This is part 2 of the Crochet Along Fidget/Sensory Blanket for Alzheimer’s for the first three blocks. In Part 1 I wrote about why I made this blanket and some information you may find handy.
You can get a PDF of all the block patterns and additional tutorials on Loveknitting or Etsy
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This blanket is so easy o make because all the blocks are made with the Half Double Crochet stitch with Single Crochet for the edges and border.
And in case you think this is a cost intensive project, it is not at all. Some of what you need, you may already have. Also important to note, please do not use notions that can easily be bitten in half. I’ve been advised that as the disease progresses, patients have the tendency to put things in their mouth and try to eat them.
Ok, let’s get right on the first 3 blocks.
It’s ok if you sell items you made using LM patterns. And I’d really love it if you mentioned it was from LM.
And please, do not sell or mass produce LM patterns- (the only exception is if you are donating the handmade items to charity)
Thanks. You can read more on LM policy here.
Crochet Along Fidget/Sensory Blanket for Alzheimer’s- Part 2
Finished size: 17.2″ wide by 21″ tall
Gauge on each block: 12 rows by 15 stitches = 4 by 4 inches (after blocking)
You’ll need:
- Worsted weight, Medium 4 yarn (1 balls). In this pattern, Himalaya Super Soft yarn (200gr/ 382 mtrs/ 359 yds). You’ll only need about 500 yards for the whole blanket. Premier Yarn, Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted.
- About 25 grm of yarn in contrast colour for fringes
- 5mm hook
- Tapestry needle
- Notions (6 different sized buttons, 1 zipper; 6” long by 1.2”wide)
Stitches/Abbreviation
HDC- half double crochet
SC- single crochet
CH- chain
SL ST- slip stitch
BLO- back loop only
DC- double crochet
5 DC Popcorn Stitch: make 5 DCs in the same stitch, take out hook from the 5th DC, insert it in the 1st DC from front to back into the 5th DC, pull out the loop, ch 1.
Useful tutorials
– How to sew notions onto crochet fabric
Notes:
- Pattern written in U.S terms
- Ch 1 does not count as a stitch unless otherwise stated
You can get a PDF of all the block patterns and additional tutorials on Loveknitting or Etsy
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue
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Block 1- Fringes
Note: In this block, we will be working in the BLO of the HDC to create the ridges for the fringes. Also, this block may turn out smaller than the other blocks, but will stretch after joining and blocking.
Row 1: Chain 30, HDC in 2nd ch from hook, HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Row 2: HDC in BLO across. Ch 1, turn
Row 3: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Rows 4-20: repeat rows 2 and 3. Do not snip yarn. Continue on to edging
Edging– Repeat this edging for all the blocks. You will only be making edging on 3 sides.
Ch 1, SC 20 evenly on the side, Ch 1, SC 29 at the bottom, Ch 1, SC 20 on the side, Ch 1, join to 1st HDC. Snip yarn, weave in tail
The fringes on the first row should be longer, the ones in the middle about half the length of the first row, and shorter for the last row. However, you can totally do this as you please.
Block 2: Popcorns
Row 1: Chain 30, HDC in 2nd Ch from hook, HDC in 13, Popcorn in next, HDC in 14. Ch 1, turn
Row 2: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Row 3: HDC in 12, Popcorn in next, HDC in 3, Popcorn in next, HDC in 12. Ch 1, turn
Row 4: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Row 5: HDC in 10, Popcorn in next, HDC in 7, Popcorn in next, HDC in 10. Ch 1, turn
Row 6: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Row 7: HDC in 8, Popcorn in next, HDC in 11, popcorn in next, HC in 8. Ch 1, turn
Row 8: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Row 9: HDC in 8, Popcorn in next, (HDC in 2, Popcorn in next) 4 times, HDC in 8. Ch 1, turn
Row 10: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Row 11: HDC in 14, Popcorn in next, HDC in 14. Ch 1, turn
Row 12: HDC across
Row 13: HDC in 14, Popcorn in next, HDC in 14. Ch 1, turn
Row 14: HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Row 15: HDC 12, Popcorn in next, (HDC in 1, Popcorn in next) 2 times, HDC in 12. Ch 1, turn
Row 16: HDC across. ch 1, turn
Row 17: HDC 10, Popcorn in next, HDC in 2, Popcorn in next, HDC in 1, Popcorn in next, HDC 2, Popcorn in next, HDC in 10. Ch 1, turn
Row 18: HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Row 19: HDC in 8, Popcorn in next, HDC in 2, Popcorn in next, HDC in 5, Popcorn in next, HDC in 2, Popcorn in next, HDC in 8. Ch 1, turn.
