Fidget quilt or pad
 

Has anyone made a fidget quilt or pad for someone dealing with autism/Alzheimer's? My 14 year old GD wants to make one for her Child Development 4-H project. It will then be given to a 11 year old girl who deals with autism. Thanks for any comments you may share.

Here is a link to google images for fidget quilts. https://www.google.com/search?q=fidg...w=1366&bih=651

And, here's a link to fidget quilts on Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/search/pin...6802&term_meta[]=figit%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=quilts%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=ideas%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined

I know you will make a great one. There are so many choices to make this great. (beads, bow, braiding, zippers, pockets. buttons, texture, fun fabrics, etc. I think this is a great project for your DGD. Be careful, she just may get the sewing bug and not want to stop.

I make mine about 16" x 24" and make sure the back is non-slip fabric, as these are generally used on the lap (for the memory impaired). I sew in a muslin cylinder of plastic beads on each side edge, the kind used for weighted blankets. The top is just an assortment of texture and fiddle items like a short zipper, a bead on a short thong, velvet or lace or a small pocket, a knotted cord - anything that is washable and cannot be detached. I use whatever batting scraps I have in the right size, and quilt just enough to keep it from shifting. Hope this gives you some ideas.

I have made several.. Here is one I made on felt. It was lap sized.

here is a good video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhojSOjTAn4

Was going to suggest this same tutorial, I love Man Sewing with Rob Appell.

Thanks for the link. That's an awesome fidget quilt!

I love Rob Appell's YouTube video, but here is a smaller one I made that is placemat size for my Mom's facility for added ideas.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t278829.html

for autism, you might encourage her to consider a weighted quilt--even a small one to lay over the lap (like placemat side) with a couple of fidgety things on it. Rob Appel has a YouTube video on this. The weighted blankets are commonly used with autism and anxiety.

google sit n sew fidget quits, lots of information will pop up. I have made these for children, most the parents like the placemat size. Easy to take along to appointments, car trips, etc. On one site it advised to sew over each seam of each item you attach several times so they can not be torn apart and become a hazard. I'm not sure about making a weighted quilt. I did some research on them, they should be made so the weight of them is one tenth of the child's body weight. A 100 pound child would need a 10 pound blanket. That can be quite heavy to carry around. I think they are used for sleeping, the little pellets in the blanket conform to the child's shape kind of like a big hug. I guess thats what comforts them. On the other hand some autism children don't like to be touched.