Sensory aids group - information and how to make

06/01/2023

31/10/2021

I have found a super flexible and super strong glue which allows me to affix things to the weighted pets, and know that the glue will hold and it won't be unduly stiff.
It is industrial strength. It seems to come out with various names under various brands. The one I bought this time is called B-7000. However it is more commonly known as
E-6000. It's the best glue I have found so far, and adheres to almost anything. I used the glue to attach the felt pieces and the hair etc on the tyranasaurus rex below. For the hair, I put in some stitches too.

Tyranasaurus Rex.
This began with a second hand T Rex pack pack. It emulated how scientists previously thought a t rex would look. So I made a few changes to update it.
This is going to a young boy who loooves dinosaurs.

08/10/2021

A new development with the weighted pets, is to install a patch of reversible sequinns on each, if wanted. This acts as a fidget patch. It provides a second level of calming.

It has been really tricky, working out how to install these patches so that they:
-work to brush over back and forth
- look neat and tidy and attractive
- stay put securely.

After some trials, the most successful method so far, is:
- to glue the reversible sequinned fabric onto a flat piece of plastic card (eg cut from and icecream box lid for instance),
- then to cut felt to glue with industrial strength flexible glue, on top of the fabric, around the edge of the patch, like a picture frame.
- then to use a fabric hole punch to insert holes near the edge of the "picture frame", all around the circumference,
- and finally to use these holes to sew the patch onto the weighted pet or other item.

See the photos below of a golden labrador on which I have just installed this type of reversible sequinn patch.

It would be interesting if anyone else wishes to comment on their experience or ideas about other ways or better ways to do this.

In the meantime, I will make some of these patches in various sizes to sell on my Nga Han page, for anyone who wants to buy one, ready-made to install on a weighted pet or other item, eg a lap pad, lap blanket, toy etc.

11/09/2021

Kiaora
Here is the latest upcycled large weighted border collie.
The small photo is the item when I bought it. I thought it was too clumpy for a border collie. The larger photos are of it after upcycling.
A family has bought this 5kg border collie for their 10 year old daughter. The dog has a fidget clicker in the ear, a squeaker in a front leg, and brush back and forward sequins under a front paw.

17/07/2021

Please add reviews to this site to descibe your experience!

13/07/2021

Here's another type of fidgeter to add to a weighted therapy pet.
This bulldog, just completed, has a reversible sequined fabric recovering on the right back paw pad. You can see this in one of the photos (showing their white side). When brushed by the hand one way, they are white, as shown. When brushed by the hand the other way they become black. It feels interesting and the visible change supports the experience, too. And it's optional to use that feature.

02/07/2021

One of the more challenging tasks, when upcycling a soft toy into a weighted therapy pet is how to attach whiskers. Often these were left out on the original soft toy. But sometimes they really need some whiskers. Especially if they are to really look like a cat or a mouse, etc.

I have tried three different ways of retro fitting whiskers, and scanned Google for help.

However here is a new method that seems to hold the whiskers in place better than the previous three techniques.

1. I threaded a needle with clear fishing line cordage and made the cordage double rather than a single line.
2. I pushed the needle in at the left side of the face through to, and out of, the right side of the face,
3. then looped it back through from right to left next to the first entry/exit points.
4. Then cut on the bend of the loops, so there was a bundle of whiskers coming out of each side of the face.
5. Then threaded the whole bundle on the left side of the face through a button hole of a small button.
6. The button was glued to the face and the whickers going through it, with a generous spot of quick dry craft behind the button.
7. The same process was done to the whiskers on the right side of the face.
8.So there the buttons sat against the pet's cheek, with whiskers protruding.

This process seemed to stabilise and fasten the whiskers in place quite effectively.

Here is a "before" and "after" photo of a cat that was transformed by adding whiskers in this way (while doing other things to the face, as well).

19/06/2021

Many soft toy animals have no whiskers, but need them. So it's been a journey deciding how they are best installed. I've come to the conclusion that the whiskers need to be sewn and glued in the middle onto a stiff card or plastic and the nose needs to be opened up to have the card installed and then closed back up with the whiskers having been poked through the covering on each side.
Here is the lastest whiskered weighted pet. As you can see by the "before" and "after" photos this seal arrived with no whiskers and left sporting them.

30/04/2021

Photos of a real white cat.

30/04/2021

After some upcycling.

30/04/2021

Thinking about how to make your own weighted therapy pet, starting with a second hand soft toy.

Sometimes, but not very often the item is in such good condition and has been so beautifully made that all it needs is weighting only.

However, almost all of the time I find that alterations are needed to make it appealing and beautiful.

Here is a recent example of a white cat weighted therapy pet.

The first photos are of the cat straight after acquiring it. All I have done is washed and dried it.

The second lot of photos were taken after I had made a number of changes to the cat, which I thought made it more suitable and appealing.

The third group of photos are of a real white cat. I used these photos to guide me in making the changes.

BEFORE UPCYCLING THE CAT