I am appealing to my fellow crafters for a few ideas. I am trying to find very simple projects that will help make my mother feel useful without being overwhelmed. She enjoys candlewicking but only as long as there are few "French knots" in the pattern. So I am looking for some simple and inexpensive patterns that I can keep her busy with. Please limit it to nothing too complex. I may just have to figure out a way to get the patterns without the knots. Anyone who can help please leave a comment.
I know that this is not tatting related but I am hoping that there is someone out there that can help.
Happy Tatting
Arial - Tatting Faerie
Would she be interested in Kumihimo braids? The foam boards are fairly inexpensive. The work is easy to pick up and put down, and the cords are wonderful! I find making to braids to be very relaxing. I found a kit for girls at Hobby Lobby that even had color coded cardboard wheels for creating four different patters, and it included 150 skeins of embroidery floss. The cost was $17.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I would love to have her do this I am afraid that this would overwhelm her. This is a good idea though. Keep in mind that she is an Alzheimer's patient and the patterns have to be VERY simple.
DeleteI agree with Diane's suggestion. Braiding is very simple indeed and I don't feel that she should have a problem doing it either. I don't think she could go much simpler than this. Otherwise, maybe just coloring....
DeleteI am looking at simple line embroidery projects that I could actually build a total picture from different elements. If I move away from simple stitches to something like knotting she will get overwhelmed. She really balks at doing the "french knots" on some of the candlewick patterns that we have tried so far. Yes braiding is simple enough but I am pretty sure she would rather sew than braid.
DeleteWould she be better able to do colonial knots? They're supposed to be an easier alternative to french knots. Another substitute might be just attaching a bead in place of the french knot.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if she would be able to or not. I have come up with an idea of building a pattern one element at a time to see if she could do it. But I do appreciate the ideas that I have been getting.
DeleteHow about the sewing pages where you outline the design using thread in an in and out method? I've seen some cute ones at stores in the children's craft sections. My heart goes out to you and your family dealing with Alzheimer's it is a nasty situation. I wish you all the best. I'll keep thinking of ideas too. Peace and hugs
ReplyDeleteI will keep that in mind for when she is further along with the disease. Right now I am afraid that maybe too simple for her. She is pretty funny about what she does.
DeleteHow about giving her just one letter of the alphabet at a time to candlewick? That way you could spell something out when you put the letters together? And it would help her remember vocabulary skills?
ReplyDeleteNow that is a thought. I will keep that in mind for future projects.
DeleteWhen my father was in the nursing home (almost 5 years) with Parkinsons, we built a table (desk) to accommodate his wheelchair. I traced old embroidery patterns and coloring book pages to make coloring sheets for him, and added a bible verse to each. We bought the washable markers for him, and he sat and "painted" for hours. When I'd visit, we'd visit other residents, and he'd give away his pictures. He must have colored 1000 or more. Was very rewarding for him and the other residents loved our visits.
ReplyDeleteThis is another idea that I will keep in mind for when she is further along in the disease.
DeleteMost of the traditional candlewicking patterns seem to have a lot of colonial or French knots. I see no reason why the candlewicking style of embroidery couldn't be applied to simple embroidery patterns. My favorite site for free patters, oddly enough, is http://www.french-knots.com/ they have a wide variety of primarily vintage patterns free to downloas and use.
ReplyDeleteThis is the sort of thing that I have been looking for. Thank you very much for the link. I appreciate it very much.
Delete