for poorer families.

wildswan16 Mon 07-Nov-22 06:58:34

Toys etc are probably too fiddly for her. How about a scarf with as complicated a pattern as she can manage - to gift or give to charity.

Ali23 Mon 07-Nov-22 07:06:31

How about a fidget muff for people with Alzheimer’s?
You can find a very easy pattern, using up scraps of wool, from

knitforpeace.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Twiddlemuff-Pattern.pdf

I’m sure a nearby home would welcome them.

kittylester Mon 07-Nov-22 07:10:48

A fiddle muff? They don't need to be neat and are very useful for people living with dementia.

Ther are patterns on line.

Dwmxwg Mon 07-Nov-22 07:15:23

We got my mum knitting dolls clothes for her GGC as Christmas presents last year. They weren’t perfect, but as said she said “teddy wont mind” It gave her a purpose for doing something useful

M0nica Mon 07-Nov-22 07:19:08

Homeless charities always welcome knitted hats. I have a friend who knits them and sends them to a seaman's charity.

Again they can be made from scraps of wool . No need to buy any. Charity shops often have lots of odd balls.

Chocolatelovinggran Mon 07-Nov-22 07:48:48

I second the knitted hats for homeless shelters. Also, there is a charity which collects tiny knitted blankets to wrap around very early born babies who do not survive. Parents sometimes find it comforting to hold their swaddled infant rather than a naked one.

Witzend Mon 07-Nov-22 08:34:04

Twiddle muffs (for hospital patients with dementia) are just basic straight knitting (except for the twiddly bits added afterwards) and are v good for using up oddments.

I have a pattern somewhere - used to make them for local hospital - but IIRC if you Google Oxford University Hospitals Twiddle Muffs, it’ll come up.
They use quite fat needles IIRC and either chunky or 2 strands of DK.

Lucca Mon 07-Nov-22 08:41:33

I can’t knit. Well I can plain and purl I think if someone casts on. Does anyone know where I could do beginners class ? My leisure activities are getting curtailed.

Whiff Mon 07-Nov-22 08:56:03

Lucca see if your local library has a craft group meet there. I go to a mixed media group for 2 hours . We just take whatever we are working on . Also look at local churches some have knit and natter groups but they welcome other crafter's. I know you aren't well could the charity associated with your illness have groups that you could join.

I love seeing what others are working on . I cross stitch, others see,knit,crochet ,colour in and make bead jewellery. One joined so she could learn to crochet and loves it . Funny enough lot of us have more than one thing wrong with us. But that's just a coincidence.

Lucca Mon 07-Nov-22 09:10:09

Thanks but I really need a class to teach me first !!

biglouis Mon 07-Nov-22 09:10:54

When I visited my gran as a child I was never allowed just to sit and "chat" after we finished afternoon tea. I had to take some "work" such as sewing/embroidery/knitting or crochet. She would peer at me over the top of her glasses and say "Have you brought any mending child? The devil makes work for idle hands"

I never enjoyed knitting because it was following someone elses instructions (pattern) but I can still crochet and love doing crazy patchwork (where you dont follow any pattern).

henetha Mon 07-Nov-22 10:15:10

How about a knitted waistcoat? Quite easy as no sleeves. I hope she enjoys taking up knitting again. I've been thinking of doing so too. Good luck.

Witzend Mon 07-Nov-22 10:16:35

I seem to recall a ‘wrist warmers’ pattern - just straight st st or maybe rib, with a gap for the thumb.

Glorianny Mon 07-Nov-22 10:19:34

Lucca

I can’t knit. Well I can plain and purl I think if someone casts on. Does anyone know where I could do beginners class ? My leisure activities are getting curtailed.

There are some instruction videos on Youtube they might help.

Chardy Mon 07-Nov-22 10:31:59

90 year old mum - baby blanket?
Lucca go to YouTube and search 'beginners knitting'

Retread Mon 07-Nov-22 12:22:24

Keyhole scarves are relatively easy and a quick project, not boring.

www.notaprimarycolor.com/2022/01/

Lucca, I started knitting again when I retired, having learnt plain and purl as a child, and started with simple patterns that I found online, helped by videos on YouTube and with practice am now an experienced knitter! smile