Latest fidget quilt and advice pls
 

Pics of my latest fidget quilt. It's 18 x 24. I donate them to an assisted living place nearby that has a dementia unit. All seams are either double or triple sewn. They tell my my quilts do well in the laundry.

They thought the residents may enjoy a "door" with a surprise behind it. I made one but I'm not 100% happy with it. I put a piece of interfacing inside to give the "door" some body. I'm concerned that the "door" may come off with repeated use. I think I sewed in on 3 different ways. Any suggestions of how to do this differently?

Thanks.

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I think it will stay on as well as the other objects. What a great idea - I wonder if fidget quilts would help kids with ADHD to calm themselves. I like the "surprise " under the door!

Looks good to me. Nice of you to do these for them. Surely much appreciated. :)

I have never done these quilts but it is terrific for you to try to help these residents.

What if you made it into a window instead, that way there would be 2 smaller pieces and not so much "weight" or "tension" on the larger door.
These little quilts are a wonderful idea.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by window? Like 2 shutters on a window and they open from the middle? That would work.

Yes that's what I was thinking, like shutters.....

Thanks!! That's a good idea.

that is awesome!

A real door has hinges. Give your cloth door some hinges, using a heavy material, even corduroy or sailcloth, or a polyester shiny fabric. Imagine an old wrought iron Celtic door, with bars that stretch across the width of the door. Fear not, you can do something sturdy and creative.

I like the idea of decorative hinges as well. One more element to both secure the door or window, but also another texture for the folks to feel. These would also be great for the autism community.

Your fidget mat is very nice. I like the door idea. I make them also for our county home and they are very well received. Never thought about autism mats. Have to look around my area for places that can use them. Thank you for making the mats. I'm sure they are appreciated.

I made some Quiet Books with doors, I ironed on an interfacing to the fabric for the both sides of the door, allowed 1" for the seam allowance where is attached to the page and sewed it down with the triple stitch. They have so far survived a lot of kid type abuse.

I love all of the creative ideas you gals have and KenmoreGal ... what a thoughtful donation of your time and talent for your local assisted living facility.

Great ideas. Yours looks so good. I am about to make one for my mother in law. She likes beads. I found some beads with clasps on each end. I'm going to sew rings on the fidget quilt and hook these on. They will be removed for washing. And if her caregivers decide they aren't working they can come off. But I think that's what she will like the best. I like the idea of the shutters.

Can you post a list of activities found in and on your fidget quilt?

Thanks for the specific details! I'll use your ideas.

Sure! I started to include this in my original post but it got too wordy so I deleted it. Starting from the top left corner and proceeding clockwise.
1. Door lifts up and there is a picture of a hobby hourse.
2. Wide piece of lace is only sewn on the left side. (triple stitched) Resident can run their fingers underneath the lace and feel the textures. Can also have fingers under and on top of lace at the same time.
3. 2 narrower pieces of lace are securely hemmed at the ends and strips are triple stitched at the seam. The can be manipulated in many ways as they are only attached at the ends.
4. Cord goes in pocket. Has a knot at the end which someone may like to fidget with. I used a knot and not a bead or something because a knot can't fall off and be eaten.
5. Black cord on bottom has a plastic curtain ring on it which can be twirled and moved side to side. (My first one had a plastic thread spool but it broke in my washer on a test run.)
6. White trim piece is only attached at the ends - triple stitched. It has a good texture and since it's not attached in the middle, it can be played with.

I don't use batting so they are cool in summer. I put something heavy on the back, in this case a piece of velour. (I suppose that's also something that can be stroked....) Then I zig zag all the seams, attaching the front to the back. I zig zag the places where the embellishments attach to secure them even more. I know these places can be harsh with their laundry techniques and I want my stuff to stay secure.

This is the 4th one I've given them. It's been a few months since I made the last one and I was rusty. I try to make each one a little better than the last so the next one will have velcro and some corduroy for texture.

My mom is in assisted living with the beginnings of dementia. I am planning on making a prototype when I go see her in April to show to the facility director. She isn't in need of one yet but others may enjoy. Bless you for thinking of them. What about something like this: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t268171.html
About the third or fourth picture down is a picture of the flaps I used. It is a pattern but basically you sew prairie points to each side of the square. I stitched down the middle to stabilize during washing. Residents can play with the flaps and see the picture inside.

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Wow, that's beautiful!!! I am a new quilter, I haven't even tried to make a triangle yet! Not to mention one as wonderful as yours. Some day....

