Finishing Stories
Beate’s Dad
“I’ve had a partially finished sweater that my mom started knitting in 2011 for my dad. She died in 2013 and was never able to complete it. I brought it home, thinking I might learn to knit and finish it. I never did.
Loose Ends contacted me today to inform me that they found a knitter in my hometown who has agreed to complete the project. She is going to lay hands on the yarn and sweater pieces that my mom’s hands held and held with so much love for her husband, my father. Won’t my dad be surprised to receive such an unexpected gift on his 99th birthday!” — Beate (photographer)
Alfredo’s Sister
Ayadillis passed away tragically when she was 22. Her brother, Alfredo, discovered a crocheted leaf she had made and was curious about making it into a larger piece in her honor. He joined crafting groups and crochet communities online, taking crochet lessons and connecting with other crocheters, as he learned to stitch — an act of love for his sister. When one of the group members suggested he reach out to Loose Ends for help, he did so, submitting Ayadillis's crocheted leaf, unsure what the end project might become.
Enter Leah, Loose Ends finisher. Leah and Alfredo collaborated on a design featuring Ayadillis's leaf in the center, incorporating her favorite colors.
Samarra’s Owl Sweater
“My mom [Judy] was a painter and artist, as am I. I grew up in a creative household where she'd encourage me to make my artwork. She also taught me to knit, although watching her skills always made me think I should stick to basic stuff.
In 2017, my mom and I traveled to see a friend in Maine and went to a yarn shop for supplies for my mom to make this sweater for me. She was a lifelong knitter who had made many a complex sweater for me over the years (in the 80s I had asked for an oversized patchwork sweater of blues/purples/greens and it was so labor intensive and yet my mom made it for me with so much love). I remember being at this shop and asking her if she felt comfortable making it and I realize now she hesitated — but I didn't realize why. She said, “Yes I can make it,” but I didn't sense the confidence she had always had.
She died in October of 2021, after a fast and ugly spiraling battle with dementia. I now realize that in 2017, she very likely was at the beginning of this horrible condition and that was what I was witnessing in the yarn shop with her slight hesitation over the supplies. I've kept everything we bought and the pattern as it all was in the brown bag from the store and just put it all away. When I saw your organization, I wondered if this might be something that could see completion. My mom managed to roll a ball out of one of the skeins in preparation, but then everything stopped. The entire bag is a reminder of when I began to lose her.”
Mikaela (Loose Ends finisher) didn't flinch. She made the whole thing from scratch, fulfilling Judy's wishes and making a friend in the process.
“My beautiful owl sweater is no longer the ending of something, but a new beginning of so many memories and connections and I thank you and Mikaela for that." — Samarra
Chieyen’s Harlequin Sweater
“Verona was my dearest friend for over 50 years. She was more like my sister than a friend. She passed after an extended illness. Her husband had a massive stroke 4 months to the day Verona died and died on January 1st, 2023. They left behind their only child, Chieyen, who is my goddaughter. I would love it if the sweater could be a final gift from her mother.
Verona and her husband Michael were prolific knitters. Many friends and family members were the recipients of their knitting projects. Verona even knitted socks! Needless to say I am heartbroken. Losing them both in such a short period of time is so very overwhelming.”
This exquisite floor-length sweater was begun by Verona. Her dear friend Sylvia submitted the project to be finished by Loose Ends — it was completed and returned to Verona's daughter, seen here.
Verona was an expert knitter, which is clear, but one detail that makes this finishing story extra special is that lots of sleuthing went into finding the pattern! And then, by a miracle, we found Verona's notes on Ravelry.
This project's finisher, Laura S., bought a copy of the pattern and practiced it before agreeing to take this on, at which time she matched the gauge perfectly.
Latonia’s Alphabet
“Years ago, I joined a family. When I came along, they were grieving the loss of Latonia – wife, mother, daughter. Her time on earth was too short. She developed brain cancer and passed away. I never met her but I never grow tired of hearing the memories.
When John and I married and combined households, I found a bag with a cross-stitch project. John told me that Latonia had taken up cross stitch while doing chemo as a way to keep her hands busy, she planned to create a piece for a grandchild. Latonia was not able to finish that project before dying. It went into a box saved for "later".
What a precious gift, created by her hands. But what to do with it? I couldn't frame it, that would just highlight unfinished work from an unfinished life. I couldn't finish it, that just seemed wrong. So, I cared for it through all the moves and many years.
Until I learned about two women who created Loose Ends, you have never seen someone drive faster to get home. I emailed,, received a response and got connected with our finisher, Isiah. John was hesitant to hand off such a precious item to strangers, but we were reassured by their presence and care.
Over the ensuing months, we got updated photos every Sunday. Finally, after 100 hours of work, it was done. We met for the handoff.
I can't begin to describe the emotions that flooded us, as we beheld that incredible piece of fabric that had come to represent so much sadness and pain, now complete, full of such promise and love. Her grandchildren, my grandchildren, will never meet her, but they will know they are loved by her.
There is still some sadness, of course, that Latonia is gone, and that will never go away. But finally having this project completed, and in such an amazing way by such an amazing person, has been such a blessing for the family. That project started so many years ago, by a woman who only wanted to live long enough to meet her grandchildren, has now been completed, and they will know her by her love.
Jim’s Three Gifts
Jim lost his wife Julie to cancer after s 16 -year battle. She passed away when her children were 21 and 19. Julie had started three pieces before she died: a sweater for herself and a hat and scarf for her children. Jim’s wish was to finish Julie’s work for their kids, and grandkids.
Three separate finishers stepped up to help, finishing a child-size hat, a scarf for Julie’s grandchildren, and a sweater for Julie’s daughter.
“In a matter of less than two months, a sweater that my beloved wife was unable to finish before passing from breast cancer has transposed from an incomplete souvenir to a beautiful article of clothing that our daughter will receive for her birthday in two days. We met for lunch today and she presented me with something that will warm my daughter's shoulders as much as it warms my heart. I could never express my thanks adequately.” — Jim
Amy’s Tapestry
“Amy, my wife, died suddenly in a car accident July 27, 2022. I have been staring at the unfinished project on her loom since that day and finally have the energy to submit it.”
This tapestry was submitted by Craig, with the request that no more work be done on the weaving. He simply wanted it removed from the loom and bound, preserving Amy’s work. This project was finished by Lorri Wright, in collaboration with the Alaskan Weavers Guild.
Mame’s Sweater
My wonderful mother-in-law, “Mame” was knitting this as her health started to decline at an early age due to strokes. My husband grew up sitting next to his mom in the evenings while she would knit, showing him how.
This was a unique and heartwarming journey from start to finish. It was kismet and closure when I came upon Loose Ends! Barbara (our finisher) was able to figure out how to get the sweater back to the pattern so it could all come together. I wanted to surprise my husband with his mom’s finished project, and he was so touched, not only by the sweater but how it all came about.