Good humans, sweet stories, big Cocoknits news, NYC Yarn Crawl & more!

“Thank you for this organization and the joy it brings to both sides!” — Rebecca, Loose Ends Finisher

1. “When you feel the very tight hug, that’s where she left off.” — Phyllis

Click left to watch:

Phyllis, a talented Loose Ends knitting finisher, worried she had taken too long to finish this sweater (she’d had it for an entire year - note: we do not impose time limits on volunteers). But to Martha, whose mother had begun the project years earlier, it felt fast. The sweater itself was tricky, complex colorwork, with a confusing pattern.

The project was started by Martha’s mother, who had passed away from metastatic breast cancer. A lifelong knitter and maker, she had filled her family’s home with hand-knit sweaters, colorful Christmas stockings, baby blankets, and even jewelry of her own designs. This sweater, intended for Martha’s younger sister, had been left unfinished—until Phyllis came along,

WATCH as Phyllis describes a special, meaningful element hidden in the middle of this cardigan. :)

2. Please support our work with a donation.

DONATE TODAY

3. The Big news! COCOKNITS Co-Branded Project Keeper Launches today!

Today, our beloved partner, Cocoknits, launches a brand-new, co-branded Project Keeper with Loose Ends, designed to help crafters keep track of their works-in-progress—and leave handy notes in case someone else ever needs to finish their work. The trackers are available starting today, both at cocoknits.com and in shops. $2 from every sale will directly support Loose Ends and our mission.

Get a FREE Cocoknits pattern when you buy a Project Keeper or Folders & Tags! Visit cocoknits.com and add the pattern of your choice with a Project Keeper or Folders & Tags to your cart. Use code: CocoknitsPK at checkout.

PS: Shopping local? If you purchase a Project Keeper from an LYS, email knit@cocoknits.com a copy of your receipt, and they'll send you a new code to download the pattern of your choice. (One use per customer | Patterns from cocoknits.com only | Cannot be used for patterns exclusive to the book, Cocoknits Sweater Workshop | Cannot be combined with other discounts) :)

4. Berdina’s Blanket: Love Across Generations

Carlyn grew up in the care of her grandmother, Berdina Bertha Lily, who always had a crochet project in her hands. When Berdina passed away twenty years ago, she left behind an unfinished blanket. Carlyn carried that project with her from Minnesota to California and then to Wisconsin, holding onto the hope that one day it might be finished. She even tried to learn crochet herself, but the stitches never came together.

Through the Loose Ends, Carlyn met Caroline, who agreed to complete the blanket for her. Caroline carefully matched Berdina’s stitches, even using the small yarn scraps her grandmother had saved. After 20 hours of work, she added a crocheted flower to mark the place where Berdina’s hands had stopped and hers began.

Carlyn plans to pass it on to her daughter—Berdina’s namesake—so that even without meeting her, she’ll always have a piece of her great-grandmother’s love.

5. Loose Ends loves to talk to guilds! Invite a Loose Ends co-founder to speak at your guild! Reach out to Jen here to schedule a guild presentation.

6. Makers’ Mercantile Auction raised $3,659 to support Loose Ends!

Thank you to everyone who bid on the 23 handknit and crocheted samples, and thank you to Makers’ Mercantile for stepping up to help us fundraise. We are so grateful.

7. NYC Yarn Crawl Kicks Off Today!

SEPT 26-28: Loose Ends is thrilled to be included as a charity partner in this year’s NYC Yarn Crawl! Ten shops on the crawl will host posters and offer shoppers the opportunity to learn more about Loose Ends’ work.

The NYC Yarn Crawl is a free event where knitters, crocheters, and makers explore the city’s best yarn shops, enjoy discounts, prizes, indie dyers, special events, and exclusive goodies—plus sips, bites, and plenty of yarny fun. Download the map at yarncrawlnyc.com!

8. Something’s working.

Registered Finishers: 34,700
Project Submitters: 3500

Our 1:12 ratio is moving closer to a 1:10 ratio!
This means that all of your and our efforts to get the word out are working. Thanks to everyone sharing our flyer in their community, and for everyone yapping about Loose Ends at parties, at work, on the bus… It’s making a difference!

9. Loops has launched!

We launched our first pilot “Loops” program in Maine, with nearly 30 local volunteers! This initiative brings in a group of regional volunteers to help with outreach to potential project owners, an effort to close that 1:10 project-to-finisher gap, AND will also focus on local fundraising. Special thanks to Rising Tide Brewing for hosting us, and to Quince & Co. for making things extra fun and donating yarn to share with our volunteers.

Fun Fact: Loopers keep a shared spreadsheet with a special tab called “Good Ideas.” It has been a treasure trove of fun and smart ways

10. Are you working on a Loose Ends project now? Remember to send monthly updates to your project’s owner and your Loose Ends project manager! Take all the time you need to finish, but let us know monthly how things are going. Thanks!

11. The following people had donations made in their honor or “in lieu of flowers” since our last newsletter.

Bonnie Warwick and Mary Kelly (Elmendorph Handspinners Guild), Carla Reagin Ousby, Carmela, Deborah Hardy, Gerda Morda, Grandma Root, Grandma Rose, Grandma, whose knitting supplies went to the local library, Helene Bress, In memory of Dorothy Pyle Cochran Stauffer - who inspired me to love others through food and yarn, Irma Green Manning, Jean Grey & Betty Sanders, my models and encouragers, Jonathan Roussos, Kathleen Gossman, Lisa LaBarte, Lorelei Davis, My mother, Albina Montione, My mum and Liza, Nancy Peluso, Pat Baum, Ruth DeLano, Susie, Tina Schudel, Virginia Hand, Wendy Hill, & Zainab Kassar.

12. PS: Every time you comment on our social media with words like this, you make our whole day. Thank you for every encouraging word you share on our socials!

13. Your donation directly affects the number of projects we can match.
Recurring donations allow us to plan.