The 1 Million Squares Project
The 1 Million Squares for Dementia Project is a powerful and meaningful initiative. Its aim is:
- To create awareness
- To inspire emotional connection
- To build ongoing community engagement by mobilising individuals, families, schools and community groups to crochet and/or knit 4-inch squares dedicated to someone affected by dementia
For each square to represent a person affected by dementia, a family navigating the journey, a life remembered and a voice that matters. When stitched together (digitally), these squares will form a powerful visual statement — showing the world that dementia does not erase love, identity, or dignity.
- To support the broader mission of Dementia Sphere
Why 1 Million Squares?
The Alzheimer’s Society website suggests that almost a million people are living with dementia in the UK right now*, a third of whom are undiagnosed, and dementia is the biggest killer in the UK**, more than cancer, and more than heart attacks. Yet the general public are not aware or choose not to be aware of this debilitating disease. Most people in my opinion think of dementia as part of the ageing process. On the contrary growing old is part of life, dementia is a disease of the brain and destroys lives both, of the person living with it and their loved ones. I was no different until I experienced the carer side of dementia and realised the importance of creating awareness. This is what I hope to achieve with this project.
I conceived this project idea one evening whilst I was crocheting a simple square for a blanket, and it suddenly occurred to me that maybe crocheting squares could become a community building exercise matched with a cause.
My mother taught me to knit and crochet when I was about 10 years old. I preferred knitting to crochet and would spend many happy hours creating scarves, sweaters, cardigans and socks for family members. In the last 6 months of mum’s life, I spent many an afternoon knitting with her and it remains one of my favourite memories of her.
After she passed away, however, I just could not bring myself to knit again. I don’t know what it was, possibly just the connection to knitting that I had with her. My sister-in-law suggested crocheting so I decided to check out Youtube to see if there were any crochet tutorials that were simple and easy to follow. So, I watched and learned. I started crocheting simple things and then went onto more complicated items of clothing. I found it to be hypnotic at times, and it took me to a happy place very similar to how I felt whenever I baked, but without the added calories. I made things for friends and family and haven’t looked back.
How to Participate
Thank you so much for your interest in taking part in the 1 Million Square for Dementia Project and joining the movement to raise awareness of this situation. I deeply appreciate it.
I mentioned above, that the scale and significance of dementia in the UK is huge. So, creating even one square and dedicating to someone either living with or who has passed away from the disease, means you are making a difference; it will go a long way in achieving Dementia Sphere’s goal of creating greater awareness of dementia and jointly creating a caring community. Of course, the more squares you make, the closer we get to collectively achieving the goal of making 1 million squares for dementia and becoming part of a global movement.
Whether you know how to crochet and/or knit or not, it is only a simple 3-step process to participate
Register & Make > Dedicate > Share
Step 1: Register & Make a Square
To register please click on the link at the bottom of this section and complete the required information
Once you have registered, you will be provided with a unique reference number. Please quote that on any enquiries related to your squares.
Registration is only required once per person.
To make a square, you need to:
Crochet and/or Knit 4-inch square(s)
If you do not know how to crochet or knit but are keen to learn and take part in the project, please click on this link (Help with your Squares page) where you will find links to instructional videos that provide both crochet and knitting tutorials.
Once the physical item has been made it can be gifted to
- a person living with dementia or their carer
- a hospital/hospice with dementia patients
- a dementia charity
Before gifting your item, please continue with following steps 2 (dedicating a square) and 3 (sharing a square).
Some of you may not know someone directly affected by dementia. However, you may be willing and able to make the squares. You are most welcome to join the cause!! The images of your squares will be added to a virtual square pool and, at a later date, allocated to someone who has dementia or has passed from it. It doesn’t matter what item you decide to make; a coaster comprising of 1 square or a blanket comprising 100 squares. It is the number of squares that count towards the 1 million that matters. If you already have something made, that can count too.
Step 2: Dedicate a Square
If you want to dedicate your square to somebody:
Think of
1. an alias or pet name for them and
2. 4 attributes/qualities of that person
PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR LOVED ONE’S REAL NAME DUE TO PRIVACY LAWS AND DATA PROTECTION
Step 3: Share a Square
To share both dedicated and undedicated squares
Snap and share a photo of your square with the 4 attributes (if applicable) on our dedicated Facebook Page, and tag 3 friends using our hashtag – #1millionsquares along with any of the hashtags below:
Other hastags:
#SquaresForDementia
#OneSquareOneStory
#CrochetForDementia
#KnitForDementia
#UKCrochet
#LondonKnits
#DementiaAwarenessUK
I have also set up a Facebook Group (1millionsquares) so that members can share ideas and inspiration. Please do consider joining the group by clicking on the link below:
IMAGE GUIDELINES
- photograph each square on a plain white background
- use good natural light if possible
- ensure your image(s) are of thumbnail size (150mm x 150mm) around 70kb
Project Outcome
Starting on World Dementia Day 2026 (September 21st 2026) a digital gallery will display images of squares that have been uploaded to social media with the dedications to loved ones. This will continue until the 1 million target has been reached.
Sources
* https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/how-many-people-have-dementia-uk (Alzheimer’s Society, 2026)
** https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/(Alzheimer’s Research UK, 2026)