trying to help a friend find a pattern

Hey all,

One of my oldest and dearest friends is looking for a pattern we aren't sure exists. She has a nephew who has been diagnosed with autism. He's pretty high functioning, but he still has some major challenges. He is going to a specialized school that really seems to be helping him. (for which we are all very grateful!!) One of the things the school uses to help the children with their sensory integration issues is weighted clothing and/or pads. From what she was describing, I'm picturing a lap robe type thing that has weighted pockets on either end. They aren't sure why it works, but it works so they use it. :)

My friend is not an advanced sewer, but she knows her way around a machine pretty well. :) She works best from a pattern with instructions. Has anyone seen a pattern for anything like this? She mentioned the lap rugs and also vests.

She's in another state so I don't get to see her very often at all. If I could see what she's talking about, even pictures I could make her a pattern or pattern drafting instructions. (Or even tell her how to alter a commercial pattern.)

Any input at all would be wonderful!! I told her I would ask here because I feel sure **someone** will know.

TIA!!!

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays
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Sharon - I did a Google search on "autism weighted" and came up with several examples of quilts and vests. I didn't read all of them so don't know if there was a pattern anywhere. One website said that their quilt weighed 15 lbs. I wonder if you could use rice along with poly to add the weight to a quilt. About.com has information about autism - and do a search for "Temple Grandin" - she is a Phd with autism! Temple designed a "squeeze" or "hug machine" which helped her - I imagine that the quilt or vest works on the same principle. HTH

-- -:¦:- ·.·´¨ ¨)) ¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) ..·´ Chris ((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:- ((¸¸ ·.·

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com Washington State, USA

Reply to
Chris Underwood

Hi Sharon,

I've gathered a few web sites for you to check out. They have enough info, pictures and specs for you to figure out how to make a vest, a lap robe and a blanket too if he prefers one for home. They're pretty simple for even a beginning sewist and can be adapted from a commercial pattern. A couple of these sites offer some really good information such as determining where on his body he feels the weight works best and making the appropriate adjustments. And since a vest would be custom made rather than store bought, he could help pick out the fabric. Some of the pre-manufactured ones can look really dorky. I was a special education teacher for years and know that weighted garments offer the child a level of physical and emtional comfort which we might experience in fondling fabric.

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One of my oldest and dearest friends is looking for a pattern we aren't sure

Reply to
klothwerker

Valie,

Thank you so very much!! I will pass this along to my friend. I really appreciate you taking the time to put all that together.

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Chris, Thanks so much! I will pass that all along to my friend too.

I was reading on some of the sites that they used sand to weight things. So now we will have to find a source for good silica sand. That holds up a whole lot better than regular play sand or anything. But I was thinking about rice too. Plain white rice sure would be a lot easier to get.

Thanks again!

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Reply to
Siobhan McGrath

I would sure use white rice rather than silica sand, which would be toxic if ingested.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - remove TRASH

Good point!!!

Thanks

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

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