Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Crafts for elderly grandmother who is losing her eyesight. (self.Blind)
submitted by ragesalone
My grandmother has always been a very talented artist. However, in the last few years her eyesight has diminished. She painted for as long as she could, but she is at the point now where she can only see shapes and shadows. She misses it and wants to still do something, but she doesn't know what to do. My mother and I are trying to find crafts that she might still be capable of doing. I was hoping to find some suggestions for her here. Thank you in advance.
EDIT: Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions. This will really mean a lot to her.
EDIT: Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions. This will really mean a lot to her.
awesomesaucesaywhat 5 points 6y ago
Crocheting and knitting can be done by feel!
ragesalone [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Thank you! I will make that suggestion.
awesomesaucesaywhat 3 points 6y ago
If she's never done them before they make very large hooks so she can feel it better. There are also great audio tutorials on YouTube.
KillerLag 2 points 6y ago
If she is used to them, the transition isn't that hard. I knitted about 4 scarves before I tried to do one completely blindfolded. Casting on took almost 20 minutes (instead of 30 seconds), and it took longer than normal, but was definitely able to get it done. After a bit of practice, I was able to knit at a good rate.
My wife, who is a more experienced knitter, often knits in the dark when we watch movies.
My wife, who is a more experienced knitter, often knits in the dark when we watch movies.
Unuhi 2 points 6y ago
Agree with knitting and crocheting suggestions.
Pick yarns and needles or hooks that are comfortable for you.
I learned to both knit and crochet as a kid, and I don't need eyes for those. Difficult to do really tiny or thin yarn but you can always find nice yarns and patterns.
I love knitting socks and crochet in general.
It's a lot easier to follow the knit pattern than to read contracted braille - as it's a lot easier to detect what I'm knitting. Also a few of my aunts that got cataracts still continued to knit but picked light colors so they were easier (when still relying on seeing something).
Pick yarns and needles or hooks that are comfortable for you.
I learned to both knit and crochet as a kid, and I don't need eyes for those. Difficult to do really tiny or thin yarn but you can always find nice yarns and patterns.
I love knitting socks and crochet in general.
It's a lot easier to follow the knit pattern than to read contracted braille - as it's a lot easier to detect what I'm knitting. Also a few of my aunts that got cataracts still continued to knit but picked light colors so they were easier (when still relying on seeing something).
coffee4jesus16 1 points 6y ago
Have any of you seen those loom things for easy knitting? They were popular when I was in high school. I wonder how well those would work? I never tried them so I can't speak from personal experience.
I think they're called nifty knitters or something like that...
I think they're called nifty knitters or something like that...
awesomesaucesaywhat 1 points 6y ago
I'm familiar with the round loom (the cheap one from micheals, and French knitting/spoil knitting. I personally like crocheting more because there are more options of things to make and I find patterns more accessible. Plus, it's easier to make things to gift to people for holidays.
[deleted] 2 points 6y ago
Don't know if it'd interest her, but there are things like
raised-line adult coloring books if she can still see
some colors. There are also kits that you can use to make
raised-line, tactile art (using a wooden frame, usually
covered with rubber). For me, the results can be just as incredible
as visual art. Then there are tons of tactile paints,
again might depend on her color perception, but can create gorgeous tactile art with those (as simple as puffy paints from Walmart, or as advanced as what you'd get from an art store).
raised-line adult coloring books if she can still see
some colors. There are also kits that you can use to make
raised-line, tactile art (using a wooden frame, usually
covered with rubber). For me, the results can be just as incredible
as visual art. Then there are tons of tactile paints,
again might depend on her color perception, but can create gorgeous tactile art with those (as simple as puffy paints from Walmart, or as advanced as what you'd get from an art store).
KillerLag 2 points 6y ago
Not sure how she would feel about this, but how about pottery? It is very tactile.
I don't know what is available in your area, but I know that we have a group in Toronto that does it.
https://www.facebook.com/handsoffiresculpturegroup/
You might be able to find a pottery/sculpture class that can do the same.
I don't know what is available in your area, but I know that we have a group in Toronto that does it.
https://www.facebook.com/handsoffiresculpturegroup/
You might be able to find a pottery/sculpture class that can do the same.
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