Knitting for dementia

Keen knitters from the Village area are being asked to get involved with a dementia awareness project.

Burcot Grange Care Home, a member of the Bromsgrove and Redditch “dementia-friendly communities” programme, is asking people to knit or crochet forget-me-not flowers to be placed around the towns to mark Dementia Action Week in May.

The  flowers will also feature small messages and can be picked up by anyone.

Flowers should be delivered to Burcot Grange Care Home, Chandler Court Care Home, Bromsgrove Library or Redditch Library by the end of April, ready for Dementia Action Week which starts on May 20.

You can see how to make a flower on this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bGAV6PTrWo&feature=youtu.be

or follow this pattern:

Dementia Friends Forget Me Not Patterns (Knitting and Crochet)

1. For knitters: 

Materials: 

Yarn and Needles– It doesn’t really matter what yarn you use. You can play with whatever is leftover in your stash. Just make sure to use the suggested needle size for your yarn and you’ll be good to go (if you knit on the tight side, I’d suggest going one needle size up)!

Depending on the weight, one flower requires 2 to 3 yards of blue yarn for the petals and 1 yard of similar or lighter weight yarn in yellow for the centre.

Notions and Accessories – Tapestry Needle

Size and Finished Product Measurements: Varies according to what type of yarn is used

Pattern Stitch: Knit: You need to know how to cast-on, bind-off, and knit

Gauge: Varies according to what type of yarn is used

Pattern: 

Knit Flower: There is only one row to this flower after you have cast on.

Cast On 40 sts

Row 1:

K1, Bind Off 6 (you should have 2 sts on your right needle)

K1, Bind Off 6 (you should have 4 sts on your right needle)

K1, Bind Off 6 (you should have 6 sts on your right needle)

K1, Bind Off 6 (you should have 8 sts on your right needle)

K1, Bind Off 6 (you should have 10 sts on your right needle)

Cut your yarn 8” long. Thread the 8” tail through a tapestry needle and pull that needle through each of the remaining 10 stitches on your needle. Secure tail and shape flower. Sew in ends.

Add yellow centre using any embroidery stitch you like to make a five-part yellow centre. Satin stitch works well, or daisy stitch or French knots. Sew in ends.

2. Forget Me Not in crochet: 

Gauge: not important for this project

Yarn and hook: Depending on the weight, one flower requires 3 to 4 yards of blue yarn for the petals and 1 yard of similar or lighter weight yarn in yellow for the centre. This will give you enough for the long tail for bookmarks.

Use the hook size suggested on the yarn label for the weight of yarn you have.

Used terms: chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st.), treble (triple) crochet (tr), single crochet (sc).

Pattern: Ch 4 and join with sl st to make ring. Round 1: 4 sc in ring, sl st with last sc to join Round 2: *ch 4, 2tr, ch 4, sl st* in same stitch Repeat round 2 for all 5 petals, but start the 2nd (and consequently the others by making a sl st in the new petal prior to making the ch4)

Cut yarn, weave ends

Add yellow centre using any embroidery stitch you like to make a five-part yellow centre