A West Leeds community knitting group has made more than 100 sensory hand muffs for people with dementia and is continuing to receive requests from care homes the region.
The Hookers and Clickers, who meet regularly in Bramley and Kirkstall to knit for local charities, have recently been making twiddlemuffs, special hand-knitted muffs with sensory items sown into them, such as buttons, bells, pompoms, fabric and ribbons.
The initiative was inspired by staff at Bramley-based Full Circle Funerals, who requested the twiddlemuffs for residents of local care homes in Leeds and Harrogate.
David Billington, a funeral director at Full Circle Funerals, said: “These sensory hand muffs are a simple and effective way to help people with dementia cope with restless hands and reduce their anxiety levels.
“The Hookers and Clickers knitters have responded remarkably to our request, making over 100 twiddlemuffs already, and the reaction from care homes has been so positive that another 50 have already been requested.
“We are thrilled to have been able to connect these wonderful volunteer knitters with our contacts in care homes in Leeds and Harrogate to support people living with dementia.”
Demand has been so high for the twiddlemuffs that David is now appealing for donations of wool to help the knitters meet the ongoing requests.
If anyone has wool or sensory items that could be used to make more twiddlemuffs, e-mail Hookers and Clickers on hookersandclickers@gmail.com. The group is also keen to hear from people who would like to knit.
Care homes or organisations that would like to place an order for twiddlemuffs can contact david@fullcirclefunerals.co.uk.
Volunteers set up Hookers & Clickers (do it for charity) in September 2017.
The group, under the leadership of Bramley resident Joanne Brophy, aims to connect like-minded people in an attempt to make the world a better place through knitting and crocheting for various charities.
The group has supported KipBag, SANDS (the stillbirth & neonatal death charity), Leeds Baby Bank in West Yorkshire, NPAC (National Police Aid Charity) and many others.
WLD reported earlier this month, the Hookers and Clickers have knitted more than 800 hats, which will be turned into a canal-side Christmas tree.
