I personally don’t sew.  The last time I did (9th grade Home Ec class), I sewed the dress I was working on to the shirt I was wearing.  When I stood up at the end of class…well, you can imagine.

But I admire people who do sew, creating beautiful things with incredibly high tech sewing machines, or pulling needles and thread out of cleverly shaped little baskets and getting busy with their hands.  For those of you who were born with this talent (or who were taught by someone older and wiser), there is a perfect event taking place in the Community Roon (off the lobby) at the David D. Hunting YMCA (475 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids) on Sunday, March 21 from 1-4p. 

Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warrior, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood (CraftSanity writer and podcaster, and runner-in-apron) is hosting an Apron Sew-In to support Safe Haven Ministries upcoming Apron Design contest.  Jennifer asks those who want to participate Sunday to bring their sewing machine, fabric of choice, favorite apron pattern and men’s neckties for the apron sash, if you have them.  She’ll bring the pile of neckties she has been collecting as well, and is happy to share (using men’s neckties in apron construction cleverly symbolizes male support for ending domestic violence!).

Once you have completed your apron on Sunday, you can keep it to wear or submit it in Safe Haven Ministries free Apron Design Contest which begins April 19.  All the aprons will be displayed for public viewing from April 20 to May 6 at the David D. Hunting YMCA and winning entries will become part of a traveling show to promote Safe Haven Ministries’ mission (providing shelter and services to abused women, and partnering with the faith community to respond appropriately to families affected by domestic violence).  Aprons will then be sold to raise money for this deserving charitable organization.

For more information and to read Jennifer’s blog about her project (and find out why in the world she is training — most of the time in an apron — for the Fifth Third River Bank Run on May 8), please go to http://53riverbankrun.com/blog/roadwarriors/category/jennifer/.  See you at the Sew-In!