20: HDC across. Continue on to edging. Snip yarn, weave in tail
Block 3- Buttons & Zipper
Note: you can change the number of chains you make based on the size of your buttons. All you need do is decide which loop for which button then make the suitable number of chains.
– for this block, only one of the Slip Stitches counts as a stitch.
Row 1: Chain 30, HDC in 2nd ch from hook, HDC across. ch 1, turn
Rows 2-4: HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Row 5: HDC 6, Sl st in next st, chain 9, Sl st in same st, HDC 9, Sl st in next st, chain 9, Sl st in same st, HDC 12. Ch 1, turn
Row 6: (remember, only one of the Sl sts counts as a stitch) HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Rows 7-8: HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Row 9: HDC 10, Sl st in next st, chain 13, Sl st in same st, HDC 11, Sl st in next st, chain 15, Sl st in same st, HDC 6. Ch 1, turn
Rows 10-12: HDC across. Ch 1, turn
Row 13: HDC 3, Sl st in next st, chain 9, Sl st in same st, HDC 14, Sl st in next st, chain 20, Sl st in same st, HDC 1o. Ch 1, turn
Rows 14-20: HDC across. Continue to edging, snip yarn, weave in tails.
Sew buttons in the direction you want the chain loops to go, sew zipper on the top of the fabric.
Head on to Part 3
Join us on our private facebook group to share your progress and projects. Thank you.
Do you still have your Crochet with Loopingly Made group on Facebook? I searched and couldn’t find it.
Yes.
Hello Rose. I love your blog so far and am finding lots of neat things to try while here. I want to thank you a lot for this pattern in particular. My dad had late-stage dementia and I took care of him for as long as I could before having to put him in the nursing home in March of last year. Unfortunately, due to covid-19, I was unable to visit him for the vast majority of the year. He passed away last week of covid and because I think the nursing home did such a good job with helping him through his end-of-life journey, even though he did end up passing, that I wanted to create a bunch of these little blankets for them to use with their dementia patients. Hopefully, these fidget-type blankets will help many patients that are suffering from this disease. Thanks again for your work on creating this.
wow! I am so glad to hear your story, and thank you for sharing it.
I am sorry to hear about your father’s passing. Wishing you all the comfort you need, and thank you very much for sharing your thoughts.
I love this!!! My mother is in a nursing home and her memory comes and goes and with the home on lockdown her memory is getting worse. I wanted to share a picture of mine but don’t see where I can. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pattern!
I’m so glad this was helpful for you and your mother. You can join our Facebook group Crochet with LoopinglyMade to share your photo.
Thank you for stopping by.
I absolutely love the idea for the sensory blanket. I have a special needs grandson that loves sensory items. I am going to use this idea to make him a “book” of sensory squares that he can take with him wherever he goes.
Sensory items keep him calm & makes him more manageable when out in public. Thank you for the idea.
It is awesome that special needs individuals can find some calm and encouragement with sensory items. I’m so glad the Fidget blanket has inspired you.
I was so glad to see this pattern. I just stated making (three so far) regular lapghans that I was going to donate to a locate senior home. With so many dealing with this disease, I am going to change up things and make these. I have a closet full of yarn to use up. Thank you!
That’s wonderful. Good thing your have a closet full of yarn too, will make for more completed projects. Thank you for stopping by.
I requested to be a member of your FB group page. I’d like to see photos of other’s mats using different colors of yarn. Even going down to an F hook, my squares are too big, so plan to decrease the initial chain for each square. Hoping modifications to the pattern are described on the group page.
Hello Marcia, the sizing is not terribly important for the fidget blanket, unless you’d rather have a close to exact size as the pattern. Have you tried adjusting your tension? I have been away from the group for a bit, my apologies for the delay in approving your request.
Hello. Do you do the same three side edging on all the squares? Thanks!
Helo Karen, the 3 sided edging is only done on the outer corners of the blanket. I hope this helps.