A group of local knitters and crocheters have been getting together for “twiddle time” throughout September, with a goal of producing as many “twiddle muffs” as possible.

The Seussian-sounding project is coordinated by Claudia Pinter-Lucke of Claremont’s yarn crafts with kindness group.

(L-R) Claudia Pinter-Lucke and Judith Dewberry work “twiddle muffs” at the Joslyn Center on August 19. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

“Twiddle muffs” are “a sleeve that they wear on their arm and then it had lots of little things that the people with dementia can play with, buttons, bows, and so on … soft yarn that feels like fur and so on,” Pinter-Lucke said. “So, if they are agitated, it can help soothe them.”

The focus was initially on seniors with dementia at AgingNext’s Memory Care Center. It has now expanded to include local retirement communities, including Claremont Place, Claremont Manor, and Mount San Antonio Gardens.

Pinter-Lucke invites other knitters and crocheters to drop by the group’s 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday sessions at Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont. The group is also accepting yarn and materials such as buttons and beads to attach to sleeves.

The campaign is the latest community endeavor for the senior yarn group. In 2023 it stitched crochet squares into blankets for Pomona homeless services center Hope for Home.

Pinter-Lucke said this recent project came after talks with AgingNext staff and subsequent research on twiddle muffs, which she said were quite popular in the U.K.

Visit bit.ly/whatistwid for more info.