Knitting Towards Justice
Chaska High School Graduate, Emma Engebretson recently started an Etsy shop where she sells knitted goods. The products she sells are - scrunchies, potholders, and coasters, in a wide range of colors. Soon after starting the shop with her sisters, Lucy and Sophie, the girls decided to donate all proceeds to Black Lives Matter (BLM) and LGBTQ + organizations. Beginning in June, customers could choose where their donation went at the time of check out, if no organization was specified, Engebretson sent their donation to Color of Change. While Emma is the only one currently knitting for the shop, her sisters help in the marketing and modeling of products.
As of now, Engebretson has donated around $130 to two organizations - Color of Change and The Loveland Foundation. She will continue to donate as orders come in and are processed.
“Color of Change helps people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us,” states the Color of Change website. “As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people, and all people. Until justice is real.”
The Loveland Foundation works towards providing therapy and healing for people of color with a focus on Black women and girls.
“Our resources and initiatives are collaborative, and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. We are becoming the ones we’ve been waiting for,” states the Loveland Foundation’s website.
Engebretson is using her passion and talent to create quality products while donating all proceeds. What started as a hobby turned into a way to stand by and support her community. She will be attending St. Thomas University in the fall and is unsure of whether she will keep the site open during her fall semester. She is considering re-opening during school breaks. As long as her shop is open, she plans to continue donating the profit.
“I wanted to support the BLM movement, LGBTQ+ and the community,” Engebretson stated. “During the pandemic I didn’t feel comfortable protesting or volunteering, but I wanted to. I don’t know how I thought of [starting the donation process], but one day the idea popped into my head. I felt like it was a skill or a talent I have, that I could use for good and still support the movement.”
With 100% of the proceeds being donated, Engebretson and her family fund all of the supplies for the products out of their own pocket. Engebretson initially made a small profit to help fund supplies at the opening of her shop. All supplies are purchased from Michaels.
“It is fun to see who I know that has donated and I get to write little personal notes. It is really fun to make stuff for people I know and gives it this personal feel.”
The sisters’ shop can be found on Etsy under their shop name, Engesistersco.
