Make a Fidgety Blanket: Sensory Textile Course

What you'll learn

Learn to create comforting sensory blankets with our textiles & sewing short courses in Sydney!

A handmade fidgety blanket can offer far more than warmth. Designed with a variety of textures, fastenings, and tactile elements, these comforting sensory blankets help keep hands gently occupied, reduce anxiety, and provide reassurance for people living with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, autism, or sensory processing differences.

In this practical, hands-on course, you'll learn how to design and sew your own fidgety blanket while exploring the principles behind effective sensory textile design. Guided by an experienced tutor, you'll discover how to choose safe, durable materials, incorporate engaging tactile features, and thoughtfully arrange sensory elements to create a blanket that is both practical and meaningful.

Whether you're supporting a loved one, working in aged care, disability support, healthcare or education, or simply interested in creating purposeful textile projects, you'll leave with a completed sensory blanket, practical sewing skills, and the confidence to create more personalised designs in the future.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Fidgety Blanket Making course, participants will have developed practical skills and knowledge in areas such as:

• Understanding how sensory blankets can support comfort, engagement, and emotional wellbeing
• Selecting suitable fabrics, textures, colours, and sensory components for different user needs
• Planning a balanced sensory layout that encourages tactile exploration
• Constructing a durable fidgety blanket using practical sewing techniques
• Securely attaching tactile features such as ribbons, buttons, zips, pockets, and textured materials
• Adapting designs to suit different ages, abilities, and sensory preferences
• Developing the confidence to create future sensory textile projects

Course content

What will be covered in this Fidgety Blanket Making course?

During the course, participants will be guided through key concepts, techniques and approaches that typically include:

Session 1: Planning and designing your sensory blanket

• Understanding how fidgety blankets support comfort, engagement, and emotional wellbeing
• Exploring the benefits of sensory textiles for people living with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, autism, anxiety, and sensory processing differences
• Considering safety and user-centred design principles
• Selecting suitable fabrics, colours, textures, and sensory components
• Planning a balanced sensory layout and feature placement
• Preparing, cutting, and layering the blanket base
• Introduction to the sewing techniques used throughout the project
• Beginning construction of the blanket

Session 2: Construction and finishing techniques

• Continuing construction and reinforcing the blanket
• Securely attaching tactile features such as zips, ribbons, toggles, buttons, beads, and pockets
• Positioning sensory elements for comfort, accessibility, and fine motor engagement
• Completing the blanket with edging and finishing techniques
• Checking durability and safety
• Washing, care, and maintenance guidelines
• Ideas for personalising future sensory blanket projects

By the end of the course, you'll take home a completed fidgety blanket designed with comfort, care, and creativity in mind.

Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests, and instructor approach.

Intended audience

Who is this Fidgety Blanket Making course for?

This course is suitable for anyone interested in creating meaningful, handmade sensory resources for people who benefit from tactile stimulation and comfort.

It is ideal for carers, aged care and disability support workers, teachers, diversional therapists, lifestyle coordinators, allied health professionals, and family members supporting someone living with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, autism, or sensory processing differences.

The course also welcomes sewing and craft enthusiasts who enjoy purposeful textile projects and would like to explore creative ways to combine sewing with wellbeing and community care.

No previous sewing experience is required.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

A carefully curated materials kit is available for $20 and can be added at checkout. The kit includes all core materials needed to make a fidgety blanket. Each kit will vary slightly depending on stock, with a mix of fabrics, trims and tactile elements.

If you’d prefer to use your own materials, simply untick the kit box at checkout. 

Whether you use the kit or bring your own, we encourage everyone to bring along extra items from home if you’d like to personalise your blanket. Almost anything tactile or interesting can be used.

You might like to bring:

• Fabric pieces (cotton, canvas, textured fabrics)
• Ribbons, lace, trims or braids
• Buttons, beads, bells or small charms
• Zips, elastic, D-rings or belt clasps
• Small patches, soft toys, or other safe nick-nacks with texture

There’s no hard-and-fast rule — creativity is encouraged, and the tutor will help you make the most of what you bring.

All sewing machines and basic tools are provided.