Loose Ends Project
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fibre arts, Crafting |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Masey Kaplan, Jen Simonic |
Area served | Worldwide (65 countries) |
Key people | Masey Kaplan, Jen Simonic |
Number of employees | Part-time assistants (number not specified) |
The Loose Ends Project is a non-profit entity classified as a 501(c)(3) that was established in 2022 with the mission of completing unfinished fibre arts creations left behind due to illness or death.
Background
In September 2022, Masey Kaplan and Jen Simonic founded the Loose Ends Project to assist those coping with loss. Both experienced knitters, they had previously been approached to finalize crafting projects abandoned by deceased family members. The concept originated during a reunion at Carnegie Mellon University when they received crafting materials from a friend’s late mother, which included incomplete blankets. Kaplan also drew inspiration from her maker’s journal, which contained detailed project plans.
At first, awareness of the initiative was spread through flyers placed in coffee shops. Support came from the craft retailer Jo-Ann Stores, which ran a "round-up" donation program between 2022 and 2024, allowing Kaplan and Simonic to dedicate themselves full-time and employ part-time assistants. In 2023, the Loose Ends Project was honored with the Interweave Top 20 Award.
Process
This initiative pairs volunteer "finishers" with handmade works that remain incomplete. By 2025, more than 28,000 volunteers from 65 countries had contributed expertise in disciplines such as knitting, crochet, embroidery, rug-making, tatting, and quilting. Volunteers specify their location and interests and provide their services free of charge, covering only postage when no local finisher is accessible. Kaplan and Simonic coordinate assignments utilizing a spreadsheet. The volunteer base significantly surpasses demand; in 2024 alone, over 2,500 projects were finalized—equating to roughly one project for every twelve volunteers.
Individuals who own unfinished pieces ("holders") upload photographs, project information, and a brief biography of the original artisan. Typically, materials and items are shipped to finishers along with any available patterns; completed items are then returned to the holders. Finishers frequently indicate their starting point to clearly differentiate their contributions from the original creator’s work. In cases where patterns are absent, finishers make creative decisions and may modify projects if recipients have outgrown them. Some volunteers expand their capabilities or logistical arrangements by learning additional skills such as yarn dyeing or organizing transport for large equipment. Kaplan and Simonic strive to match participants who live nearby to encourage community building within the crafting network.
Works cited