Fidgety Blanket Making Workshop

Learn sensory craft skills with our textiles short courses in Sydney!

Join this six-hour workshop and learn to design and create a fidgety blanket — a tactile, soothing tool widely used to support individuals living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, autism, or sensory processing needs. These blankets combine warmth, comfort, and sensory-rich features such as zips, buttons, textured fabrics, beads, and ribbons to help ease anxiety, promote relaxation, and keep hands gently engaged.

This workshop blends thoughtful design with practical creativity. You’ll explore how sensory elements can support emotional wellbeing, discover how to choose safe and calming materials, and learn step-by-step construction techniques. Guided by your tutor, you will make your own fidgety blanket to take home — a meaningful item that can offer comfort, stimulation, and reassurance to someone in your care.

Whether you work in aged care, disability support, education, healthcare, or are a family member seeking to create something purposeful and calming, this workshop offers both practical skills and insights into the therapeutic value of sensory textiles.

Who the course is for

This course is ideal for:

• Carers, aged-care workers, disability support workers, and community support staff
• Family members of individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s, autism, or sensory processing needs
• Teachers, diversional therapists, lifestyle coordinators, and activity program facilitators
• Craft enthusiasts interested in purposeful textile design and sensory comfort

No previous sewing experience is required.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this fidgety blanket workshop, you should be able to:

• Recognise the therapeutic purpose and benefits of fidgety blankets
• Select suitable fabrics, colours, textures, and sensory components for different user needs
• Construct a safe, durable blanket using foundational sewing and assembly techniques
• Attach features such as zips, ribbons, toggles, beads, buttons, and pockets securely and thoughtfully
• Apply design strategies that support calmness, sensory engagement, and fine motor activity
• Produce a completed fidgety blanket with a personalised sensory layout

Course content

Morning Session 1: Understanding fidgety blankets (1 hour)

• What fidgety blankets are and how they support wellbeing
• Benefits for dementia, Alzheimer’s, autism, anxiety, and sensory regulation
• Safety considerations and user-centred design principles
• Overview of materials, textures, colours, and sensory elements

Morning Session 2: Planning and designing your blanket (1 hour)

• How to plan a sensory layout
• Matching textures and features to specific user needs
• Colour choice for calm, stimulation, or familiarity
• Preparing your materials and creating a design map

Afternoon Session 3: Foundations of construction (2 hours)

• Cutting, layering, and preparing fleece or cotton bases
• Machine or hand-sewing options
• Reinforcement and durability techniques
• Safe attachment of sensory features

Afternoon Session 4: Adding interactive sensory elements (1 hour)

• Working with zippers, ribbons, toggles, beads, buttons, pockets, and textured additions
• Placement for comfort, accessibility, and engagement
• Techniques to ensure elements are secure and suitable for everyday handling

Session 5: Finishing and care (1 hour)

• Final assembly and edging
• Testing durability and safety
• Washing and maintenance guidelines
• Personalisation options and adapting designs for future blankets

At the end of the day, you’ll take home a completed fidgety blanket designed with both comfort and creativity in mind.