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The Work Done: April 2026

  • Writer: Brice Gaston
    Brice Gaston
  • May 4
  • 4 min read

Community, Connections, and the Path Forward


April has been a whirlwind of activity for the Men’s Textile Collective Foundation. From classrooms to local shops, our community is growing, and the impact of our shared craft is becoming more visible every day. Here is a look at what we’ve been up to and what’s on the horizon.





Supporting the Next Generation


Our commitment to local schools and youth centers remains the heartbeat of MTCF. This month, we continued our volunteer work with Montrose Grace Place, Hamilton Elementary, and Tomball High School.


At Hamilton Elementary, we officially wrapped up the Crochet Club for the school year. We celebrated with a fiber festival that brought a lot of smiles to the students. We’ll be sharing photos of that event on our social media soon. We are also working with Mrs. Kate Wells to provide new storage solutions for her crochet materials, ensuring the kids have an organized space to create.



Over at Tomball High School, their fiber club is finishing up its first year this May. We are incredibly proud of how far they’ve come. Check out their progress at @ths_crochet_sewing_workshop. They are currently working on a granny square blanket to sell. Give them a follow and show some support as they prepare for next year.


Want to get involved? We are always looking for volunteers to help at these locations. We are especially looking for new ways to engage with the youth at Montrose Grace Place. If you have ideas or time to give, reach out.


MTCF in the Spotlight


We were honored to be featured in QuiltFolk magazine this month. It is a beautiful publication that celebrates the artistry of quilting across the country. Being included has allowed us to make wonderful new connections and represent men in the quilting community on a national stage.



If you’d like to see the MTCF crew in action, you can grab a copy on their website. Use the code MTCQF38 for 20% off. It’s a great read and looks sharp on any coffee table.




Celebrating Local Yarn Stores



April 25th was Local Yarn Store Day. We spent the day visiting our partners on the north side, starting with Scout & Skein and moving through Craftique Studio, Kani Kettu and The Social Knitwork in Old Town Spring. These local businesses have been our backbone since we first started at Yarn Store Boutique. Supporting them is how we keep our creative network alive.




Looking Ahead: June Events


June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and we have a major event planned. We are partnering with Scout & Skein and Brazos Bookstore for a special Stitch and Bitch on June 9th.


Location: Brazos Bookstore (2421 Bissonnet St, Houston)

The Cause: Brazos Bookstore is generously donating 10% of all sales that evening to MTCF.

The Activity: We’ll have a yarn swap. Bring the stash you aren’t using and trade it for something new. Any leftovers will go directly to MTCF educational programs.

New Pattern Alert: We will be debuting the Tania Shawl, a new free pattern by our friend Tania Andrews. This pattern is designed to help our youth move beyond simple swatches into more advanced projects.

We are also inviting veterans to join us to experience the therapeutic benefits of working with fiber. It’s going to be a meaningful night of community and mental wellness.



Building for the Holidays


It might be spring, but we are already thinking about our annual stocking event with Pathways Youth and Family Services. Thanks to a massive donation of Christmas fabric from GRS Fabrics in Old Town Spring, we have enough material to support foster youth in Houston, their residential ranches across the state, and the Abilene branch.



This year’s goal is bigger than ever. We are hoping to involve our school programs in the sewing process. If you want to help us meet this challenge, please send us a message.



New Partnerships


Finally, we are excited to announce a connection with Loose Ends, a nonprofit that finishes projects left behind by loved ones. MTCF will be listed as a resource on their site to receive donated items. We look forward to putting those materials to good use in our community programs.


Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you are picking up needles for the first time or you’ve been stitching for decades, there is a place for you here.




How You Can Help


Our mission is only as strong as the people who help us carry it out. As a small team of two, we are looking for dedicated individuals to help us expand our reach and deepen our impact. If you have the time or skills to help us grow, we need you.


Leadership & Operations


  • Board Secretary: We need a detail-oriented person to help keep our organization organized, documented, and transparent.

  • Marketing & Graphic Design: Help us tell the MTCF story more effectively through visual and digital outreach.


Specialized Program Leads


  • Veteran & First Responder Outreach: We are looking for someone dedicated to standing up a military and first responder arm of MTCF. We want to bring the therapeutic power of textile arts to those who serve, but we need a volunteer focused on building those specific bridges and community connections. We have network connections ready, we just need someone to take advantage of them.

  • Pathways Youth Program: We are preparing to launch a program designed to help foster youth and parents bond through creative activities. We will need patient, craft-focused volunteers to help facilitate these sessions.


Ongoing Volunteer Needs

  • Montrose Grace Place: We have a consistent need for volunteers to engage with the youth at MGP. Whether you are a master crafter or just want to help out, your presence makes a difference.


If you believe in our mission and are ready to help make these ideas a reality, please reach out to us directly. Let’s build something meaningful together.


 
 
 

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