Advice for Sewing Activities

[stephp 1]

Hi,

   I work in a dementia unit with 30 residents.  Most of them are female and many of them have sewing as an important activity on their activity assessments.  They can no longer sew as they did  in the past because they don't have the fine motor skills or safety awareness to do so.  I can't sew to save my life and have no experience with that skill.  I did learn how to make the no-sew fleece blankets and introduced that to the residents.  Only 2 or 3 were really able to tie the knots successfully.  Does anyone have any ideas for things that I could do with these residents that would help them continue their love of sewing? 

[jkeide 0]

Have you tried to look on Pinterest for Ideas? They have lots of great ideas for no-sew projects! Check it out! There are also boards for Activity ideas as well. I would start to look there first. Hope this helps! 

[kstewart 0]

_{Hello - I have found success by using giant plastic needles (used for yarn) and plastic canvas.  I cut the grids into 4 inch squares and clean the edges so that they don't poke.  They can "sew" any pattern that they want!  I have several needles pre-threaded so that they can have as many colors as they would like.  It's almost as easy as working with shoelaces.  It really is great therapy for fine motor skills, color identification and its something that they can put down when they are tired and pick back up later.}

 

_{Just an idea....}