My Astounding Results….Random Acts of Crafty Kindness
A few months ago, I was moved to commit to doing a “Random Act of Crafty Kindness”. The idea was to make something small but lovely and gift it to a stranger. The results were incredible.
My Free Chevron Lace Romper Pattern Includes instructions for this gorgeous scarf!
The whole project, from start to finish, took longer than I expected it to. It wasn’t about the size of the gift I was crafting (I chose a light-weight infinity scarf), but more about my reservations. For some reason, putting myself out there in a crafting way felt scary. All sorts of scenarios and what-ifs were running through my head. Things like, “What if the person I give it to doesn’t like hand-made?” and “Should I just walk up to someone on the street? How do I even go about this?”
I let the fear and nerves I was experiencing put me off for a while…..and all the time, my finished random gift was sitting there ready to find a new, random home.
The thing that finally pushed me into motion, amusingly enough, was the big move my family was about to make. We were moving from Colorado to Hawaii. With no fall season in Hawaii, I knew I HAD to find a home for the infinity scarf before I left. So I started to plan.
I decided my best plan of action was to leave a little note, along with the scarf, in a random place. My first thought was to sneak it onto the table at a restaurant after I ate dinner. I planned for this all evening a few nights before my family was set to leave. I even went so far as to take the scarf with me in my purse. Somehow, dinner with friends made me forgetful, though, and I left the restaurant without giving it a single thought.
The Scarf Ready to be Found!
Luckily, as I was chatting on a park bench with a close friend, I suddenly remembered my mission! I told her all about it, and we decided my best opportunity, at this point in the evening, would be to leave the scarf and note on someone’s car. So when we got back to the restaurant, I picked the little white truck parked next to me in the parking lot, tucked the note under the windshield wiper, and left the scarf.
It was actually harder than I thought it would be. I kept second guessing myself….”What if this truck belongs to a man and he has no one to give it to?” “What if the scarf isn’t as cute as I think it is and the owner of the truck hates it?” “What if my lovingly hand-made scarf ends up in the trash?” This was really the question of the hour. With my commitment to the random act, though, I turned on my car and drove away. I never expected to hear about or see that scarf again.
In a world of social media, though, something incredible happened.
Such a Small World!
The next morning, I received this text from my friend.
Beautifully enough, a gesture I never expected to hear about, or really even think about again, had turned into something spectacular.
As my friend was scrolling through her Facebook news feed the next day, she had come across this post:
“Last night David and I had an evening out. This is a fairly rare event and it was quite enjoyable. I actually wore a dress with little heels and even make up!
First we attended an art opening of a dear friend and then headed to our favorite Paonia restaurant for dinner. We had a glorious dinner and a nice wine. It was nice to actually be with humans instead of dogs for a while!
After dinner we headed to the car and as I’m getting settled and putting on my seatbelt David says, “What’s that on the windshield?”
I’m like, “What?” That’s when I saw something white on the driver’s side windshield on the outside.
I get out and grab what looks like a crochet neck warmer with a note. As I read the note I was very taken aback at the oddity of it all.
I read it out loud to David and he says, “So what are you going to do?”
I’m looking around as if I’m on candid camera to see who might be lurking in wait and watching my reaction. I looked at the crochet item more closely and said, “It’s very soft and probably will look pretty cute with a jacket in the fall. I’m going to keep it!”
Thank you whoever you are. And I can guarantee this is a once in a lifetime experience.”
The post included a couple photos……
The Note I Wrote.
The Scarf I Left on the Truck.
Now isn’t that something!? I didn’t comment on the post or let her know it was me. After all, this was supposed to be Random! I did, however, get a lot of joy knowing that she would use the scarf and was excited to receive it <3
I doubt most people ever hear the outcome of their Random Acts of Crafty Kindness (after all, I did live in a rather small town). I do think that each act is appreciated greatly, just as this one was though.
So what do you think? Are you going to take the challenge and do a Random Act of Crafty Kindness too? Leave a comment on this post letting me know!
