My friend and neighbour, Karen Ellis, developed a simplistic pattern of using the Crochet Crunch Stitch to make a Crochet Fidget Squish Toy. A toy that is a redirection tool to pull attention away from the moment and focus on the hands to reduce fidgeting.
A bead inside the crochet pocket is floating inside to give something to squish and push it around the pouch.
Speaking firsthand, having never had kids and also not including children in my life, I have had no experience with children with ADHD. Myself, I have ADHD and channel it through work and hyper-concentration on The Crochet Crowd.
I was invited as a guest to an event and watched a child dealing with ADHD. My gawd, my empathy for the kid of being unable to focus, sit or even be part of the conversation. I asked others about the child as I didn't understand what I was watching. The element of an educator is complicated, as it reaches all children and, more importantly, adapts to the child's needs.
Karen created this by making a small bin of these fidget squishes to put on her desk. If a child wants to play with it, there is no judgment. For others who need the distraction, she can redirect how fun it is to squish the bead inside to give their hands a mission. Let's face it: subjects or moments that are hard to sit through, a good distraction, even things like our crochet, can be our fidget squish.
Someone said it's rude to crochet in church, but people like me cannot sit that long without having to do something. The death scroll on social media can be even ruder and a distraction. Based on an algorithm can be very harmful to someone's psyche.
We recommend 100% cotton as it's a natural fibre and easy to wash.
Lily Sugar’n Cream, 71g / 2.5 oz, 109 meters / 120 yards
- Contrast A - Rose Pink
Hook: 4 mm / US F/6
Gauge: 14 dc and 7 rows
You will need a bead approximately ½” to 1” in diameter.
Abbreviations
- Ch(s) = Chain(s)
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Rep = Repeat
- Sc = Single Crochet
- Sl st = Slip Stitch
Instructions
Ch 15.
1st row: 1 sc 2nd ch from hook. 1 dc in next ch. *1 sc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch. Rep from * across. Turn.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in first st, 1 dc in next. *1 sc in next st, 1 dc in next st. Rep from * across. Turn.
Next rows: Rep 2nd row until it measures 5” long. Do not fasten off.
Slip stitch halfway across the row.
Fold the panel in half.
1st row: Ch 1. Holding both edges together for this row. 1 sc evenly across to the next corner. 3 sc in the corner. 1 sc evenly across the edge. 3 sc in the corner. Place the bead inside the pouch before crocheting the final edge shut. 1 sc evenly across the edge. Fasten off. With a tapestry needle, weave in the ends.
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Tutorial
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