The Story of Cradle & Thread

Growing up in South Africa, a land of breathtaking beauty and deep contrasts, I was surrounded by the resilience and warmth of its people. But I also saw the struggles—children in orphanages with little more than the clothes on their backs, where even the simplest comforts were a rarity. As a young girl, I spent time volunteering in these orphanages, where I saw firsthand how something as basic as a blanket was a luxury. Many children would share a single threadbare covering on cold winter nights, longing for the warmth and security it provided. It was in those moments that I realized a blanket was more than just fabric—it was comfort, safety, and love.

As time passed, family and friends began moving abroad, creating distance that was difficult to bridge and I remembered how a blanket could provide comfort and that wrapping a blanket around yourself felt just like a warm hug and so I created The Kerry Cuddle Blanket.   I gifted friends and family Kerry Cuddle Blankets so that no matter the distance between us they would feel my love like a tangible hug.  These blankets became an extension to my arms, wrapping each of them in love.   This has become a family tradition that has been going on for 20+ years.  

Years later, I too moved away, joining my family in the USA, where I have now called home for 15 years. But no matter how far life took me, I always felt the pull to do more—to give back in a meaningful way. But how? How could I make a real impact? How could I help those children more?

That’s when I realized—it wasn’t just me who could make a difference. Everyone could. What if there was a way to blend commerce with compassion, where every customer became part of the solution? And so, Cradle & Thread was born—a company built on the belief that comfort should never be a privilege and that together, we can create a massive impact in the lives of those less fortunate.

Through our Buy One, Give One program, every blanket purchased gifts another to a child in need. While the concept of giving back through business is not new, Cradle & Thread is the first to do it with blankets—one of the most fundamental necessities for well-being.

Now, more than 20 years later, I am bringing the Kerry Cuddle Blanket full circle—back to the orphanages where it all began. Back to the children who need warmth, security, and something to call their own. Because no child should go to sleep cold.

Join me in making a difference—one blanket, one child, one embrace at a time.