‘Dear Chatterbox’ – AT for hobbies

Dear Chatterbox, 

I like making metal models, but my hands don’t work well anymore. I need to figure out how to bend the metal without damaging the enamel or breaking the metal. 

- Chatterbox member Madelon

Hi Madelon, 

Metal models is very interesting and hopefully using a few tips and tricks you can continue to make them. 

Pad everything that touches the enamel. Use silicone or painter's tape to provide extra cushioning and protection of the enamel. 

Use leverage and not grip strength. If pliers are painful to use a bench vise: Opens in new window made with a softer material such as soft copper or nylon may prevent damage to the enamel or metal. This would then allow you to push of pull the end of the pieces with more leverage and less force. If a vise is already stabilising the material and further support in making the bend is required, an arbor press: Opens in new window provides a longer handle which may make this easier. 

Bend the metal in stages. Scoring the enamel with a knife (and caution as this could be unsafe if not careful) will relieve pressure from the enamel cracking. Make bends in small stages rather than one sharp bend. 

Metal alternatives. Brass and copper can be easier metals to bend, however, you would need to consider if this is durable enough for your model. 

Ergonomic add-ons. Foam or silicone grip sleeves can make distribute the pressure on your hands and support your grip. 

Dear Chatterbox, 

Craft is a hobby I really love. It’s something I’ve enjoyed for a long time — working with my hands, creating something tactile, and getting into the rhythm of making. 

As someone who is deafblind, I sometimes face barriers that make crafting more difficult. One of the biggest challenges is accessing the fine details of the materials I’m working with. A magnifier lamp or video magnifier could really help — allowing me to see textures and shapes more clearly, and giving me more independence in my hobby. 
These tools can be expensive, and it’s not always easy to know what will actually work best for me. 

- Chatterbox member Kirsty 

Hi Kirsty, 
 
It’s clear how important crafting is to you, and I hope that some of the links and resources below could help you to get into the rhythm of crafting again. 
You mentioned that a magnifier lamp or video magnifier might help give you more independence in your hobbies, have you considered these examples? 

• Crafters Choice Led Amplifier Table Lamp White: Opens in new window   
• Ryobi 18V ONE+ Magnifying Clamp Light: Opens in new window   
• 1.5x Chest Magnifier: Opens in new window   
• Daylight Yoyo Magnifier LED: Opens in new window   

If you’re wanting to build connections with other crafters, you could try the Makerspace at Curtin University, which runs a variety of craft sessions with like minded people. The Australian Library of Things Network is another place you could try if there’s AT that you’ve been meaning to give a go, but it’s too expensive or you’ve never found the right one for you. 

For more inspiration you could read a couple of articles on the AT Chat and iLA websites about crafting: 

• Greg’s story on the AT Chat website: Opens in new window  
• AT suggestions, as well as examples of crafts you could try, on the LiveUp website: Opens in new window  

Dear Chatterbox, 

I would love to learn the Irish harp but both time poor and it's expensive. 

- Chatterbox member Kathy 

Hi Kathy, 

While we don’t have a leprechaun on staff to help with finances, or any specific time travelling Assistive Technology at our disposal, we’d like to offer a couple of suggestions: 

Learning online might help you to do short sessions of learning, being able to start and stop around your other commitments, and being able to learn outside of regular business hours (depending on whether it would disturb anyone else that lives with you). 

• Online Academy of Irish Music offers an online course called Learn How to Play the Celtic Harp with a free 14 day trial (22 euro per month or 95 euro for 6 months). You can access the first: Opens in new window and second lesson: Opens in new window on YouTube to see what you think. 
• Amazing Talker, SuperProf, and Music Teachers Online offer the option to search for tutors near you or online, and list the rates of the tutors. 

To save money, you could look connecting with an Irish exchange student or someone from your local Irish Community (for example The Irish Club of WA, The Claddagh Association, Perth Comhaltas (Australia), or Irish in Perth | Facebook: Opens in new window ) and organising a skills or service swap. 

Dear Chatterbox, 

I loved your resources on Sensory Kits last month and would like to learn to crochet so I can use it as part of my toolkit when I am out and about. I have joint hypermobility, which means sometimes the joints in my hands move out of place and this can cause a lot of pain, which limits how I can move my hands and what I can do. Have you got any suggestions? 

