On 22 January, a symbolic event was held to mark the Day of Unity of Ukraine: the presentation of a crocheted map of Ukraine, which has been officially entered into the Book of Records. The artwork, titled “Stitched Ukraine”, was created by various craftswomen from all corners of the country. It symbolizes the unification of Ukrainians even in the darkest of times, faith in the liberation of occupied territories, and the bright future of a free, unified Ukraine.
The event was opened by the Museum’s Director General, Yurii Savchuk. “It was no coincidence that the Unification Act of the UPR and WUPR was signed on 22 January; it marked the first anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Our ancestors understood the integral link between Ukraine’s independence and the unity of its people. Today, we have our own state thanks to the principles and ideas established back then,” the Museum head stated, emphasizing the significance of the Day of Unity.
Museum guide Rostyslav Dudenko delivered an informative presentation on Ukraine’s historical journey toward national unity.
The initiator and organizer of the “Stitched Ukraine” project, Olena Masentsova, shared the origins of the idea and the challenges she faced during its realization. Ms. Masentsova highlighted that the participants were craftswomen who had been forced to flee their homes due to the war; for them, crocheting became a form of therapy. At one point, she realized that everyone collectively wanted to “crochet peace,” sharing cherished dreams of ending the war, restoring territorial integrity, and returning home. “Many women wanted to crochet the specific region they were from, where their home once was. The remaining regions were claimed shortly after. The finished pieces were sent to me by mail, and here in the capital, we ‘stitched’ our Ukraine together. I never imagined the project would gain such public resonance and be recognized by the Book of Records.”
Other participating craftswomen — Nataliia Melnyk, Nina Maliarchuk, Olha Nesterenko, and Tetiana Didenko — also joined the event. They shared their personal stories of how the war affected them, the difficulties they encountered, their experiences of forced migration, and how crocheting gave them the strength to cope with these challenges.
The moderator of the event, Iryna Uzhakova, organized an interactive session for guests and participants: everyone could attach written wishes or reflections to a projected map of Ukraine following the profound event.
The meeting concluded with the official handover of the record-breaking “Stitched Ukraine” map to the Museum’s permanent collection. From now on, this monument of folk craftsmanship and symbol of our unity will be preserved for future generations at the Museum.