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8 Comments On “My Astounding Results….Random Acts of Crafty Kindness”
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I do this, but with a specific item. I made up the pattern myself and have it for free on Ravelry. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hearty-4
I have made hundreds and given them away, mostly to people who have gone out of their way to be helpful. They are fun to tuck in pockets or leave on the table with the tip at restaurants. Kids love them! Don’t give them to kids under 3 as they might put them in their mouth! I have little paper tags (think fortune cookie fortunes) that say “You are appreciated” that I leave with them when left anonymously.
I have been crocheting prayer shawls for many years, giving them to anyone in need. Since moving to Florida in February I have donated crochet toys to Jessie’s Place, an advocacy center for abused children and I am currently working on a pair of afghans for a pet rescue. A lot of people have asked me why I do it. My answer: God gave me the talent to crochet, my grandmother taught me how to use it. Neither one asked for anything in return. This is my way of paying it forward. And to tell the truth I think I get as much out of giving as do the recipients. I’m a “crochet-y” old (a young 60) and proud of it!
That is a Wally near ideal,I started doing my act if kindness about three months ago. You see I make these ruffle scarfs with yarn purchased from just about everyone I find to purchase from, anyway I go for my nightly coffee at the waffle House by my Apt. Along with me I take my work, anyway to make a long story short while sitting there, there was an older lady sitting there just watching me work on the scarf, she waited for about thirty minutes before she finally said, I’m on disability, but if my funds weren’t so tight I would but one of those from you, we walked out a couple of time to smoke s cigarette while she still talked about moving home made things, and how there just sent enough people out there that make homemade things anymore, she asked me where I purchased my yarn so I told her. Well she had gotten up to go to the restroom, and as I watched her walk slowly toward that way, I got up and went outside, I knew witch care was gets because she went to it to get her cigarettes when we went out, so I asked the waitress for a pen, grabbed a napkin went outside by her car, and wrote, This is a gift for you, and may God Bless you in all ways, I open the rest for and day it on the back seat, and sitting there was her jacket, so I knew she would see it soon as she hot home and took her jacket out to take inside. Anyway it’s been two weeks now and this same lady came into the coffee shop wearing her scarf last night, I was really happy to see that she really liked it, and the fact that she was smiling and posting and moving her scarf around on her neck and shoulders, when someone else stepped up to get and ask where she got such s beautiful scarf. She told them she had been sitting in this same spot a couple weeks earlier and meet this last that was making them, she said I told her how much I adored her work, I’m not sure but I think she’s the one that have it to me, so I’ve been coming here going to see her work on something so I could thank her. She said see my eyes aren’t that God anymore so I don’t think I’ll ever find her again unless I see her working on something, she explained how she found it with the note she said can you imagine she wrote it on a napkin, but I should like to find her and pay her for the hard work I watched her out into it, or to at least thank her for it. But the lady she told this to knew it was me she was talking about, thank goodness she just looked my way and smiled and told the last I’m sure she gave it to you from her heart, and meant for you just to have it. That night I watched her walk out and she was just happy as a child in a candy store because she had gotten some candy. Vicki
That is a Wally near ideal,I started doing my act if kindness about three months ago. You see I make these ruffle scarfs with yarn purchased from just about everyone I find to purchase from, anyway I go for my nightly coffee at the waffle House by my Apt. Along with me I take my work, anyway to make a long story short while sitting there, there was an older lady sitting there just watching me work on the scarf, she waited for about thirty minutes before she finally said, I’m on disability, but if my funds weren’t so tight I would but one of those from you, we walked out a couple of time to smoke s cigarette while she still talked about moving home made things, and how there just sent enough people out there that make homemade things anymore, she asked me where I purchased my yarn so I told her. Well she had gotten up to go to the restroom, and as I watched her walk slowly toward that way, I got up and went outside, I knew witch care was gets because she went to it to get her cigarettes when we went out, so I asked the waitress for a pen, grabbed a napkin went outside by her car, and wrote, This is a gift for you, and may God Bless you in all ways, I open the rest for and day it on the back seat, and sitting there was her jacket, so I knew she would see it soon as she hot home and took her jacket out to take inside. Anyway it’s been two weeks now and this same lady came into the coffee shop wearing her scarf last night, I was really happy to see that she really liked it, and the fact that she was smiling and posting and moving her scarf around on her neck and shoulders, when someone else stepped up to get and ask where she got such s beautiful scarf. She told them she had been sitting in this same spot a couple weeks earlier and meet this last that was making them, she said I told her how much I adored her work, I’m not sure but I think she’s the one that have it to me, so I’ve been coming here going to see her work on something so I could thank her. She said see my eyes aren’t that God anymore so I don’t think I’ll ever find her again unless I see her working on something, she explained how she found it with the note she said can you imagine she wrote it on a napkin, but I should like to find her and pay her for the hard work I watched her out into it, or to at least thank her for it. But the lady she told this to knew it was me she was talking about, thank goodness she just looked my way and smiled and told the last I’m sure she gave it to you from her heart, and meant for you just to have it. That night I watched her walk out and she was just happy as a child in a candy store because she had gotten some candy. Vicki sorry it should say I opened the back door of her car and hope you can make it through the rest of the typing errors to understand this all.Thank you
Sorry but the first line of mine should read that is a really neat ideal, can’t spell on this phone unless you do it slowly, like it can’t keep up with my typing.
