This Inspiring Project Finishes Handmade Pieces Left Behind By Loved Ones
- Words by Peppermint
Whether it’s a lovingly half-finished quilt or a treasured needlepoint midway to completion, this worldwide charity aims to ease grief and create community by matching volunteer handwork finishers with special pieces that have been left behind due to death or disability. We chat with Loose Ends Project Co-founder Jennifer Simonic about what inspired this initiative and why finishing people’s projects matters.
photos WINKY LEWIS
Tell us why the Loose Ends Project exists…
Masey and I have been friends for 30 years and we are both crafters. Last summer, our friend Patty lost her mother to cancer. Patty’s mum had started two blankets, one for each of her sons, and as I sat there thinking about crocheting a massive blanket (because I love my friend Patty but I am not fond of crocheting), Masey said, “I have been thinking about creating a group that finishes other people’s projects and I think we can get other people excited to help.” One website, some door-to-door flyer drop-offs and a couple of posts on social media later and we were off to the races with 150 volunteers and five projects.
Why do you feel finishing people’s projects is so important?
When an original crafter starts a project, the intention is there to finish. Usually, it’s being made for a loved one, so finishing is important for two people. We get to help carry out the wishes of the original crafter and leave the project owner with a tangible reminder of their loved ones. Our volunteers also get a lot out of finishing. There is so much joy in completing something for someone who is not able to. Crafters are an incredibly generous group of people so it’s not surprising they’re willing to do this.
How do you feel about the way your project has become a worldwide phenomenon?
It’s amazing and surreal but again not surprising. It’s been a terrible couple of years for people. We’ve been separated by politics and fear and forced to stay away from others because of the pandemic. But this is something that allows people to step up and say, “I have this skill. How can I help someone who doesn’t?” And for those people with the projects, because we have over 18,000 volunteers in 64 countries, we can show them there are strangers in their communities willing to help them. It’s a little wild that I am talking about this from Seattle, Washington with you lovelies in Australia but gosh humans can be so empathetic and kind. You just need to give them the opportunity to show it.
We get to help carry out the wishes of the original crafter and leave the project owner with a tangible reminder of their loved ones.
Do you have a favourite story from the project?
That’s like choosing a favourite child. Some are super heartbreaking – a mum who lost a daughter and asked us to finish her last crochet project. That finisher did a fantastic job and now that mum has a blanket she can wrap it around herself to remember her daughter. Some required so much talent – a Hawaiian quilt hanging that a wonderful finisher took on and hand-quilted for a family whose mum had passed. There’s a beautiful quilted jacket being finished in Western Australia and a quirky knitted frog kit in New South Wales. The one thing they all have in common is someone asking for help and closure, and some wonderful person is stepping up to do it. If someone wants to help looseendsproject.org is the place to go to sign up as a finisher, submit a project or find out more ways to help.
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Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
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Fabric: @Spoonflower
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“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
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The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
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Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
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8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
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🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
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As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
