Love Rises
In the Spring of 2022, against the backdrop of war, women who fled Ukraine as refugees came together in Poland to create. The work of knitting provides dignity and normalcy during wartime, and women transform their shared space into a community of healing as they talk about hope amidst grief and loss of war.
Becca and the CCJ along with Susan Ferguson the US Director, and Maryna Bohun the Ukrainian Director, created the Love Rises knitting cooperative as a way to bring women together to knit and create community. Love Rises is a justice enterprise knitting socks and blankets to reflect hope through landscape patterns in soft color palettes. Each knitted item holds a story of connection, of a single thread of yarn that is carefully hand-woven into a new product, and of connection between women refugees and the world.
Love Rises Blanket
When you come visit the CCJ, one of the pieces on display is the original blanket knitted by the cohort in 2022. Each square created by the Love Rises knitters represent one of the original 5 blanket patterns sold by Thistle Farms. Once created, they were beautifully sewn together to make the first blanket. It’s a symbol of what we can accomplish when we bring community together to cultivate hope and celebrate resilience.
Since 2022, they have expanded their craft and offer knitted and crocheted products for the home in addition to the blankets and socks. A website will be available soon. You can support this project by purchasing Love Rises products at Thistle Farms or by donating with the link below.
"We are in a revolution of dignity,…we want to feel only huge gratitude to the real people who supported and continue supporting us Ukrainians. You are all among these people! 🇺🇸
Because of your help, support, prayers, and love, we feel reliance and confidence... All our knitters have a dream - to come back to their homes and be together with their relatives, people, who are alive and in safety…We all dream about Victory! “
-Maryna Bohun, Director of Love Rises
current group of knitters all living in kiev
knitters working on Christmas stockings sold at Thistle Farms
If you would like to find ways to support Love Rises, please contact us at hello@tcfcj.org