Loose Ends Helps Finish Unfinished Projects

I’ve been meaning to write about Loose Ends for a while, but they’re getting more attention thanks to a recent story from NPR.

Loose Ends is a group of volunteers that helps to finish projects left behind by people who have died or that the crafter is unable to complete because of age or illness. It was founded by friends and knitters Masey Kaplan and Jen Simonic, who both spent some time in 2022 finishing projects for friends who’d lost their mothers. Looking online for a service that did such work, they didn’t find one, so they started it.

In about 10 months the group has completed more than 600 knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing and other projects.

As you can imagine, knowing how generous crafters can be, there are a lot more people who have volunteered to help with projects than there has been need for helpers at this stage. The founders have been overwhelmed by the response and, as they are still doing all the matchmaking themselves, they’ve formed a board and applied for tax-exempt status in the hope they can raise money to hire staff.

According to the Loose Ends website, they accept most kinds of craft work as long as the project had been started and cannot be completed by the original maker because of illness, disability or death. Exceptions include items that are moldy or have moth holes, or a strong smell of moth balls. (Items that smell of cigarette smoke can be paired with a crafter who doesn’t mind the smell.) They also do not accept long-arm or large hand-quilting projects, though they can do piecing, binding and finishing of small projects like baby blankets or wall hangings.

You can apply to become a finisher on their website and let them know your geographic location, what crafts you do, your skill level and the kinds of projects you like to work on. They do their best to match people who live relatively close together and to give finishers projects that match their skills and interests.

I just love this so much and the idea of all those projects getting finished makes me so happy!

[Photo: Loose Ends]

Next Pattern:

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Next Pattern:

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