Arts & Culture
Beyond the Bassline Exhibition
Inspire are delighted to be hosting a taster of the Beyond the Bassline exhibition currently on sho…
The Inspire Charity Knitting Challenge 2022
Inspire, Your Health Your Way, Dementia Action Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Creative Lives are supporting Nottinghamshire’s crafters to make
Twiddlers are woolly hand-warmers, securely embellished with fabulous fiddlers that provide sensory stimulation or soothing comfort for people living with dementia.
The 2022 challenge will be Inspire’s sixth annual crafting event for charity. It is amazing that every year an army of crafters are prepared to give their time, skills, wool and creativity to a charitable cause.
Juliet Bernard hand knitting guru, designer and former editor of The Knitter magazine has designed two patterns and lots of fiddlesome embellishments for Notts crafters to knit or crochet.
Here's how to join in and make a twiddlesome, fiddlesome Twiddler!
- Download a pattern, or pick up a printed pattern from any Inspire Library or participating wool shop
- Watch Juliet’s helpful ‘How to’ videos
- Make a Twiddler (or two), then safely and securely attach some lovely embellishments
- When you have finished all Inspire Libraries will be delighted to receive your Twiddlers
- Twiddlers donated by 1 August 2022 will take part in the Twiddlers! Exhibition at Worksop Library Gallery
At the end of the exhibition the members of Dementia Action Nottingham & Nottinghamshire will distribute your Twiddlers across the county, and make sure people who will benefit from them most receive them.
Download our Twiddler patterns by clicking on the PDF below:
Patterns for basic and intermediate Twiddlers, along with ideas for accessories
You can follow our patterns or be inspired to create your own designs.
Please make sure that all accessories are securely stitched in place and cannot be pulled off. All ends should be securely woven in. Please do not embellish your Twiddler with anything that is sharp or brittle.
Techniques for your Twiddler: knitting a bobble stripe, knitting a lace stripe, making I-cord on needles
Ideas for accessories to embellish your Twiddler, Juliet's step by step helpful 'How To' videos...
Basic Twiddler: Juliet's tips for attaching accessories and how to use mattress stitch to sew up your finished Twiddler...
Intermediate Twiddler: Juliet adds the accessories for her 'spring garden' design...
Click here for I-cord Creations with Juliet Bernard, simple video workshops that aim to get everyone knitting. Make the butterfly and flower embellishments from I-cord and add them to your Twiddler!
There's a range of Online Leisure and Culture Courses from Learning and Skills to suit new and more experienced knitters and crocheters. Click here to find a course.
You can also pick up a printed pattern from any Nottingham City Library and here is a list of participating wool shops, so why not drop in to say hello - and get knitting!
Andrea's Treasures 656 Mansfield Road NG5 2GA
The Artful Buttoner 5 Kingsway, Kirkby in Ashfield NG17 7BB
Knit Nottingham 9 Trinity Walk NG1 2AN
Merry Maid New Ollerton 35 Forest Road, New Ollerton NG22 9PR
The Two Knits 28-30 High Street, Mansfield Woodhouse NG19 8AN
The Twiddlers! Exhibition is at Worksop Library Gallery from 17 August to 2 October, click here to see the highlights.
Come and see how many different Twiddlers there are - and celebrate the amazing skills and generosity of Notts crafters with us. Click here for information.