- Anonymous 

Hi Anon, 

• Arthritis or Adaptive Crochet Hooks might be helpful because they have large handles and a soft group to help reduce pain and muscle fatigue. 
• Adaptive Grip Aids are soft, flexible and stretchy silicone aids that can support hand grip including strength, mobility and proprioception. (e.g. Hook Helper – Interchangeable Ergonomic Silicone Crochet Hook Handle | Squishy Gift for Crocheters - Etsy Australia: Opens in new window , Ergozebra Starter Pack Gift Set - Ergonomic Crochet Hook - Ehlers Danlos & Hypermobility Friendly - Arthritis Friendly - Etsy Australia: Opens in new window  
• Foam Tubing (also known as plastazote tubing) is available in various sizes and can be used to provide a built-up handle for easier gripping of cutlery, pens and crochet hooks. The tubing is non-absorbent, non-sticky, washable and dishwasher safe, which reduces the risk of affecting your yarn. Another option is a Beauty Blender: Opens in new window  
• Crochet Hook Helpers such as the Crochetobe Tool: Opens in new window  are tools that assist crocheters with controlling tension, reducing hand fatigue, and improving overall comfort during crocheting. 
• Digital Row Counters are counters you wear on your finger and you can use them to keep track of stitches or rows (Digital Row Counter | Crochet Australia: Opens in new window ) 
• Yarn Holders such as a yarn bowl, hands free portable yarn holder (Amazon.com: Wrist Yarn Holder, Portable Wrist Yarn Ball Minder Stand with Crossbody Strap Wooden Twizzling Yarn Organizer Storage Knitting Supplies Crocheting Gift for Craft Lover: Opens in new window ) or the Wool Jeanie Magnetic can hold your yarn while you work to give you a constant feed of yarn, for an evenly knitted or crocheted item. 
• Stitch Markers can be used to secure your stitch while you're not working on your project, or to mark any significant points in your project - you can slip them on or off marked stitches whenever you like. 
• Yarn Tension Rings can be worn on your finger to help to keep yarns untangled and at an even tension while crocheting. (e.g. https://www.crochetaustralia.com.au/product/accyrntenring: Opens in new window ) Yarn Winders can be helpful when rewinding balls of yarn or frogging large projects. 
• Light Up Crochet Hooks offer a light range setting from medium to bright, making them perfect for crocheting in low light without straining your eyes. And the best part? They only take 15 minutes to fully charge, giving you a solid 7 to 9 hours of crochet time! They can be helpful when working with dark yarns and in low light, however the light moving might impact people who suffer from nausea/motion sickness. 
• A Stable Table can be used as a stable platform if you are sitting in a chair to support your arms and reduce tiredness in your hands while crocheting or doing other craft that uses your hands. 

For anyone with low vision, crochet might be easier than knitting because the needles are thicker and it’s easier to see the holes. Helpful AT might include a magnifier, large print patterns or braille patterns. In WA, Visability can provide alternative formats of documents to eligible people who have a print disability for free – this includes Braille knitting and crochet patterns. 

Links: 

• Low-risk AT for leisure | KeepAble: Opens in new window  
• Adult Daily Living Activities: Opens in new window  (EasyHold), YouTube: Opens in new window  (video showing it used for crochet hook) 
• Testing Ergonomic Crochet Hook HACKS - Crochet Tips and Tricks - YouTube: Opens in new window  (comparing tennis ball, beauty blender and Boye Ergonomic Crochet Hook Handle) 
• Buy Plastazote Tubing Online - Independent Living Specialists: Opens in new window  
• Full Review of Crochetobe Tool! The MAGIC CROCHET HELPER!!!: Opens in new window  
• The WoolJeanie - Review and How To Assemble/Use - YouTube: Opens in new window  
• They're hooked! Braille crochet and knitting patterns - VisAbility WA: Opens in new window  

Dear Chatterbox, 

I really enjoy singing and want to sing with other people. Ideally, I’d like to join a choir, but I have a physical disability that affects my mobility and get tired easily, so transport and accessibility of the venue might be tricky. Do you have any ideas? 

- Anonymous 

Hi Anon, 

Have you considered joining a virtual choir? A few pieces of mainstream equipment, might be the AT that make this successful. 

Links for some online choirs: 

• Virtual Online Choir - Pop Choir: Opens in new window  (uses Zoom, $49.85/Monthly, with option for free trial) 
• Soul Song Choirs Viral Choir: Opens in new window  (uses Zoom. $133- $205/term or $12-18/week, with option for free trial) 
• The Adult Glee Club - Home: Opens in new window  ($240/quarter, with option for $25 trial) 

Equipment needed: 

The choirs listed above use Zoom, rather than specific audio recording software, so to join in you’ll need a tablet, laptop or desktop computer that can use Zoom, a microphone, headphones and a stable internet connection. If you don’t have enough USB ports on your device, you might find a simple USB hub helpful (e.g. UGREEN 4 in 1 USB-C Hub | Officeworks: Opens in new window ). 
To reduce fatigue, you might consider a microphone with a built-in stand (e.g. condenser microphone Rode NT-USB Mini Studio Quality USB Microphone - JB Hi-Fi: Opens in new window ). The stand keeps the microphone stable and allows for flexible positioning.  
Over-ear headphones are recommended to monitor the audio during recording and prevent sound bleed into the microphone. With any headphones, it’s important to try them on first if you can, to ensure that they fit well, are easy to put on and take off and are comfortable for extended periods of use. (e.g. https://www.beyerdynamic.com.au/products/dt-770-pro-80: Opens in new window  or https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-AU/p/momentum-4-wireless: Opens in new window ) 

Other links: 

• Jamulus ‒ Play music online. With friends. For free.: Opens in new window  (pros & cons: How do online choir rehearsals work without latency? INTERKULTUR: Opens in new window  

Please note that the links provided in the article above are not an affiliate links; we do not receive any commission if you purchase through them.