Twiddle Muff Free Crochet Pattern

Looking for a straight-forward, free, one-piece Twiddle Mat or Twiddle Muff crochet pattern? Whether you’re crocheting this for a loved one or as a fidget tool for yourself, this twiddle muff is a great thing to keep the hands occupied.

Twiddle Muff Crochet Pattern

A Twiddle Muff is a tool that helps people that tend to fidget or need something to do with their hands. This could be from anxiety, dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any number of other reasons. My hope is that items made using this pattern will help to calm minds, ease tension, to help pass the time, or to settle the soul.

This Twiddle Muff is made in one piece using a variety of crochet stitches and yarn colors to create texture and visual appeal. Make it your own with fancy ribbon, funky buttons, and pretty beads.

This pattern is the FIFTH design in the 2025 Donation Crochet Series. This year I am sharing one new, free crochet pattern per month (on the second Friday) that fits in with items to donate or that are made with the intention of it being helpful, useful, or comforting to someone else.

There have already been FIVE YEARS of crochet series. Past years include the 2020 Washcloth Series, the 2021 Household Series, the 2022 Car Series, the 2023 One Skein Series, and the 2024 Pet Crochet Series.

Some of the favorites of the series include the…

Diamond Washcloth

Pan Protectors

Car Waste Basket

Reusable Swiffer Cover

Dog Poncho

For this project I wanted to use several different bright colors of yarn. The stitches used create texture while the colors used help to create a visual contrast. For this pattern I used a 100% acrylic yarn, Brava Worsted, as it is sold in it’s Brava Mini Pack form. Aren’t these CUTE!?

This would be an EXCELLENT project if you’re looking to use up acrylic yarn scraps. Each one of these sections of the Twiddle Muff uses less than one full Brava Mini skein, so no more than 54 yards per color used of each.

Brava Minis are a great yarn to use for this project because there are a variety of colors. Grab them as a set of 24 colors, then choose which of them you want to include. Or you could create sets of colors that pair well together. Since we’re only using 5 of the mini skeins for the pattern, you could make multiple Twiddle Muffs!

You could also use the leftover Brava Mini skeins to make a Fat Bottom bag. You only need FOUR mini skeins for one of those!

You could also make a Carl the Candy Corn.

Or some car coasters…

Now let’s get to the Twiddle Muff! For this we are using a variety of stitches. Make sure to check the pattern notes for links to specific video tutorials should you need them.

Materials:

Brava Worsted (or 100% acrylic yarn)
-approx. 250 yards total

Crochet hook in size 4.5mm

Pony Beads (like these)

Bias tape or ribbon (like this)

Gauge: not super important, but 15 sts in 4” width using Double Crochet

Pattern Notes:

Pattern written using US terms.

The chain/s at the beginning of each row do not count as a stitch unless otherwise noted.

Fdc = Foundation Double Crochet – tutorial here

Dc = Double Crochet – tutorial here

Bobble = Bobble Stitch (dc5tog) – tutorial here

Tr = Treble Crochet – tutorial here

Croc = Crocodile Stitch (5dc down first side of “V”,ch-1, 5dc up other side of “V”) – tutorial here

BLO = Back Loop Only

Circle (used on row 28) = sc in next st, ch-3, 14dc in first ch made, sl st to first dc made to close circle, sl st to same sc as start of circle.

Watch this tutorial on adding beads to crochet.

If you need help reading a crochet pattern, make sure you head over here and check out this detailed post.

Finished Dimensions: approx. 12″ x 12″

Grab the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or right here in the Heart Hook Home Blog Shop. Thank you!

Pattern:

Using Color A…

Row 1: Fdc-45 (or ch-47, dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch to end. (45)

Rows 2 – 3: Ch-2, dc in each st across. (45)

Switch to Color B…

Row 4: Ch-3 (counts as dc for this portion), turn, 2dc in next st. * ch-1, sk-2 sts, 2dc in next st * repeat between * * to end. Dc in last st. (46 sts or 15 V-sts)

Row 5: Ch-1, Croc around first V-st, * sl st in center of next V-st, Croc in next V-st * repeat between * * to end. Sl st to top of ch-3. (8 scales)

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Row 6: Ch-3, turn, 2dc in center of scale, * ch-1, 2dc in between scales, ch-1, 2dc in center of next scale * repeat between * * to end. Dc in top of final dc (behind scale). (15 V-sts)

Row 7: Turn, sl st in 2 sts, turn back, * croc in next V-st, sl st in center of next V-st * repeat between * * to end. Sl st to top of ch–3. (7 scales)

Row 8: Ch-3, turn, 2dc in center of next V-st, * ch-1, 2dc center of next scale, ch-1, 2dc in center of next V-st * repeat between * * to end. Dc in top of turning ch. (15 V-sts)

Row 9: repeat row 5

Switch to Color C…

Row 10: Ch-1 (does not count), turn, hdc in top of first half of scale, hdc in center of scale, * hdc two times across other side of scale, hdc in center of next V-st, hdc two times across half of scale, hdc in center of scale, * repeat between * * to end, hdc using the final half of the scale and the ch-3 behind it. (45)

Row 11: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st across. (45)

Row 12: Ch-1, turn, sc in first st, * place bead in next st, sc in next * repeat between * * to end. (45)

Row 13: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st across. (45)

Row 14: Ch-1, turn, sc in first three sts, * place bead in next st, sc in next st * repeat between * * until only four sts remain, place bead in next st, sc in each of final 3 sts. (45)

Row 15: repeat row 13 (45)

Row 16: repeat row 12 (45)

Rows 17 – 18: repeat row 13 (45)

Switch to Color D…

Row 19: Ch-1, turn, sc in 2 sts, Bobble in next st, * sc in next 3 sts, Bobble in next st * repeat to end, sc in final two sts. (45)

Row 20: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st to end. (45)

Row 21: Ch-1, turn, sc in 4 sts, Bobble in next st, * sc in 3 sts, Bobble in next * repeat to end, sc in final 4 sts. (45)

Row 22: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st to end. (45)

Rows 23 – 27: repeat rows 19, 20, 21, 22, 19 in order

Switch to Color A…

Rows 28 – 29: Ch-2, turn, dc in each st across. (45)

Switch to Color E…

Row 30: Ch-1, turn, sc in BLO of first 2 sts, * Circle st (sc in next st, ch-3, 14dc in first ch made, sl st to first dc made to close circle, sl st to same sc as start of circle), sc in BLO of next two sts* repeat between * * across, sc in final st. (45)

Switch back to Color A…

Row 31: Ch-2, turn, working in front of Color E, dc in each st of row 29 using both loops. (45)

Row 32: Ch-2, turn, dc in each st across. (45)

Rows 33 – 35: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st across. (45)

Row 36: Ch-4 (does not count), turn, Tr in each st across. (45)

Rows 37 – 39: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st across. (45)

Switch to Color E…

Rows 40 – 43: Ch-2, turn, dc in each st across. (45)

Fasten off and weave in all ends. Seam the long ends to form a tube so that the Twiddle Muff can be worn on the arm.

Add in ribbon to the Treble stitches on row 34, leaving several inches extra for movement/fidgeting. Add any buttons or other embellishments you wish to add.

I hope that you love this pattern and that whomever gets to use it appreciates it and uses it often! The 2025 Donation Crochet Series has been such a fun and rewarding crochet series and I’m glad that you’re part of it. Stay tuned on the second Friday of each month when I share a NEW pattern in the series.

Please tag @HeartHookHome across all social media, or share in the Heart Hook Home Crochet Community on Facebook when you make one!