Knitting for Mid Yorks

Thank you for your interest in knitting items for Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust; this page will detail information about the knitted items we are currently accepting. Please note we quarantine all items before distributing them to the relevant department. We kindly request that only items which appear as currently required are sent to us please, as unfortunately we do not have the space to store other items.

    A Twiddlemuffs is a double thickness hand muff with bits and bobs attached inside and out. It is designed as a stimulation activity and to provide comfort for the restless hands of patients suffering from dementia. Each Twiddlemuff is unique, and so we welcome creativity in your choice of colours and patterns! Decorations such as buttons, toggles and pom poms are just a few good examples of different textures that can be twiddled with. We please request that decorations such as zips, long ribbons, sharp objects and anything which a patient may get their fingers stuck in are avoided.       Knitted baby hats are used on the maternity ward and smaller hats on the neonatal unit, to keep infants comfortable and warm. The knitted hats can be made in any colour or pattern, although light, neutral and pastel colours are preferred. Knitted baby cardigans are used on the maternity ward and smaller items of clothing on the neonatal ward, to keep infants comfortable and warm. The cardigans can be made in any colour, although light, neutral and pastel colours are preferred. We please request that no buttons or bead embellishments be used on the neonatal cardigans. Fidget bears provide comfort for the restless hands of patients suffering from dementia, in a similar way to the Twiddlemuff. The fidget bear will grip your fingers, making it easy to hold and play. Knitted octopus, similar to the fidget bear, provide comfort for the restless hands of patients suffering from dementia. Knitted items such as these give patients something to focus on by giving them something to do with their hands, and have proven to make a significant difference to stress levels. They are extremely popular, but we always need more! Blankets are used by different departments across the Trust to provide warmth and comfort to patients. Below you can find specific criteria relating to each department. Dementia/ Complex Needs Team: Blankets and bed runners help dementia patients to identify their bed due to its unique pattern and colours, in an unfamiliar environment where the beds can often look similar. They are also great for providing a sense of home comfort and warmth. A range of colours and patterns can be used so we welcome your creativity! We request that blankets be approximately 120cm x 90cm in size. The Dementia team also welcome donations of smaller lap blankets or bed runners which can sit at the end of the bed. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used and these blankets can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Palliative Care Team: The palliative care team use blankets while caring for end of life patients to provide warmth and to keep patients as comfortable as possible. A range of colours and patterns can be used, though soft pastel colours are preferred. We request that blankets be approximately 120cm x 90cm in size. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used and these blankets can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Neonatal/ Maternity: The neonatal unit and maternity ward use knitted blankets to keep babies warm and comfortable. We request that blankets be approximately 90cm by 90cm in size or smaller. A range of colours and patterns can be used, though soft pastel colours are preferred. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used and these blankets can be knitted, crocheted or sewn.

The use surgical facemasks has increased significantly across the Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic due to national guidelines. As a result, many members of staff wear a facemask for extended periods of time, which can cause irritation behind the ears. Mask extenders help make the wearing of PPE more comfortable by attaching the strings of the facemask to the buttons of the mask extenders, worn behind the head. Mask extenders can be made in a range of colours and sizes, and can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Any pattern of your choice may be used however some examples can be found on the following sites.  

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