Threads and Breads

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and amid your hustle to find the right turkey and the polish the silverware, you can take time to help others in need with your sewing and cooking skills.


November 26th is National Tie One On day! Not what you might think–we’re talking about tying on a custom-sewn apron. The idea is that you tie up a loaf of bread (homemade or purchased) in an apron, add an encouraging note, and donate it to a needy family for their holiday meal. This “official” event, now in its third year, and was the brainchild of EllynAnne Geisel, author of The Apron Book: Making, Wearing and Sharing a bit of Cloth and Comfort book.

Some quilt stores and fabric stores around the country are offering special sewing events to make aprons for this purpose, but it’s something you can do on your own as well. It doesn’t take long to make a simple apron, and the bread can be baking while you sew. There are lots of fun aprons in the pattern catalogs, or you can simply copy one of your favorites for this worthy cause. We even have instructions for a beautiful monogrammed apron here on sewing.org.

Time is short for the Thanksgiving offering, but this is a worthwhile cause for Christmas and other holidays as well. Call social service agencies and food banks in your area to offer your donation, and if you’re part of a guild, recommend this worthy gesture as a group activity.

For more information on the the National Tie One On campaign, or to find a store in your area with an organized effort, visit the Apronicity site.