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Photo courtesy https://www.facebook.com/ThePeytonHeartProject
On October 8, 2014, my 13 year old son, Peyton James, came home from school and attempted to take his own life. Five days later on the 13th, he succumbed to his injuries and was declared brain dead. My world changed forever that day. The pain that a parent goes through when losing a child is indescribable. Knowing how I felt that day, and every day since then, I have made a promise to myself that I would do what ever was in my power to keep another parent from experiencing the pain I live with daily.
Peyton was bullied for most of his days in school. His red hair, freckles, small build and quirky personality made him an easy target. All he ever wanted was to be accepted for who he was, but instead, he was pushed, shoved, called names and harassed. When he was 12, he was also diagnosed with depression. When all of the bullying and depression became too much for him, he chose to take his own life rather than live with the pain.
In February of 2015, I was contacted by an incredible lady named Jill Kubin. Her Daughter Emily was involved in the Hats for Hope Initiative, and she asked if I would allow them to hold a hat drive in Peyton’s name. I was honored, and the drive took in over 500 hats for the homeless and under resourced.
Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/ThePeytonHeartProject
Jill’s next idea was even better. Her and her daughter’s Emily and Julia were leaving small knit or crochet hearts with a positive message attached around their town. Once again, she asked if they could call the project the #PeytonHeartProject. The idea is simple but elegant. People find the heart, look up the hashtag and see the message behind them. They also get to see our message which is to bring awareness to bullying, suicide and mental illness.
I agreed, and became involved. I began leaving hearts around local restaurants, stores, the mall, and any where else I could think of. I also began to post to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter hoping to raise awareness. One of my Facebook posts caught the eye of Christina Hammond, editor for StitchandUnwind.com. I told her about what #PeytonHeartProject was about and she agreed to help. I am looking for any one that knits or crochets that would like to help. Even just a few hearts would make a world of difference, and would help carry on Peyton’s legacy of just wanting to make people happy.
Editor’s Note: I’m glad to help in honor of Peyton, as this is a topic near to many of us. Below you’ll find a collection of free knitting patterns and free crochet patterns to help you make hearts to leave around. I’ve already made a few with scraps I’ve had sitting around. I leave them wherever I visit the local Starbucks, Target and even the gym. If you do want to make a heart or two, please tag #PeytonHeartProject in your message attached so whoever finds it can learn more.
To participate, make your own hearts and tags with your favorite heart pattern. They don’t have to be knit or crochet, but since we are “Yarnies,” we go with yarn around here. Make a little tag with an uplifting message to the recipient using one of the quotes from their website, including the hashtag #PeytonHeartProject on there so people can find more information later. Leave it anywhere you think someone might need a little smile, or even give it to someone directly if you know they need a little extra boost. You never know what the person who receives the heart is going through, so this might the little bright light that keeps them going. Have fun!
If you’d like to create a bunch of little hearts and send them along to Peyton’s father to distribute, please contact ThePeytonHeartProject on facebook to learn more.
Free Heart Knitting Patterns
Be Mine Heart Garland – modify to be a single heart easily!
Free Crochet Heart Patterns
Christmas Love Heart Ornaments – Ready to hang anywhere!
Where will you leave your #PeytonHeartProject token?
David James
Latest posts by David James (see all)
- The Peyton Heart Project - August 12, 2015
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Where is this happening? Which country? I’m in South Africa
This is all over the world – you can do it there too – make a heart and leave it somewhere for someone to find. You never know what the person who finds it might be going through, so a little smile to brighten their day could mean the world. Have fun and THANK YOU!!!
I would love to crochet up some hearts. I have a pattern that is awesome and I make up the hearts in many sizes. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
In the FAQ on Facebook, I’m told to send a message to the inbox to get started. I don’t know how to do that and I’m not a Twitter. How to get the information to get started?
8. Can I start something like this where I live?
Yes. Please inbox us if you want to make your hearts and tags and we can send you the file that has the quotes and the hashtags.
Thanks, Catherine
I believe this means to send a message to the #peytonheartproject facebook page.
Hi-Thank you for your interest in being part of our project. You can reach us by email at youaretrulybeautiful@yahoo.com if you are having trouble with the message feature on Facebook. We have a quotes file we would need to get to you if you want to make and scatter hearts where you live. ~~Jill Kubin, Creator of the Peyton Heart Project
I would love to send some hearts, to whom do I mail them to and also do I make up my own saying?
Thank you. Nancy
Nancy – you can make your tag say anything uplifting, but include the “#PeytonHeartProject” so people can look it up and find out more. Contact David on the facebook page linked in the article to find out where to send them.
Our email is youaretrulybeautiful@yahoo.com. If you email us we can send you the quotes file you would need for the tags if you want to make and scatter hearts where you live. ~~Jill Kubin, Creator of the Peyton Heart Project
Our mailing address is Sidewalk Smiles Campaign, ATTN Peyton Heart Project, PO Box 2374, Morristown, NJ 07962-2374. This is where we have people sending hearts.
I want to help. I have a knitting/ crochet group that I can get to help in our town too.
This is such a beautiful idea. I can share on Facebook and let my knitting friends aware of this wonderful project. Do we add our own message to the tag?
You can make your tag say anything you think a stranger would love to hear. THANK YOU!!!