I love your idea!!! And it’s nice to know your random gift was appreciated!!! I am going to do the same thing!!! I live in NJ…it is COLD here in winter and I love to crochet scarves!!! (I don’t WEAR them much myself though.) I buy clearance yarn ALL the time, so the cost won’t be so much.
Years ago, when I decided to stop doing craft shows I donated finished items as well as supplies to a local church women’s group who craft for charity. I was so surprised to see a thank you note in my mail a few days later with the signatures of over FIFTY women! Over the years when I “destash” all craft stuff goes to them. (They LOVED when I moved a few yrs ago! LOL!)
Once, I had made a bunch of kids blankets that didn’t sell (people don’t want to pay for your time…this we all know!) So I took them all to the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, NJ. It was just before Christmas.I said,”It’s bad enough to have a sick child. Then add having to stay far away from your home while the child is in the hospital. And it’s CHRISTMAS time on top of that! Give these blankets to the families who are staying here this Christmas.” They were VERY surprised I was giving so many blankets away.
My mom worked at a hospital in the office of radiation oncology. She would sometimes tell us about how the chemo patients had to sit in the chairs for hours getting their chemo.I started crocheting CHEMO CAPS from Fun Fur and like yarn. I made tons and tons. My mom would take them in and give them to one of the nurses for patients. My daughter was 3, so she had to model every one before we gave them away. LOL The pics are priceless! LOL I also made some kid blankets for my mom to take to work and give to the nurses to give away to kids as they saw fit.
A few years ago I made some easy fleece blankets and gave them to a friend who does a ton of charity work, and said “Give these to somebody who needs them.” I also gave her a dress coat I no longer wore. It was quite expensive and had a mink collar. It went to someone who appreciated it.
Try this!!!! I have done random acts of “craft couponing” many many times. Now that I have a smartphone I don’t need to use the paper coupons for the craft stores. So when I get my JoAnn Fabrics ads (and others)I cut them out anyway and give them out randomly in the store. People are SO surprised when I ask “Do you need a coupon? Before the smartphone I would print myself out a few coupons to use and print a bunch to give out. Let me tell ya….the few times I DIDN’T have a coupon some lady would walk up to me and say DO YOU NEED A COUPON? And I would laugh and say YES!!! And tell her how I am ALWAYS giving out coupons!!!LOL
Being kind DOES come back to you!!!! Keep up the kindness!!!
My random act was while I was at a craft fair and a girl in tne booth next to me needed a baby shower gift but had no money on her (she was selling little bird houses made from gum wrappers). But hadn’t sold any. So I gave her a little hat, mittens and booties set. She gave me a tiny birdhouse. I am always giving things away as I make them .lol.
My Random Acts of Crafty Kindness has another name…. Pay it Forward. Last Winter I was lucky enough to be in Florida for the especially bad winter that we had. But most of my friends weren’t so lucky, so what I did was to help keep them warm by making ear warmers for four of them with a thick warm yarn. They are foster mothers for a rescue and take the dogs out for walks every day, and were very happy to get the surprise package in the mail. Each thanked me so much for the gift and it made me smile to know they were happy to get my crafty gift.