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The Work Done: June 2026
- Brice Gaston
- Jul 6
- 4 min read
Community, Legacy, and Crafting the Future: June at MTCF
June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and it was an absolute powerhouse of a month for MTCF. From introducing summer campers to the precision of a sewing machine to forging deep partnerships that honor legacies, June was all about taking our community momentum and channeling it into real, grounded impact.
Here is a look at what we accomplished together this past month.
Continuing the Cycle of Comfort with Montrose Grace Place
Our ongoing partnership with GRS Fabrics is making it easier than ever to give back directly to youth who need it most. They have set up a dedicated link on their website where you can purchase a completed quilt for donation to Montrose Grace Place (MGP). GRS holds onto the quilts for us, and our team picks them up and delivers them during our monthly gatherings.
MGP is an incredible, LGBTQ+ friendly organization that helps homeless and housing-insecure youth access the vital resources they need to survive and thrive. These handmade quilts are placed in a special closet where the youth can choose essential items, providing tangible security, warmth, and comfort during difficult times.
Want to donate a quilt? You can purchase one directly through the GRS Fabrics MTCF Donation Page.
We are also always looking for hands-on volunteers to join us for our monthly MGP gatherings. Our next opportunity is Monday, July 13th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. If you are interested in stepping up and hanging out with these great kids, please sign up below.
Honoring Legacies: Partnering with Loose Ends
We are incredibly proud to announce that MTCF is officially listed as a partner on the Loose Ends website. Loose Ends is a fantastic nonprofit organization that connects crafters with families who have lost a loved one before a textile project could be finished. The family is matched with a "finisher" who steps in to complete the work, creating a lasting memento.
Because of this partnership, people looking to donate surplus yarn and fabric to support the Loose Ends cause are frequently directed to MTCF. Even more meaningfully, we are actively stepping up as finishers. We are currently honored to be working with a gentleman named David on the Arden Quilt, the final project started by his late wife for their granddaughter. It is a profound privilege to bring this quilt to life for David's family, so keep an eye on our social media for the upcoming reveal. To help us cross the finish line, we are incredibly excited to bring in Patrick and Thomas from Double E Quilting in Old Town Spring.
These two phenomenal makers operate the big longarm quilting machines, and we are proud to collaborate with local men from our own community to help complete such an important, meaningful piece.
A Blockbuster Night at Brazos Bookstore
Our June Stitch n' Bitch event, hosted alongside Scout & Skein and Brazos Bookstore, was a massive success. Close to 30 makers showed up with their current projects, bringing a mountain of yarn for our community yarn swap. Any leftover yarn from the tables was donated straight to MTCF, leaving us with an incredible haul for our future workshops.
On top of being fantastic hosts, Brazos Bookstore generously donated 10% of all sales from the evening to MTCF. We are deeply grateful to Kate from Scout & Skein and the entire crew at Brazos Bookstore for their generosity and support of men's mental wellness.
We also officially launched the Tania Shawl at the event. Designed by licensed therapist Tania Andrews and put together by MTCF, this free pattern is designed to help intermediate makers expand their skills beyond simple swatches.
Get the Pattern: The Tania Shawl is available as a free download on our website HERE. Download it, share it, and make sure to tag us on social media so we can cheer on your progress!
Big Stage Announcements: H+H Americas & International Quilt Festival
We are deeply honored to announce that MTCF has been invited to display at two of the most prominent textile shows in the country later this year, both happening right here in Houston.
H+H Americas (September 30th – October 2nd): We will be hosting an informational booth to share the MTCF story, advocate for the mental health benefits of craft, and network with the wider creative
business community.
International Quilt Festival (November 12th – November 15th): Located at the George R. Brown Convention Center, IQF is expanding its focus to include all fiber crafts. We will be vending high-quality donated yarn that isn't fully utilized in our educational programs, turning material donations into sustainable funding for our mission.
We Need Your Help!
To make these events successful, we desperately need volunteers to help man the booths. We want real members of our community to sit with us, talk shop, and share how the fiber arts have impacted their own well-being.
As a huge perk, all volunteers for the International Quilt Festival will receive free admission to the show on the days they volunteer. You can sign up for full days or short blocks of time. Let us know your availability, and we will find a spot for you!
Inaugural Gathering: Stitches & Dishes
We are launching a brand-new monthly gathering for the sweet-tooth makers out there. The third Wednesday of every month, we are grabbing our projects and hopping around Northwest Houston’s best dessert shops.
Date: Wednesday, July 15th
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Orange Leaf Ice Cream (12702 Grant Road, Cypress, TX)
Grab your current work-in-progress, pull up a chair, and join us for some ice cream and good conversation.
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