Holocaust Memorial Day: 80 Candles Quilt Project

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. I invite you join me to learn about those affected by the Holocaust and create a slow stitch patchwork memory quilt. Inspired by Holocaust Memorial Day Trusts‘ 2025 theme, the quilt will depict 80 candles, each candle will represent an individual affected by the holocaust and their story.

Participants will research and connect with real human stories of persecution, loss and survival which they will then share by creating a slow stitched square representing an individual’s story.

Holocaust Memorial Day is held on 27th January each year to remember the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. (The 27th of January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.)

Participants and supporters can take part in numerous ways:

Guided workshop: Through fully facilitated workshops participants will be guided in the process of crafting their own slow stitched embroidered square inspired by their research into an individual affected by the Holocaust or genocide.

Each square should contain a candle, the name of the individual and in some way share a little of their story.  Each square will be supported by a ‘story card’ which further shares details of the person commemorated. During workshops participants will be encouraged to share some of their research with fellow participants. Workshops are free to participate in, donations towards costs of materials and artist time welcome. Workshops: www.everystitchastory.co.uk/textile-work/workshops 

Postal Pack: For those wishing to create a commemorative square, but unable to join a workshop, creative packs are available. (Deadline for contributions Friday 29th November 2024.) Creative packs are free, donations towards material costs welcome.

Sponsorship: to help finance this project supporters are invited to donate £5 in return their name will be stitched onto the back of the quilt. The back of the quilt will contain two quotes from Anne Frank’s Diary of a young Girl “What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again.” / “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

This project is kindly being supported by Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. The National Holocaust Centre and Museum, and The Multi Faith Centre. Further sponsors and supporters are sought.