Crafting for a Cure: Welcoming Crop for a Cause to The Handmade Collective 💛✂️

September 27, 2026
Posted by Erick Solis
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Not every maker story starts with a technique. Some start with a diagnosis, and turn into something much bigger than anyone expected. That's the story behind Crop for a Cause, and we're honored to welcome them to The Handmade Collective this September.

Who Is Crop for a Cause?

Crop for a Cause was founded by Laura Machonis, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after two frightening episodes of vision loss, the second of which also left the left side of her body numb. In the middle of building a family with her husband Jim and their son Chris, Laura and her family turned toward Walk MS, and never stopped showing up.

In 2007, Laura combined two things she loves, crafting and helping others, and hosted her first "crop," a scrapbooking event built on one simple promise: every penny raised would go to charity. What began as a single small gathering grew into the Crop for a Cause Walk MS team, and eventually into MS Crop for a Cause, a 100% volunteer nonprofit foundation that now hosts more than 10 fundraising events every year for the National MS Society.

Together, the Crop for a Cause community has raised more than $800,000, with a goal of reaching $1 million.

What Crop for a Cause Is Bringing to The Handmade Collective 💛

Crop for a Cause is joining us to share Laura's story and show the maker community how a shared love of crafting can fund real research and real hope. Expect a heartfelt look at:

How a single scrapbooking event turned into a decade-plus fundraising movement
What it takes to run a 100% volunteer nonprofit built entirely around crafting
How the maker community can get involved, whether that's joining a crop, donating, or simply spreading the word

As Laura puts it: together, we can do what alone we cannot.

Follow Crop for a Cause

Join Us at The Handmade Collective

Crop for a Cause's session is part of our free 3-day virtual event, September 17 to 19. Register for the free Essentials Pass for live access, or grab the free VIP Pass for on-demand replays, exclusive giveaways, downloadable guides, and 10% off CutterPillar products.