Some 91原创 students are using their creativity to create one-of-a-kind fabric art pieces that aren鈥檛 just made to look interesting.
The pieces are fidget blankets, small items made with a combination of materials, including yarn knitted into a lap-sized square, along with various bobbles, beads, ribbons, zippers, and other decorations.
Fidget blankets are then given to people with dementia and cognitive challenges, many of whom are seniors, as well as some with autism.
The array of textures, colours, shapes, and sizes of the different components help provide something on which to focus and keeps antsy hands busy. They鈥檝e been shown to reduce anxiety as well as provide mental stimulation.
The project is the brainchild of Rosemary Hetu, a local senior and longtime knitter and crafter who oversees the students at James Kennedy Elementary 鈥� where her daughter is a teacher.
鈥淓verybody works at their own speed,鈥� Hetu said.
Numbers in the club have fluctuated, but Ayla and Allwell, Grade 5 students, as well as Grade 6 student Eloise are the stalwarts of the fidget blanket makers.
The students started knitting around Thanksgiving of last school year and carried on until the end of term, continuing this school year.
Allwell is enjoying being part of the knitting club but is no stranger to fabric arts.
鈥淪ince Grade 1, I鈥檓 into sewing and embroidery,鈥� she said.
She even has her own sewing machine that she uses to make projects, including hair scrunchies, a skirt, stuffed animals, and more.
鈥淚 make mini pillows with names embroidered on them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 made a purse once with my older toy sewing machine.鈥�
The club is Ayla鈥檚 formal introduction to knitting but she鈥檚 turned her hand to other crafts.
鈥淚 started crocheting a little bit before,鈥� she explained.
Ditto for Eloise who thought it would be fun to learn knitting.
鈥淚 tried crocheting once, but I wasn鈥檛 good at it,鈥� she said.
The knitting projects are more forgiving for young hands still learning the skills that are being lost over time as younger generations decide not to devote the time to such handicrafts.
Ayla said her mom can knit, but 鈥渕y grandma, she is really good at everything.鈥�
鈥淚 thought it would be something productive, because it鈥檚 kind of crafty,鈥� Ayla said about why she wanted to join the club.
What she鈥檚 discovered is that knitting provides her with similar benefits as her knit fidget blankets provide for the recipients.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of relaxing, and I like having something do to with my hands,鈥� Ayla said.
Eloise finds she enjoys knitting while doing things such as watching TV.
And the fidget blankets allow the young people to exercise their creativity while making something that will help others. They get to decide what adornments to add, and Hetu ensures the finished fidget blankets are safe for users, that everything is properly secured.
Hetu explained the plan is to have members such as Eloise, Ayla, and Allwell help teach as new members join the club.
These young knitters are discovering that the desire to create, coupled with the desire to help others, has no age limit, despite stereotypes.
鈥淢y friends say [knitting] is for grannies,鈥� Allwell said. 鈥淚 just don鈥檛 agree with that.鈥�
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