70273 Project Quilt
Following the Great British Sewing Bee exhibition I read several posts who mentioned the 70273 Project, I’ve never got into ‘protest quilts’ but this one touched me. I was intrigued and started to look into it and decided I wanted to make some quilt blocks for it; so what’s it about…
Jeanne Hewell-Chambers is the lady with the inspiration and the motivation to make it happen. She writes
“Between January 1940 and August 1941 (before the Holocaust began), 70,273 physically and mentally disabled people – men, women, teens, boys, and girls – were murdered by the Nazis. Though they never even laid eyes on the disabled person they were evaluating, the Nazi doctors read the medical files and, if from the words on the page, the person was deemed “unfit” or an “economic burden on society”, the doctor placed a red X at the bottom of the form. Three doctors were to read each medical file, and when two of them made a red X on the page, the disabled person’s fate was sealed. Most were murdered within 1-2 hours.
I will commemorate these 70,273 voiceless, powerless people who were so callously and casually murdered by gathering 70,273 blocks of white fabric (representing innocence and the paper the doctors read), each bearing two red X’s (representing one person), and I will stitch them together into quilts. “
70273 Project Quilt
These quilts are going to exhibitions all around the world, in the meantime Jeanne is asking for quilt blocks with just two simple red crosses on, they can be sewn, drawn with a marker pen, embroidered, anything really, so long as all that is on it is two red crosses. There are three different sizes to make so if you would like to make some too please do have a look at her website here.
October 14th is Global Block Day, the challenge is out to see how many 70273 project blocks can be made in one day. I’ve got some red ribbon ready…
thecraftycreek 
What a tragic story. The Nazi’s had ‘odd’ and strange thought processes. The meaning of human life must have been lost on them. What a great idea this is, and your quilt looks lovely.
LikeLike
I thought it was a great idea too, the photos are of quilts already made by the project, by the way, they’re not mine, I’m just planning to make some blocks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, very poignant way to remember those murdered. Yet another holocaust set of events to make you shudder. I’ll try to add a couple of blocks to the project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, that would be great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, thank you for commemorating as many of these people we honor as you’re a mind to. Or perhaps I should say as you’re a heart to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen a lot of protest quilts, or quilts with a strong message, that I love and think make a point that couldn’t be made in another medium. This project is very moving and very important!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Kerry, I think when several of these are on display together it will make quite an impact.
LikeLike
This touches my heart in a very real way, as awful as the killings were ,are the heartwarming deeds of this wonderful commemorate to remember these dear souls. Truly a day brighter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s a wonderful way to commemorate them too, lots of people around the world sewing a block to make a beautiful quilt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Great British Sewing Bee? Like the Great British Baking Show?(which I just finished watching the 1st season that was available on Netflix).
Wow I never heard of the 70273 Project, very powerful, thanks for sharing this important exhibit!
LikeLike
GBSB is just like the GB Bake Off, I think there are 3 or 4 series now, it’s given sewing a real boost here, we actually have fabric shops opening!!
It’ll be good to see some of the 70273 quilts when they go on display.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing and worthwhile endeavor. The atrocities of the Nazi’s happened because, over time, many decent folks who might have been horrified at the final happenings were neutralized by propaganda and many small steps, not realizing how far down the road they had gone. I’ve heard About the frog put in a pot of warm water heated very slowly that never jumps out, because he doesn’t notice how hot the water got!
It is so important that we remember what happened, and guard against it happening again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s very important that we remember what happened, particularly the way the world is going at the moment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for joining in with the commemorating and for letting others know how they can, too. I’m very excited about finding my way over there early next year to see Rochester Cathedral and hopefully Durham Cathedral if I can make the scheduling work out and having the pleasure of meeting as many of you delightful stitches as possible. You’re quite right: to walk into a room and find yourself surrounded by these quilts is powerful. Did you see the video of the exhibit in Lacaze, France? Thank you again for the commemorations and this lovely post.❌❌
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love to see them on display, have you thought about York Minster? I haven’t seen the video so I’ll look it up. Hope you get a few more people through my blog, good luck with the project.
LikeLike