Please email us for the list of quotes for the tags at youaretrulybeautiful@yahoo.com. Thank you.
I’m up for making some hearts! My thoughts and prayerds are with you. I’ve watch my niece and nephew being bullied for several years and see the horrible way it affects them both. I love this idea! Feel free to contact me.
This is such a sweet project…I will start making and leaving hearts…thank you
Hi, this is David, Peyton’s father. For those who don’t have Facebook, you can email me at products4peyton@gmail.com.
We have a file we can send you with the quotes for the tags. I will be happy to send it to you.
Would love to be part of this please send me the quotes for the tags I live in Newfoundland So very sorry for your loss
I felt so sad when I read about your son Peyton my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Yes yes absolutely yes
Please forward the instructions, quotes and hashtag information for #PeytonHeartProject
Email me at products4peyton@gamil.com and I can get you all of the information you need.
I would be honored to be part of Peyton’s Heart Project. When my daughter was in high school (she is now in her first year of college), she was part of the ‘popular crowd’. However, through her efforts and the type of person that she is, she made sure that she did her part to try to stop the bullying in her school. She was part of inviting guest speakers to come to the school to speak and did whatever she could to make it known that her and her friends would not tolerate anyone getting bullied under their watch. Her efforts brought the attention of the news crew in to interview her and her friends and I couldn’t have been more proud of her and her message. I have been an avid crocheter for over 40 years and would love to be able to carry on that message in our town by sharing Peyton’s story and by leaving the hearts around to hopefully brighten someones day or even just to let them know that they are not alone. My heart goes out to Peyton’s parents. No parent should ever have to feel that loss of a child especially when it is brought on by someone elses meanness and ignorance. This is a wonderful way to start showing the world one heart at a time, that there are people out there that do care.
David, I would love it if you could also send that file to me. I meant to ask in my comment, but forgot to. Thank you and my prayers go out to you and your family.
I left a message on Facebook. I will have hearts on the way in the next week or two. I will also start leaving them around the Denver area. I got the tags and my crochet hook is poised and ready.
David, My heart is aching for you and your family. Too young and too beautiful to be gone so soon. I have a daughter who suffers from depression. It is not an easy life. Please know that I think about you and Peyton every time I look at my daughter. This is a good thing you do to make as many people aware as possible. Making the hearts is something I can do to raise awareness. I hope it helps.
What if we’re not on Facebook, how can we get access to the quotes? Can someone email me that info?
Icrochetinoh@gmail.com
Thanks
Sorry I should have read all of the replies.
May I ask a q on this blog? I Am an Australian knitter and just recently subscribed to this site. I am not sure what is meant by yarn weight eg (4). Is this the ply of the wool? Iam used to patterns saying 4, 8 or 12 ply as a rule. Or should I be guided by the needle guage? I like to use many different yarns not necessarily what the pattern suggests. Thanks in anticipation. I love the massive variety of patterns available on this site.
I would love to help out by making hearts for Peyton’s project. Please send me the information so I can get started. I feel very close to the matter. For I was one of those kids that got bullied. I know how it felt to be picked on all the time for being different. I am now 50 yrs and live in a nursing home due to my illness. I am so sorry about your child. God bless you all for doing this awareness of bullying.
While walking along the Boardwalk in Ocean Grove, NJ, I found a lovely little heart hanging on a fence in the dunes. I read Peyton’s heartbreaking story and I just took him into my heart. My red hair has long faded to grey and my freckles have long since become my friends, but I remember being called Freckle Face as a child. I am a Teacher of Children with Special Needs and I will make it my mission to promote the Peyton Heart Project within my school Community to foster Anti- Bullying Behavior. May God hold Peyton in the Palm of His Hand.
I have just seen one hanging in my local waitrose in guernsey, channel islands. As a knitter I will be copying to produce more. Brilliant, simple idea.
Hi,
I am planning to be dropping off some yarn hearts in Seattle here soon so I hope you see those pop up as well. I have step-kids but one has been hurt by bullies and sadly one is a bully – which we are strongly working with. I told him this story to let him know what can truly happen with the actions he is choosing. He has taken it to heart and has helped out with the crocheted hearts and tags of encouragement.
I am sending you lots of love, hugs, and encouragement during this month.
Sincerely,
From Seattle.
Instagram : keeks.wanderer
I was a lucky person this past weekend, while leaving the grocery store in Cartersville, Georgia and found one of the lovely inspirational hearts by the coupons bin. It brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eyes when I learned of the meaning of the heart. It now hangs in my rearview mirror as a reminder to be kinder to all. The project is amazing and sends an inspiration message to all. I will be joining the project and do my part to bring awareness for Peyton. Prayers are with his family and all who are in the situation.
Please reword the sentence in the blog that says “Make a little tag with an uplifting message to the recipient,” We don’t want people writing their own quotes for this project. We have quotes on our website that we ask people to please use. Our website is http://www.thepeytonheartproject.org. I mentioned this in a previous post but not everyone will be reading the comments and therefore many won’t realize that they need to get the quotes from our website. Thank you.
Thank you..I love seeing all the hearts in Alpena, MI..it makes someone smile every time they locate one..sorry for your loss.. knowing someone is smiling down on us..
I found one hanging while out for a walk I have it on my fridge as a reminder .