Hi, I’m Sam. I’m a crochet designer and craftivist, and this is part of my Yarn with Purpose series, where I explore how creativity and craft can make a difference.
Lately, my crochet projects have become a way of caring for my community, for the planet, and for people I’ll probably never meet. I’ve been making granny squares for Blankets for Manchester, which supports people experiencing homelessness. I’ve also been crocheting little brussels sprouts to go on Christmas wreaths for a local foodbank’s festive celebrations.
These small projects have reminded me that change doesn’t always have to be big or loud, it can start with something handmade, shared, and human.
And that realisation has connected deeply with another part of my life: politics.
Finding my place
For a while, I wasn’t sure where I fit politically. I’d been torn between Your Party (Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana’s new party) and the Green Party. To help me decide, I went to The World Transformed, a political fringe festival that used to be aligned with Labour but is now independent.
I went there to listen and learn. I attended talks by both Zara Sultana and Zack Polanski, and after hearing them speak, something clicked for me.
Why the Greens
I chose to join the Green Party for a few key reasons.
First, the Greens are already established and effective. They can hit the ground running; they don’t need to build a new political infrastructure from scratch.
Second, I was struck by how Zack Polanski spoke about the fear that so many ordinary people are living with right now. Fear about money, housing, and the future. He talked about how important it is to recognise that fear rather than dismiss it, and I think that’s vital. That fear is part of why people are being drawn toward parties like Reform.
Third, the Greens are serious about tackling inequality. They want to tax the rich, support communities, and create a fairer society.
And finally, they care for both people and the planet. When I was younger, I was passionate about animals and the environment. As I got older, I focused more on human suffering and social issues. The Green Party brings those two parts of me back together. It feels whole.
Craftivism and storytelling
What really sealed it for me was something Zack said during one of his talks, that the Greens need creatives to help tell stories that are emotional, authentic, and human.
That’s when it clicked: this is where I can help.
Through my craftivism, I’ve already been trying to do that. Projects like Tax Wealth Not Work, Your Airbnb Was My Home, and Trans Rights Are Human Rights were all ways of stitching stories — using thread and fabric to say something that words alone couldn’t.
Craftivism, for me, is about slowing down, caring, and making the invisible visible. Yarn might be soft, but the message doesn’t have to be. It can be strong, radical, and full of hope.
That’s why I joined the Green Party — to help tell those stories, to connect creativity with change, and to use making as a form of movement-building.
If you’re someone who creates, your creativity matters. It can be a way to show care, to raise awareness, to build community, or to make a statement.
Jack's Yarn Crochet Designs 