The Work Done: May 2026

Brice Gaston
45 minutes ago
6 min read

Community, Mentorship, and Moving Forward: May at MTCF

May brought the end of the school year across the Houston area, but it certainly did not bring an end to our community momentum. From supporting local school clubs to expanding our holiday reach and sitting down for meaningful conversations, May was a month focused on strengthening connections and laying the groundwork for the future.

Here is a look at what we accomplished together this past month.

Supporting the Next Generation of Makers

As the school year wrapped up, we wanted to do something special for our two active school programs: the Hamilton Elementary Crochet Club and the Tomball High School Fiber Club. To ensure these young makers have plenty of supplies to keep creating over the summer without needing to run to the store, we threw them a mini Fiber Festival.

Students were able to go shopping for free among MTCF’s stash of high-end yarn, the very same yarn we featured at our major public events in March. Every student walked away with a bag full of goodies for their summer projects. We are incredibly proud of these kids and look forward to seeing what they create during the break and into the next school year.

Additionally, we were able to support Kate Wells and her crochet club by providing a new collection of storage bins. This donation allows Mrs. Wells to keep the club’s materials, supplies, and loaner tools completely organized. Projects like this are made possible entirely by our supporters who donate funds or buy yarn at our events. We truly appreciate the fiber community for making these essential behind-the-scenes resources a reality.

We also want to give a massive shout-out to the Tomball High School Fiber Club. Back in March, they decided to tackle a club-wide project: a collaborative crocheted afghan. They successfully finished the project, creating a stunning blanket made from squares contributed by individual club members. The afghan will be kept as a memento for the club and will be on display at their upcoming events.

Sharing the Journey: Veterans Unmasked Podcast

On May 12th, I had the privilege of sitting down with Remy McNamara from the Veterans Unmasked Podcast. Veterans Unmasked is a fantastic nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the unfiltered stories of veterans, first responders, and their families.

During our conversation, I had the opportunity to share my personal mental health journey through quilting, crochet, and knitting. We talked about my time in the military, the impacts of service, and my retirement from the Air Force. Most importantly, we discussed how MTCF fits into the greater mission of connecting veterans with the tangible mental health and wellness benefits of the textile arts.

The episode is scheduled to release on June 8th. In the meantime, you can visit the Veterans Unmasked website and follow their social media channels, Facebook/Instagram, to check out Remy's incredible archive of episodes and support their mission. Keep an eye on our own social media channels as well, as we will be posting direct links and updates the moment the episode drops.

Expanding the Pathways Stocking Project to San Antonio

Every year, our annual Pathways Christmas Stocking event brings handmade holiday cheer to children in the foster care system. Thanks to early planning by Matt and Brice, along with incredible support from our community, this year is going to be our biggest yet.

We are expanding our scope beyond Houston to include the Abilene office, the Pathways rehabilitative homes, and the residential ranch outside of San Antonio. This expansion is possible because of material donations from MTCF followers and great partners like GRS Creations & Fabrics.

We are currently planning two distinct stocking events, one in Houston and one in San Antonio, to support more than 225 children across Texas. We are always on the lookout for holiday fabric to keep this initiative growing. With your help, we can keep pushing toward our ultimate goal of ensuring every child in foster care receives a stocking.

Building Bridges and Finding Focus

Sometimes progress is not measured by the number of events on the calendar, but by the strength of the relationships we build. This month, we spent valuable time with two mentors who helped keep MTCF moving in the right direction.

First, we met with Dr. Terri King of Fiber Arts Houston to discuss the local textile scene and how MTCF can best integrate into the wider community. Dr. King is always a wealth of information and motivation, and we look forward to collaborating on upcoming regional initiatives.

We also met with our good friend Tania Andrews, a licensed therapist with extensive experience working with youth and adults. Tania’s insight is incredibly valuable as we tailor our school programs and volunteer opportunities to better support personal well-being and creativity.

We are thrilled to announce a joint partnership to bring one of Tania’s original designs to life. We will debut the Tania Shawl on June 9th at the Stitch n' Bitch event hosted by Brazos Bookstore (See below for details!). This free crochet pattern was designed by Tania and brought to life through MTCF to benefit students who are ready for the next step in their crafting journey. It will be available as a free download in our online store after June 9th.

Material Support and Giving Back

Our partners at Fabric Forge went above and beyond this month with a sizable donation of textile fabric to MTCF. We are deeply grateful for their continued generosity and look forward to finding new ways to align with their mission of empowering the community through education and leadership.

Finally, we are continuing our work with Montrose Grace Place (MGP) to bring textile hobbies to youth experiencing housing insecurity. During a recent visit, we met Danni, a former program participant who now works at MGP. Danni has been crocheting for years, and her journey of giving back to her community is incredibly inspiring.

We are donating a large supply of thick, chunky blanket yarn to Danni, which she will craft into warm winter items. These finished pieces will go directly to Tracey’s Closet at MGP, a vital resource where youth can access necessities like clothing, toiletries, and shoes.

To help fill Tracey’s Closet with even more warmth, we are asking our followers to consider purchasing a completed quilt through GRS Fabrics to donate to MTCF. All quilts are currently 20% off, and GRS is offering an additional discount for anyone purchasing a quilt specifically for this drive. Just let them know it is for MTCF, and we will handle the delivery to MGP during our next volunteer shift (July 15th!). Your contribution directly provides comfort and security to a young person who truly deserves it.

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.

Saturday, June 13

Join us at Paradigm Brewing from 1:00 to 4:00 PM for International Knit in Public Day!

Paradigm is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, great outdoor spaces, and excellent food, making it the perfect spot to hang out and craft together. Whether you are working on a knit, crochet, quilting, or sewing project, bring your current work and geek out over the fiber arts with us. We want to build a space where everyone feels welcome to pull up a chair, talk shop, and share the craft.

Please RSVP HERE so we can give the venue an accurate head count and reserve enough space for everyone. We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday, June 15

On Monday, June 15th, we'll be heading over to Barbarossa Coffee at 21943 Gosling Rd Suite 100, Spring, TX 77388 from 1-3pm! Join us with your project, enjoy some fresh drinks, and sit back and relax!