Crafters Tie Up Loose Ends for Ill or Deceased Loved Ones

Loose Ends Project co-Founders Masey Kaplan and Jennifer Simonic match volunteers with unfinished craft projects of those who could not complete them.
Photo Credit: Winky Lewis

Avid knitters and crafters do not like loose ends. When they start a project, they aim to finish it. But in some cases, debilitating illness or death means they can no longer complete that something special for someone. And knowing how much that project meant to a loved one can be upsetting for families. Enter the heroes: complete strangers who volunteer to finish those treasured labors of love.

If a crafter becomes ill, disabled or dies before they can complete a special project, a volunteer will be matched to finish the handmade item for them or their family.

The Loose Ends Project pairs volunteers with projects that someone can no longer complete themselves. The non-profit organization was founded by two crafters, Masey Kaplan and Jennifer Simonic. Friends had repeatedly asked them to finish blankets, sweaters or other projects left unfinished by deceased loved ones. But not everyone has a friend skilled at crafting. The two ultimately recognized the need for a network of folks who could help others in similar situations.

“Handmade items are gestures of love. The time, expense and skill that go into making them are impossible to quantify…. When a maker dies mid-project, this tangible, handmade expression of love could get lost, donated or thrown out. Loose Ends volunteers’ goals are to finish these projects as intended and give them back to be used and cherished,” Kaplan said.

How Loose Ends Project Works

Loose Ends Project accepts any crafts that use fabric as the medium. 
Photo Credit: Winky Lewis

The project submissions are limited to fabric arts crafts including knitting, crochet, sewing, basketry, latch hook, rug hooking, embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, weaving, quilting and more. The ill or deceased person must have already started the project. It can be as small as a doily or as large as a blanket.

The item can be recent or something that has been stored away for a while. It simply must be in good shape and not rotting, moldy or smell of mothballs to be considered salvageable.

After submitting your request, the organization will match a volunteer, or “finisher,” from its 15,000+ volunteers throughout the U.S., as well as dozens of other countries. If hand delivery is not possible, the requester pays for shipping both ways. Depending on the scale or depth of any project and a volunteer’s skill level, it could take quite a while to complete. Volunteers sometimes add special stitching or markings to denote their portion from the original as a testament to the person. The non-profit organization has already matched more than 1200 volunteers to projects since its inception.

How You Can Help

A Loose Ends Project volunteer completes an unfinished embroidery project.

If you live anywhere in the world and have a fiber-arts handwork skill of any kind or level, you can apply to be a finisher. Or print out a flyer to promote the cause to local crafting, knitting, or crochet groups in your area. You can also make a monetary donation to offset the cost of shipping for families or supplies for volunteers. The organization also hopes to hire some part-time help in matching volunteers.

Some volunteers have personal stories or reasons as to why they are willing to help a grieving stranger. Jan Rohwetter finished a rug started by Donna Savastio of Framingham, Massachusetts. Savastio was diagnosed with dementia and lost the ability to complete the rug herself. Rohwetter’s mother, who had died with dementia, told NPR.org, “This is something that I would have loved to have been able to do for my mom.” Donna’s husband says he considers Rohwetter to be a “Godsend” for helping to complete his wife’s work.

Visit www.looseendsproject.org for details on submissions, volunteering and more.