Interview by Haruko Kohno
Photos courtesy of the Loose Ends Project
If you’re a crafter, you understand the feeling of pouring your heart into each stitch, imagining the finished piece as you go. But what if something happens that stops you from ever completing it?
The Loose Ends Project founded by crafters from Maine and Washington is a non-profit organization that takes in unfinished craft projects left behind due to the maker’s passing or illness and entrusts volunteer crafters to complete the work.
Currently, a surprising 33,000+ crafters from 78 countries are registered with the group. Which begs the question——why are there so many people willing to generously offer their crafting skills for complete strangers? We spoke with one of the organizers, Masey Kaplan, to find out.
©Winky Lewis
Left: Masey Kaplan
Right: Jennifer Simonic
──Please tell us how you got started. Where did the inspiration and epiphany to start such a fantastic project come from?
My partner Jen Simonic and I are both lifelong crafters who’ve experienced firsthand how handwork—knitting, crocheting, quilting, embroidery—can hold deep emotional meaning. The idea for Loose Ends came during a conversation between the two of us in the summer of 2022. A close friend had lost her mother, who had left behind an unfinished knitting project. She asked, “What do I do with this?” And we realized: there are likely so many people holding onto half-finished handmade items—beautiful, personal things started with love, and now left untouched, simply because the person who began them could no longer finish.
We asked ourselves: What if we created a way to match these projects with skilled volunteer finishers? A kind of gentle handoff between strangers—one person grieving, one offering their time and talent in kindness. That conversation was the seed, and from there Loose Ends grew. We launched in September 2022, and it took off faster than we ever expected.
──That would be right in the middle of the pandemic?
The pandemic reminded all of us of how fragile life is—and how deeply we rely on connection, even if it's not face-to-face. People spent more time crafting, more time grieving, and more time reflecting on how they wanted to show up in their communities. That emotional backdrop probably made Loose Ends resonate even more.
──Are there any particular stories you can share with us?
We have so many moving stories. One that stands out is a shawl started by a woman whose cancer treatments are making it too hard for her to continue knitting. We matched her with a knitter who lives a few blocks away, and the project, called “Wingspan” was finished up and returned, and the dye house who made the original yarn also played a role. This was a beautiful group effort.
Another beautiful story: A weaver in the London area passed away leaving three looms, and on each were rugs. We matched this project to a weaver who lived relatively close, but who did not have space in her apartment to house three big looms! A local museum offered space to house the looms, where the finisher could come work at her leisure. The three rugs were finished and removed from the looms, and given to the original crafters’ three siblings.
This octopus was originally made by a woman named Martha, an avid crocheter who would always take it to work on while she was hospitalized for pulmonary rehab. She was 67 years old when she passed away from COPD. We matched this project with a finisher named Eleanor, from Virginia. She spent more than a year and a half finishing this creature up, and as you can see, it became quite large and huggable! She also made a tiny octopus friend with the yarn remnants so that Martha’s daughter Becca could always have it as a sort of connection to her mother no matter where she was. Becca appreciates the sweet act of kindness and recalls how Eleanor was not just a skilled crafter but more importantly a very kind human.
──Such wonderful stories. Are you conscious of the chemistry that might happen between a project submitter and a finisher?
We consider the craft, the skill level required, geographic proximity (to reduce shipping), and the timeline. Some finishers specialize in lace knitting, others in embroidery, or in assembling garments—it’s a beautiful web of skills. We don’t try to force chemistry, but we often find that connections evolve naturally.
──Why do you think there are many people who are willing to offer their time and skills to assist complete strangers?
Crafters are generous by nature. They know what it means to pour time and care into a handmade object. So, when someone sees a project left unfinished by another maker, there’s a kind of instinctual response—I can do this for them.
It’s also healing. We hear from finishers that working on these projects gives them a sense of purpose. Some have lost loved ones too, and this is their way of giving back. There’s something deeply meaningful about completing the loop.
──Are finishers nervous at first with the responsibility or are they excited?
Both! We often hear that finishers feel honored—and yes, a little nervous. They want to do justice to the original maker’s vision. But that nervousness turns into reverence and commitment. They take the responsibility seriously.
Many tell us they talk to the original maker while they work—almost like they’re in conversation with them. They feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that’s incredibly powerful.
One beautiful tradition that’s evolved is “marking the original crafter’s final stitch.” Often a finisher will mark the place where the original crafter left off, and where they began - either with a small stitch, or a marker. It’s become a beautiful, visible indicator of this generous act.
──Beautiful. And how about the families when they receive the finished project?
The responses are deeply emotional. Often there are tears. Families tell us that holding the finished item helps them process their grief in a new way. It transforms something incomplete into a source of comfort and closure.
In some cases, submitters and finishers do meet in person for the handoff—it can be very moving. But even when they don’t, there’s always this invisible thread of connection. The thank-you notes, the photos, are all part of the healing process and new connection.
──Could you tell us a bit about how you keep Loose Ends running? What are some of the difficulties?
We’re a small but mighty team, with 1.5 paid positions, a volunteer tech team, and a board. We rely on individual donations and corporate sponsorships to cover operating costs - our budget is modest, but necessary.
We just lost our primary corporate sponsor, which went out of business in February 2025 - their support funded 80% of our operating budget but we are diversifying our fundraising efforts.
Sometimes managing communication across time zones and languages can be a little tricky, but we’ve figured it out.
Finally, the emotional impact can be intense. We’re witnessing grief, legacy, and love in every project and each is unique. It’s beautiful, but can also be hard to be present with others’ grief.
──I’m sure many yomirisu readers would like to know how you can become a finisher.
We’d love for your readers to join us! Just go to LooseEnds.org and click “Become a Finisher.” You’ll be asked to share which crafts you’re comfortable with, and some details about your experience. From there, we’ll be in touch if there’s a good match in your area—or for a project that can be shipped. Tom Daley, former Olympian diver known for his knitting skills signed up as a finisher too, which we were thrilled about!
We’re working on growing our international reach and making our platform more accessible. We’d love to offer resources in more languages, connect crafters across continents, and support more types of handwork.
──Any messages to our readers?
Grief does not see boundaries, and crafting is everywhere. We’re so excited to connect across oceans and cultures through the universal language of handcraft. Whether you’re a knitter, crocheter, quilter, or other textile artist, your skills can help bring comfort and closure to someone.
©Winky Lewis
Masey Kaplan and Jennifer Simonic
Founders of the Loose Ends Project. Both have been lifelong crafters with earlier careers as educators, artists and caregivers, the experiences of which have contributed greatly to the foundation of Loose Ends’ activities. Currently, there are plans to start connecting woodworking finishers with projects left behind. For more information check out their website and Instagram.
Website:
https://looseends.org
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thelooseendsproject/