As I make these quilts, it occurs to me that they are very much like the activity blankets that young children love. It's sad how we regress.

Edited to add that I've heard from the assisted living facility and they would prefer no velcro. They say it's too scratchy. Each facility has it's own desires and criteria so it's good that you will show them a prototype before making too many.

Anything people can fidget with usually helps them calm down. In the classroom I used fidget "toys" for kids to keep their hands busy. When teaching adults, fidget toys on the tables helped some people listen more. Teachers also use vests that have small weights in them to remind children to not move. I love the mats for dementia patients.

Many dementia patients enjoy holding and loving on dolls. They do not have to be life size because of weight, but close to life size and they really love them.

What a wonderful idea. Great job. I think the door is great.

Thank you.

If you want to make a door to stay on nice, look at how tent doors are attached. Those are made to take far more abuse from weather and humans than that little door. It is possible to put so many stitches in something that all you do is weaken the fabric.

On the last tent I stayed in, the door zipped. That can't be what you mean.

I do understand too many stitches weakening the fabric and honestly I'm concerned about that.

I'm planning the next one. I will use the 2 doors and a "hinge" of sorts with a few lines of stitching next to each other for strength. Also going make the whole door area out of heavier cloth, maybe denim. Also the "hinges" I think. I'm still planning it in my head.

Tent doors have a boxed X sewn on the ends and just a couple rows of stitching. Heavy fabric or nylon would be a good idea. I guess you could sew a tent with a door flap on a figet quilt. How about silk? Probably not a good tent door or figet door... Think about a parachute? I would love to look at an old silk parachute to see how it is sewn. Extra layers of material can help make something sturdy. Hinges are a great idea.

Actually the triangles pictured can be made by folding a square the same size as the novelty square (in this case, 5") in half, then folding each side down and to the seam allowance, like a pointed hat. I stitched down the edge of each to hold the fold in the middle, pinned four to the top of the novelty square and sewed all the seams into the seam allowance when I pieced the square. I did the same thing only instead of a square for the triangles, I used two different colored rectangles, offsetting the fold when I pressed them in half. That way when I folded it into a hat, I got a stripe down the middle.

These are great. Like your variety of ideas. Have these on my "sometime" list.

I've made dozens of fidget mats and have standing request for more. Mine are the size of a large place mat, more or less. I large meander quilt the batting to the top piece, sew the back to it right sides together, leaving approx 4 inches for turning. Once turned I stitch a 1/4 around the edges. This I call my blank. I put the same activities on each one but different. Zippers with ribbon pulls. Velour, toweling, minky, fleece, silky fabrics(usually doubled). These are cut 4 or 5 inches square, zigzaged to the blank, some with a bit of stuffing, a lot with doubled ribbons sewn on the edge, and some with a squeaker inside. I bought the squeakers online from a pet supply place. I found 6 inch rolls of white organza, turn under the edges and zigzag around, put some sequins in before finishing the stitching. They all seem to like that. A rectangle large enough to put their hand in, maybe a small piece of lace or fleece inside. I don't know how to post pics, which would be better than a book. You are only limited by your imagination. Please remember beads or things that can be torn off can be swallowed and all of these mats are subjected to heavy duty laundry machines.

I'm so inspired by your fidget mat (and the others mentioned here). What a compassionate, imaginative bunch if folks here . No wonder I enjoy this place so much.

What a wonderful idea. I have a friend with an autistic child and I want to make one. Could you possibly give us a blow by blow with measurements for construction or even a tutorial.

Sorry for the delay fish92241. I was away. What I can share with you all are the dimensions of the fabric squares I use. I believe the fidget quilts end up about 18 x 24 which is the size my particular facility likes. Your facility may have different specifications.

I have 2 different sets of cutting instructions in my notes to myself.

1. 2 - 6 1/2" squares and 4 - 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 squares. On this one the large squares are the top right and bottom left corners. The smaller pieces are the other corners.

2. 2 - 6 1/2" squares, 1 - 9 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle and 1 - 6 1/2" x 15 1/2" rectangle. This is the one on the first post of this thread.

I hope this was clear.

Oops - correction!!! I haven't made these in a while. I just made one using the measurements labeled #1 above. Turns out that makes a 12" square quilt. I guess that one is meant to have a bright border.

You said you sewed the door on three ways -- that should hold up at least as long as the lace.

Loved the idea of the prairie points for opening a window, lots of novelty fabrics for underneath. Don't forget to add velco, hink they love the noise it makes.

Like all these ideas. Going keep these post for future pattern. Thanks