Need a reminder that people are awesome? We’ve got you!

“I am so very touched by this entire project, by the kindness of strangers to help with such meaningful connections between people.” — Sophia, Loose Ends Project Owner

Allison’s Gift

"Allison and I, both artists, spent lockdown meeting outdoors to paint and draw together. She started knitting this sweater for me while I was doing research for a body of ceramic work I was creating.*

I didn’t know she’d been knitting this until she was in hospice. She’d so hoped to finish it before she died, but passed it to me, having done all she could.

I was interested in the migration of Fair Isle knitting with settlers from Scotland to my birthplace on the Pacific Northwest coast of Canada and how this practice was adapted by Indigenous wool workers to eventually become the iconic Cowichan sweater, emblematic of a British Columbia identity today.

It is with my utmost gratitude to Ania (Loose Ends Finisher) for her willingness to share her skills and her care to help finish Allison’s gift. I am so very touched by this entire project, by the kindness of strangers to help with such meaningful connections between people.” — Sophia

*Three of these pieces have been purchased by the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, Canada!

Loose Ends has matched more than 5,000 projects so far.
Help us match more.

Donations are fee-free, and gifts of every amount matter.

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The Legacy Quilt is underway, and she’s going to be a STUNNER!

If you recall, our campaign for the end of 2025 promised a Legacy Quilt with embroidered names, initials, and stars that would highlight donors and their gifts. 68 embroidery volunteers from around the US are stitching names and stars onto 154 panels and squares.

The Stars: We asked each embroiderer to make 8 stars per square, in the style of their choosing, each representing a donation to our end-of-year campaign. Seeing each so different has been an absolute delight!! Thank you to everyone who is sewing, and to all of the Maine Loops who took fabric home to cut for us!

Once completed, these fabric tributes will be sewn together along with three special stitched portraits of our first project submitters (left). When we have the last squares in, we’ll piece and quilt this beauty, then bring her to Chicago for her debut at H+H Americas. (Special thanks to Sharonlee for this photo of her work).

Loose Ends 2026 Q&A

Welcome to the nearly 700 finishers who have signed up since the new year!

Q: What is Loose Ends’ #1 goal for 2026? A: To get more project submissions into the hands of finishers.

Q: How many finishers are registered with Loose Ends? A: 37,000!

Q: How many of those finishers are waiting for their first project? A: More than 30,000 (really).

Q: Can people help spread the word about Loose Ends’ free services? A: Yes! Download our flyer and share it in your community (print it, or email it - either works)! Visit libraries, senior centers, care homes, hospices, cafes, wherever people with projects may be!

Q: Do you need donations? A: Yes, we do. As our project submissions grow, so does our need for staff to do the work of matching and stewarding projects. All of this beautiful work requires funding. We fund 2.25 staff, tech, printing, travel to events, and lots more. Donations allow Loose Ends to exist.

Attention Yarny Crafters: Please join us on Ravelry!

Are you a knitter or crocheter? If so, please join us on Ravelry where, up til now, we’ve been floundering a bit in figuring out the best way to use this amazing tool to build community. That’s about to change!

We’re thrilled to be tapping into the keen know-how and go-get-em energy of Renee Jennings, our new Loose Ends Rav Maven. While we haven’t always been as attentive here as we’d like, we’re turning a new page. Exciting things are ahead!! Come join us here!!

I'm Renee Jennings, and I'm thrilled to be helping out our Loose Ends team! I'm a crafter of many trades—primarily cross-stitch, crochet, and knit—and I'm even teaching myself embroidery. I’m married to Patrick, and we share our home with three very spoiled rabbits and a rather doofus-y (but cute) corn snake. As a pastor in the United Methodist Church, walking with grieving families and helping shepherd along healing is right in my wheelhouse. I love the Loose Ends mission of giving families a final, tangible gift from their loved ones, and I look forward to seeing you on Ravelry!

“Maine Loops” is a screaming success, and we are beginning stage 2 of our pilot in Greater Boston. Then… sky’s the limit!

Last September in Maine, a focused team of just 20 volunteers gathered for our pilot: to test whether a dedicated group of helpers could increase project submissions in Maine — and they did. We’ve seen twice as many project submissions as at this time last year and 3x that number since starting Maine Loops. By concentrating on outreach and submissions, this small but dedicated group has proven how effective a localized, volunteer-driven model can be.

The Maine Loops team has been actively building awareness across the state, giving presentations, tabling at community events, and distributing flyers and table tents in craft shops and local businesses. They have been heroic and delightful partners, and our tiny team is SO GRATEFUL for their support. This blasted email program doesn’t allow for emojis, so please picture a bunch of hearts right here. We [heart] you, Maine Loops, and we cannot wait to meet you (soon), Boston Loops!

A special message to our finishers: Please send regular updates!

Working on a Loose Ends Project? Don’t forget to send regular updates to both your project owner and to your Loose Ends project manager (Jean or Angelica). Every 2 weeks is ideal.

We depend on your generosity to do this work. Please consider a donation.

Donations are fee-free, and any amount will be put to good use!