On February 24th, just after the Russian attack on Ukraine began, the cross stitching YouTube channel Cup of Stitches posted a video update on the situation in Kyiv.
“My mom and I,” she says, “we decided to stay in Kyiv because it’s virtually impossible to leave the city right now because of the traffic jams. They closed the sky – the airport’s aren’t working. So we’re stuck. But we decided not to panic, and we stayed home.” Then she pauses, lets out a small laugh, and says, “And I started a new cross-stitching kit, because I decided that this was the only thing that would keep me kind of calm.”
A cross-stitch pattern might seem inconsequential during a time of war, but Cup of Stitches’s video shows just how important these kinds of crafts can be to the victims of this conflict. Both inside and outside of Ukraine, crafters have taken up their needles and yarn in support of the cause. Some are crafting to show solidarity with the Ukainian people, while others are actively raising money for refugee efforts in Ukraine, and still others are sharing patterns by their favorite Ukrainian-based creators to help get money directly into the hands of citizens.
One Pagan cross-stich designer who goes by Witch’s Garden Crafts is selling a pattern called “Sunflower Seeds for Ukraine.” It was inspired by the now-viral incident of a Ukrainian woman confronting Russian soldiers by telling them to “put sunflower seeds in your pocket so they grow when you die.”
“There is such big crone energy in this woman saying to the Russian invaders: Here are these sunflower seeds, put them in your pockets and beautiful flowers will grow from your corpse when you die trying to invade our country,” said the designer. “I love her fierce courage – what a role model she is for us all.”
The designer has a history with working with non-profits, so she knew there was a great energy to be tapped into the collective giving, and letting people be part of the giving process, then seeing what they accomplish together. “I believe Hekate gave me the pattern to share with other cross stitchers to help the displaced people of Ukraine.”
All proceeds of her pattern (minus the fees charged by the hosting platform) go directly to the UN Refugee Agency. As of March 3, she had raised $15,201.61 in donations for UNHRC.
Another crafter who has shared their pattern of solidarity is Anthony, the creator behind One Point Mind. He shared his cross stitch design freely saying he was inspired by the “unprecedented and brutal attack on Ukraine.”
As he struggled with his feelings, he was inspired by the tradition of embroidery among the Ukrainian people and created a cross-stitch pattern that he “could practice contemplative stitching on.” Woven into the design are elements with traditional meaning in Ukrainian embroidery, including the cross, which is protection from evil; the white dove, which is a symbol of peace; and the square, which represents well-being and peace.
Anthony asks that each person who creates their own version of his pattern “offer a prayer of strength and support, while reflecting on the challenges facing the Ukrainian people. Pause periodically, breathe, and envision a world at peace and in harmony. Then continue infusing each stitch with strength and support.”
Crafters are also sharing designs by their favorite Ukraine-based designers as well. One design being shared widely is by Etsy seller CuteFoxyShop, who resides in Poltava, Ukraine. Their “Glory to Ukraine” pattern shows their signature cat in the colors of the Ukraine flag.
Yarn magicians on the popular craft site Ravelry are not sitting on their hands, either. Multiple designs are popping up on Ravelry in support of the Ukrainian people. Crafters are sharing patterns such as Deborah Tomasello’s solidarity hat and Knittinglotta’s “Pray for Ukraine” mittens. Another mitten pattern, created by Maria Naslund, features traditional folk embroidery designs. And Danela Muhlbauer takes the idea of “standing with Ukraine” a bit more literally than most with a knitted sock pattern.
Vasilina Vlasova Kult worked with artist Ekaterina Goncharova to create a pattern she calls “Bird of Peace.” Gabby Jerome was inspired by the story of the brave Ukrainian soldiers who stood up to the Russian Warship with her NSFW pattern.
Pagan users on Ravelry are contributing to fundraisers on the platform. One of these is Trish Hoskin‘s Fundraiser for Ukraine, which features a cute teddy bear pattern and is raising money for the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine campaign.
StudioHappyToys is an Etsy crafter located in Kyiv, Ukraine who has noted on her page that, due to the invasion of Ukraine, they have had to suspend international shipments from their shop. However, crochet patterns are still available. “Thank you for supporting my small business in this terrible time,” her statement reads. “It means the world to me.” Her patterns, such as this crochet pattern for an anatomical heart, all bear a “Support Ukraine” label that many Ukraine-based shops are using to indicate a purchase directly goes to a Ukrainian shop owner.
Another crochet pattern maker, MisterDomestic, is donating 100% of his sales on his new sunflower pillow pattern towars Ukraine Relief Fund through CARE organization. Here he is describing it:
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For those who practice the meditative art of beading, BoutiqueVP of Kharkiv, Ukraine has a variety of beaded earing patterns. The purchase of any of these go directly to her and her family. Cross-stitcher Stitchy Princess simply asks people to send prayers for peace in her country. She’s currently running a sale “for a little joy at this scary time.” She has multiple Witchy and Pagan patterns, including several Baba Yaga designs and multiple Witch Cross Stitch samplers.
Sewers can support TOTOshopUA, based in Kyiv, who creates apron designs for all ages and sizes.
There are also many Ukrainian-based shops on Etsy that sell digital downloads of a myriad of patterns. This TikTok explains how to identify digital downloads from shops located in the Ukraine.
@daniellekirk731 Tips on how to support individual Ukrainians! #greenscreenvideo #SupportUkraine #Ukraine #ShopUkraine ♬ original sound – Danielle Kirk
Lisa Hoshowsky, the owner of Curio Cabinet Crafts, is a crafter of Ukrainian descent who was moved by her family history to create her own design.
“As someone who is safe in Canada it feels hard for me to articulate my feelings and emotions knowing what is going on and how many people are so negatively and significantly affected,” she said. “Since art and creating is a way for me to express myself and channel my emotions into something positive I turned to it and created this piece.”
Hoshowsky’s piece incorporates motifs, patterns, symbols, and colors from traditional Ukrainian crafts, and was inspired by the sunflower as they are the country’s national flower. Sunflowers “represent the sun, joy, and happiness, things I am wishing return to Ukraine.”
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