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Fidget Sensory Blanket | Easy Beginner Sewing Pattern
Easy |
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Debbie Shore's therapeutic fidget mat is designed to help loved ones feel calm and focused.
A fidget blanket, also known as a sensory or activity blanket, is a small quilt or lap blanket designed to provide sensory stimulation for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer's, autism, ADHD, or other sensory-processing challenges. This quilt has is designed to be simple enough for even beginner sewers to create. The bright colours and contrasting textures in this blanket sewing pattern provide both soothing and stimulating activity for young or old, while the tactile activity of the zips, buttons and buckles keeps restless hands busy or could trigger memories for some. The blanket can easily be adapted both in size or features, and you can add as many extra elements as you like!
Finished size: 26.5in (67cm) square
Note: Use a 3/8in (1cm) seam allowance throughout
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You will need:
Equipment
- Sewing machine, universal foot and zipper foot
- Fabric shears
- Iron
- Ruler
- Fabric glue stick
- Hand-sewing needle
- Optional: rotary cutter and cutting mat, erasable fabric marker, tacking/basting spray
Materials
Fabrics:
- Six 7in (18cm) squares of Fabric 1: I used a navy spot pattern
- Four 7in (18cm) squares of Fabric 2: I used a safari animal pattern
- Four 7in (18cm) squares of Fabric 3: mine was a sloth pattern
- Three 7in (18cm) squares of Fabric 4: mine had a green check pattern
- 29½in (75cm) square of backing fabric: I used Fabric 1 (navy spot pattern)
- 29½in (75cm) square of sew-in 80/20 wadding/batting
- 3¼yd (3m of bias binding: I used pale-grey shop-bought binding tape
Accessories:
- Two 15in (38cm) zips
- Two 8cm (20cm) lengths of narrow ribbon, for zip pulls
- 19¾in (50cm) length of ribbon, for the bow
- Selection of assorted 1in (2.5cm) wide ribbons, each approx. 12in (30.5cm) in length, for the pocket
- 1yd (1m) length of pompom trim
- Four buttons in four different colours
- Four hair ties/bungees in a selection of colours, for the button loops
- Thirty beads: mine were quite small, but you could choose larger beads if you would like to make sure they are not a choking hazard
- Three 7in (18cm) lengths of cord or string, for holding the beads
- 4in (10cm) square of fur
- Three 7in (18cm) lengths of hook-and-loop tape (such as Velcro®) in three different colours
- Two 15in (38cm) lengths of 1in (2.5cm) wide cotton webbing
- 1in (2.5cm) wide plastic buckle
- Four 1in (2.5cm) wide colourful slider buckles
- Two 7½in (19cm) lengths of ric-rac
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Project steps:
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Step 1
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Step 2
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