 Back
to the Bond List Hints and Tips Page |
 |
 Please e-mail any comments to me at steph@stephthornton.co.uk |
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 19:11:45 -0800
From: Linda Boudreau (patrick.boudreau@ns.sympatico.ca)
Subject: [BOND] Knits for the arthritic or physcially challenged
For those who knit for the arthritic or physcially challenged here
are a few keys things to remember. Speaking from experience, as I am in a
wheelchair, also use a scooter and armband crutches and a walker.....busy
lady, forgot to tell you I was a centipede.
If you knit a sweater with buttons sew the buttons on, forget about
the buttonholes. Put the small velcro dots on either sew or stitch a
triangle in the centre, also put one on the side where the button goes and
stitch right through it.
If you are knitting for a person who has to have assistance and
needs a backbuttoned cardigan, sew the button and button band together so
that the buttons do not open at all, allow a border as in the shawl collared
sweater in the back and add velcro.
If you understand what a steek it for underarms or knitting in the
round you will understand this concept for putting extra width under the
arms of a sweater, if the sweater is semi-fittend, knit an elongated
diamond, and stitch it in the armhole opening, this allows for a crutch to
go under the arm, and makes for better drape and movement.
If knitting for aperson confined to a wheelchair make sure you keep
the design work above the waist, as it will get lost in their lap, also a
nice pocket, a square from the dreaded tension swatch sewn on the insdie
will give them a security pocket for a key or loose change to call in an
emergency. Make the sweater longer in the back than in the front so that it
is warm.
If knitting a wheelchair laprobe or as I call them cocoon, put a
band on the bottom and attach either a large button with button tab or
velcro to the bottom as well as a band to attach to the waist, so that you
do not find the lapghan at the foot of the wheelchair, these are great for
people who just want to sit and watch televison, we have a number of these
quilted ones in our house, they start out as quillows and pillos and end up
as lapghans.
A nice little extra for a wheelchair user this time of year is to
rib a double cuff, and then serge or ziz zag it to some soft see through
vinyl that is long enough to go up about elbow length. For those of us who
still push on our own, it saves our clothing as anything that touches the
wheels ruins our beautful clothes and sweaters, so sweater guards are a
necessity.
Also don't forget leg warmers, they take the place of an afghan on a
not so cold day, and make arm warmers the same way, decorative, they make a
great conversation set as well, flop top mittens, with a suede or rubberized
palm sewn in so that we don't slip while pushing the chair, a nice scarf,
hat, arm and leg warmers, who could ask for more.
Linda who likes to take the word dis out of ability....
Bonding friend,
Linda
Please feel free to ask any questions concerning assistive design in
knitwear or clothing and I will do my best to innovate.
" I cried because I had no shoes - until I met a man who had no feet."
" Live life one day at a time but make it a masterpiece."
patrick.boudreau@ns.sympatico.ca (Linda )
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/9197/sheep.htm
http://www.keyway.net/crafts/lbpats.htm
http://www.wlv.ak.uk/`1036
| Back
to the Bond List Hints and Tips Page |
|
Please e-mail any comments to me at steph@stephthornton.co.uk |
Author : Steph Thornton.
Last modified on : 8th November 1999.