[For Seniors] Ideal for Finger Rehabilitation: A Collection of Simple Ideas Made with Yarn
Craft activities using yarn might seem difficult at first glance.
Did you know there are yarn projects you can make by simply gluing pieces together or finishing them with finger knitting?
In this article, we introduce simple yarn crafts suitable for older adults.
Thinking through the steps and envisioning the finished piece helps stimulate the brain, making these activities recommended for seniors.
They also involve many fine-motor tasks, which can support hand rehabilitation.
Please read this article and use it as a reference for your craft activities.
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[For Seniors] Ideal for finger rehabilitation. A collection of simple ideas made with yarn (21–30)
A placemat woven from cardboard
Add color to your table with a placemat you make yourself.
Create an easy yarn placemat using a cardboard loom.
Tape the edges of the cardboard with duct tape, cut small slits along the edge, then thread yarn into the slits.
The duct tape reinforces the cardboard when you cut it and when you thread the yarn.
After threading the yarn through the slits and wrapping it around, begin weaving.
When weaving, pass the yarn through a dedicated shuttle or a piece of cardboard.
Try changing the yarn color partway through to give it a different look.
When you finish weaving, tie the yarn at both ends to complete your placemat.
A mat woven with anti-slip sheets
Many people use non-slip mats to prevent shifting at the entrance or in the bathroom.
If you use a non-slip sheet with small holes, you can make a knitted mat by taking advantage of those holes.
Thread yarn through the holes in the sheet and keep knitting.
Layer another non-slip sheet on top and crochet the edging around both sheets together.
Add a frill to complete a cute, furry-looking mat.
Since the steps aren’t too complicated, it seems like something you could make with your child.
The frilled design also gives it a princess-like feel, so children who love princesses are likely to enjoy it.
Weaving a coaster with a paper plate
Let’s make round yarn coasters that take advantage of a paper plate’s circular shape.
Cut slits around the rim of the paper plate.
The key is to make sure the number of slits is odd.
Thread yarn from the back of the plate through a slit, then across to the slit on the opposite side.
Continue threading the yarn through all the slits, and then start weaving from the center of the plate.
With this method, you can easily make a circular coaster.
Switching yarn colors partway through will create a cute design.
Both paper plates and yarn are sold at 100-yen shops, so it’s easy to gather the materials.
It also sounds fun to make matching coasters together with your child.
A trivet woven from toilet paper rolls
A simple-to-make trivet woven using toilet paper rolls has a warm, original feel.
Prepare the materials: disposable chopsticks, toilet paper rolls, cellophane tape, yarn, and a needle.
First, make the base for weaving the trivet using the toilet paper rolls.
Cut the chopsticks in half and tape them vertically around the toilet paper roll, spacing them evenly.
Once that’s ready, string the yarn in an alternating pattern to form the base.
Next, gently loop the yarn over the chopsticks so it sits on top; the key is to drape the yarn lightly and loosely.
Hook the yarn onto the needle and weave around in circles until it forms the shape of a trivet, and you’re done.
Using colorful yarn will give you a bright, cheerful trivet.
Cushions woven from cardboard
A cute cushion woven with cardboard feels nice to the touch and can be easily made with everyday materials.
Get your yarn, cardboard, chopsticks, and a comb ready.
Trace a heart shape made from construction paper onto the cardboard and cut it out.
Make small, frequent slits around the heart with scissors and hook the yarn onto them.
Next, use the chopsticks to weave the yarn so it goes over and under alternately; using a comb as you work will help the process go smoothly.
Tie off the yarn, trim it, and remove the piece from the cardboard.
Make a second heart of the same shape, stack the two together, and stitch around the edges with yarn.
Stuff generously with filling, and you’re done.
It’s a great project for parents and kids to enjoy together, so give it a try!
Woven mats and vase doilies made from cardboard
It’s fun to make knitted items with a handmade loom, isn’t it? Your child will probably enjoy creating projects with excitement, too.
You can make a cardboard loom by cutting slits in two edges of a piece of cardboard and attaching chopsticks.
Thread twine through the slits, and use two colored markers to dye the yarn alternately.
Attach the yarn to a toothpick and start weaving, passing it over and under the twine of the same color—that’s the trick.
It also looks lovely to change the yarn colors for a gradient effect.
Try making it with your favorite colors of yarn.
Tie off the twine at the edges and you’ll have a finished mat or a vase coaster.
Finger-knitted ribbon
This is a fun project you can make using only your fingers, without any tools.
Wrap yarn around one finger and use your other hand to move the yarn along.
Because it requires nimble movements of your hands and fingers, it can also be good brain training.
The hands and fingers are closely connected to the brain, and moving them is said to stimulate it.
This knitting method is recommended for children and older adults as well.
When the knitted yarn starts to gather around the middle finger, it’s time to finish off the yarn.
Tie what you’ve made into the shape of a bow, and you’ll have an adorable ribbon.
You can also enjoy customizing it, like attaching the ribbon to a bag.