Please urge your school, church or organization to commission a migrant quilt panel to honor the men, women and children who have perished along the US/Mexico border because of deleterious policies like NAFTA, CAFTA, Operation Gatekeeper, Hold the Line and Safeguard.      

Each quilt panel contains the names of individuals who died in a specific year in a specific sector.  For example, between 2004-2005, 279 people died in the Tucson sector (data according to Derechos Humanos).  The panel should contain all the names of those who perished, made from recycled migrant clothes found at lay-up sites in the Sonoran desert.  Los Desconocidos will provide 4 X 4 inch quilt squares, one for each individual who died while crossing to find a job, the names of those who perished, and the year and the sector. 

You will need to supply fabric to adhere the squares to.  Heavy cotton or canvass are durable and will withstand time.  Please stitch the squares to the fabric.  Please don’t use batting between the quilt and the backing so it lays or hangs flat.        

Please decorate your panel with dignity.  Please include a backdrop for your quilt, such as nature scenes, maps, symbols, etc.  Also include on your quilt the Sector and year across the top of the quilt with 12 inch letters/numbers.  You can sign your quilt at the bottom right-hand side in letters no larger than 6 inches. 

 Embroidery works well, use bright color thread so the names are readable.

Fabric Paints are great too. (If you choose to use other paints make sure they are waterproof)

Appliqué or Machine Embroidery create excellent squares.   

Thank you for your interest in The Migrant Quilt Project!