Loose Ends: finishing projects left undone
The idea for Loose Ends Project came about when the founders, Jennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan, both avid knitters, realised that they had a shared experience: Friends would often ask them to finish blankets, sweaters, or other projects left undone by deceased loved ones. They always do so enthusiastically, understanding what it feels like to wear something a loved one has made.
Image: Loose Ends founders Masey Kaplan (L) and Jennifer Simonic (R). Image: Winky Lewis. Image above: Loose Ends has sparked ‘some really lovely friendships,’ says Kaplan. Image: Winky Lewis.
The not-for-profit project connects skilled volunteers – known as ‘finishers’ – with people who have found unfinished knitting or crochet projects that their loved ones have left incomplete when they died. The idea is simple, say the pair, but often a profoundly healing experience for those who submit items.
As Jennifer and Masey explain; "When Loose Ends receives a project submission, we look through our database of finishers to find a good match. With an eye toward geography, skill level, and druthers, we will identify a good fit based on the information volunteer finishers submitted in their profiles. The next step is running this by the finishers themselves to find out if they’re feeling it too.
Once a finisher says yes to a project, we make the connection by introducing the finisher and project holder in an email. Then… we step away and let the project evolve within this new connection. We are always here to troubleshoot, advise or reassign if needed."
Images courtesy of Loose Ends
Find out more and connect with Loose Ends:
www.looseendsproject.org
@thelooseendsproject
Image: Loose Ends founders Masey Kaplan (L) and Jennifer Simonic (R). Image: Winky Lewis. Image above: Loose Ends has sparked ‘some really lovely friendships,’ says Kaplan. Image: Winky Lewis.
The not-for-profit project connects skilled volunteers – known as ‘finishers’ – with people who have found unfinished knitting or crochet projects that their loved ones have left incomplete when they died. The idea is simple, say the pair, but often a profoundly healing experience for those who submit items.
As Jennifer and Masey explain; "When Loose Ends receives a project submission, we look through our database of finishers to find a good match. With an eye toward geography, skill level, and druthers, we will identify a good fit based on the information volunteer finishers submitted in their profiles. The next step is running this by the finishers themselves to find out if they’re feeling it too.
Once a finisher says yes to a project, we make the connection by introducing the finisher and project holder in an email. Then… we step away and let the project evolve within this new connection. We are always here to troubleshoot, advise or reassign if needed."
Images courtesy of Loose Ends
Find out more and connect with Loose Ends:
www.looseendsproject.org
@thelooseendsproject
2 comments
I love this beautiful work!
Congratulations on your success in preserving family heirlooms.