Loose Ends is a non-partisan, non-religious, everyone-is-welcome movement that aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with textile projects people have left undone due to death or disability.

knit / crochet / sewing / quilting / tatting / rug-making / embroidery / cross-stitch 
Tunisian crochet / mending / amigurumi / needlepoint / basketry / turkey work  
felting / nalbinding / applique / spinning  / latch hook / punch needling / weaving

Loose Ends welcomes textile handwork crafters
of all sorts, from anywhere in the world.

"When I first heard about this, I couldn't believe it was true. Who does this anymore? How do you thank someone for doing something like this?" —B., Project Owner

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"This just warms my heart! It actually brought tears to my eyes. Y'all are amazing!" (M.D.)

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"Oh I love this! The things my mom has knitted for me mean so much to me. What a beautiful gift this will be for so many." (L.D.)

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"Such a beautiful and amazing idea!" (G.B)

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"Some of my most satisfying work has been legacy knitting for others." (M.D.)

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"What a generous gift you are giving to families! Fantastic!" (B.B.)

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A wonderful idea! Should become a worldwide project! At this moment I knit the socks my mother started: mourning with a smile! (C.D.)

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"When I first heard about this, I couldn't believe it was true. Who does this anymore? How do you thank someone for doing something like this?" —B., Project Owner • "This just warms my heart! It actually brought tears to my eyes. Y'all are amazing!" (M.D.) • "Oh I love this! The things my mom has knitted for me mean so much to me. What a beautiful gift this will be for so many." (L.D.) • "Such a beautiful and amazing idea!" (G.B) • "Some of my most satisfying work has been legacy knitting for others." (M.D.) • "What a generous gift you are giving to families! Fantastic!" (B.B.) • A wonderful idea! Should become a worldwide project! At this moment I knit the socks my mother started: mourning with a smile! (C.D.) •

Email or print our flyer and share it with your community.

Flyers are available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese / Brazilian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish


Interested in translating our flyer into a language we don’t already have?
Let us know!

Started with love by them.
Finished with care by us.

Handmade items are gestures of love. The time, expense, and skill that go into making them are impossible to quantify. When you wear something made special for you, it feels good — you were thoughtfully considered with each stitch. When a maker dies mid-project, this tangible, handmade expression of love could get lost, donated away, or thrown out.

Or, it can be finished as intended and given back to be cherished.

“My grandmother Peggy passed away in January 2021 from COVID-related complications. She showed her love through creating. She had made me a couple of blankets over the years, and that’s usually all I wanted for my presents. They were diff
“She left a letter with the afghan, hoping that it could be completed.” — Linda, Gladys’s daughter in law Gladys started this project in 1983. A seamstress, potter, knitter, painter, and gardener, she worked on the afghan off
Two awesome things we just learned about! First, this amazing resource for crafters - a tool called Thrift Your Fabric - a map of all US fiber re-use stores, with links. The link to this amazing map is in the bio - and was created by the fiber artist
#kindnessofstrangers #finisher #love #legacycraft
“Rose passed in 2016. She made lots of cross-stitch items for friends and family. She taught me to crochet.” — Ana, Rose’s granddaughter This cross-stitch was finished by Loose Ends finisher, Susan. #kindnessofstrangers #c
“My mother [Laura] made most of our school clothes and our dolls’ clothes. She even made a few things for my first Barbie! My dad had a heart attack in late 1996 and she must have been working on this project at that time.” —
Learn about the Quilty Nook @zakfoster.quilts - it is a beautiful place to spend time if you are a quilter or quilt-curious crafter, and if not, it’s a special gift idea for sewing crafters in your life this holiday. This is not an ad, it&rsquo
“My grandmother started this for my mother’s wedding in 1946 but died in 1955 before finishing it. My mother tried to finish it in the ’90s but she died in 2013.” — Ina This project was finished by hand - by Loose Ends

Ways to Help.

Not crafty? That’s OK! There are other ways to help connect an unfinished project with a loved one who will cherish it.

  1. Download our flyer and share it with your local library, hospice, or friend.

  2. Connect with us on social media and share and repost any stories that resonate with you!

  3. Become a sponsor.

  4. Make a donation.