Random Acts of Fiber Kindness: Anonymous Ways to Make Someone’s Day

We’ve all had days that go from bad to worse. Nothing seems to go right and then, to top it off, your car has a flat tire. Or you remember to call to make that appointment right after the office closes. The milk has spoiled, and you’re too tired to run to the store. Holiday stress. Big things and little things alike add up and, before you know it, you’re as grumpy as can be. It’s moments and days like these that need random acts of fiber kindness.

Above: Image source – Getty Images

As knitters and crocheters, we know the mental health benefits of spending time stitching, but have you ever used that turn around a bad day? Or have you ever used your love of handcrafts to brighten someone else’s day? Today, we’re exploring a few ways you can commit anonymous random acts of fiber kindness. These are simple ways to give something special to people around you. And we guarantee it will make you feel really good in return.

“I’m Not Lost” Projects

Several years ago, scarves and other small accessory projects began popping up with tags that say “I’m not lost.” From there, the tag goes on to say that if you found the item and you need it, it’s for you. Since those first projects appeared, knitters and crocheters have formed groups within their community dedicated to making more pieces. An example is the I am Not Lost in Upstate, SC’s Facebook group. Crafters connect, recommend easy patterns, and organize donation drives. This particular South Carolina group puts their projects out in their community on January 1st, while others sprinkle items all winter long.

Related: Knitting and Crocheting for Charitable Organizations

You don’t need a local group to make this happen though! Grab a skein of yarn and knit or crochet a hat or scarf, put a tag on it, and leave it on a bench in your local park. And know you made the day of the person who finds it.

Floral Fiber Kindness

At the 2022 Loveland Yarn Fest, attendees were treated to random acts of fiber kindness. Crocheted floral motifs were found in the Interweave Lounge and a couple of other locations in the venue. When students sat down and admired the flower, a big grin could be seen across their face when they realized they could keep it.

You can make someone smile just as big with your own fiber florals! You only need a bit of scrap yarn to make them. A few places to leave them are: the library, grocery store, community center, town hall, or coffee shop.

Skein Sharing

Another fun way to make someone’s day, and yours, is with skein sharing. As knitters and crocheters, we all have more yarn than we can use in a lifetime. Each skein holds hopes and dreams of becoming a project some day. If you know you’re not going to use it, why not gift the skein to someone else? Wrap a skein (or several), put a bow on it, and give it to a fiber friend who is having a bad day.

Or, how about starting a skein sharing chain? A popular trend during the holiday season is to pay for the item being purchased in the car behind you in drive-thru lanes. The idea is that when you get to the window, you pay for the order behind you, and so on. In that vein, randomly buy a skein of yarn at your LYS and ask the owner to give it to the next person in the shop. It’s really hard to have a bad day when someone hands you a skein of yarn, right?

Do you practice random acts of fiber kindness? Share your experiences in the comments below! We love learning ways to share our love of fiber with others.

Cute Patterns to Spread Kindness