Quilt Block Exchanges
The heart of the NiftyFifty tradition. Each exchange brought together 50 quilters — one from every state — to create, swap, and build quilts that tell the story of America.
How Exchanges Work
A beautiful system where everyone gives fifty and receives fifty in return.
1
Sign Up
Join an exchange during enrollment — one quilter per state. Choose a theme that inspires you.
2
Create
Make 50 identical 9-inch quilt blocks following the theme guidelines. Each block should represent your state.
3
Send one block to each participant by the deadline. Include a signature label on the back.
4
Receive & Quilt
Receive 50 unique blocks — one from every state! Assemble them into a beautiful 50-state quilt.
Past Exchanges
35 themed exchanges spanning over a decade of quilting history.
NF1 — First Swap
199950 quilters · 50 blocks
The swap that started it all. Fifty quilters — one from each state — traded traditional 12" quilt blocks representing their home states. Teresa Drummond organized the original group after a quilting magazine classified ad brought them together.
NF2 — Burgundy, Green & Cream
199950 quilters · 50 blocks
The second NiftyFifty exchange used a coordinated color palette of burgundy, hunter green, and cream. Each quilter contributed a 12" block in these rich, classic colors.
NF3 — Burgundy, Green, Blue & Cream
200050 quilters · 52 blocks
NF3 expanded the palette from NF2, adding blue to the burgundy, green, and cream combination. Members contributed 12" blocks in this four-color harmony.
NF4 — Blue, Plum & White
200050 quilters · 52 blocks
Cool, jewel-toned blues and plum on white backgrounds. NF4's 12" blocks showcased deep indigo and purple fabrics paired with crisp white.
NF5 — Purple, Yellow & White
200150 quilters · 51 blocks
Bold and cheerful, NF5 combined vivid purple with bright yellow and white. The high-contrast palette made for striking 12" blocks with real visual pop.
NF6 — Cranberry, Blue, Green & Cream
200150 quilters · 48 blocks
Rich cranberry paired with forest green, navy blue, and cream in this autumn-inspired exchange. NF6's 12" blocks brought warm, jewel-tone depth to every quilt.
NF7 — Purple, Black & White
200150 quilters · 52 blocks
Dramatic and bold, NF7 used deep purple on black and white backgrounds. The high-contrast palette gave these 12" blocks a graphic, modern energy.
NF8 — Peach, Olive Green & Cream
200250 quilters · 51 blocks
Soft and warm, NF8's Spring 2002 palette featured peachy corals, muted olive greens, and creamy backgrounds. A gentle, garden-inspired combination for 12" blocks.
NF9 — Teal, Blue & White
200150 quilters · 50 blocks
Crisp and fresh, NF9 combined teal, cornflower blue, and white. These 12" blocks have a nautical clarity that makes them perennial favorites.
NF10 — Dark Red, Navy & Cream
200250 quilters · 50 blocks
An Americana palette of dark red, navy, and cream. NF10's March 2002 exchange captured the patriotic spirit with deep, traditional colors in 12" blocks.
NF11 — Maroon, Hunter Green, Navy & White
200450 quilters · 53 blocks
A rich, four-color combination of maroon, hunter green, navy, and white. NF11's March 2004 exchange produced elegant 9" blocks in these deep, sophisticated hues.
NF12 — Batik & Fossil Fern on Black
200150 quilters · 52 blocks
Batik and Fossil Fern fabrics on black backgrounds created stunning 9" blocks with an exotic, jeweled quality. This Summer 2001 exchange showcased the rich depth of hand-dyed batik fabrics.
NF13 — Cognac, Gold & Hunter Green
200250 quilters · 50 blocks
Warm cognac, rich gold, and deep hunter green gave NF13's 9" blocks an autumnal richness. The earthy, harvest palette felt both classic and inviting.
NF14 — Scrappy
200450 quilters · 50 blocks
Free-spirited and creative, NF14 was the scrappy exchange — no strict color palette, just great fabrics from each quilter's stash. Every 12" block told a unique story.
NF15 — Black & White on White
200350 quilters · 50 blocks
Classic black and white on white backgrounds created bold, graphic 12" blocks. NF15's January 2003 exchange proved that two colors are more than enough for drama.
NF16 — Civil War Educational
200450 quilters · 64 blocks
Each quilter researched a Civil War battle, figure, or event connected to their state and made a 6" block illustrating it. NF16's March 2004 educational exchange produced a fascinating textile history of the war.
NF17 — Snowflake
200550 quilters · 51 blocks
Glow-in-the-dark fabric on blue batik backgrounds gave NF17's 9" snowflake blocks a magical quality — ordinary in daylight, luminous after dark. A beloved exchange that brought winter wonder to every quilt.
NF18 — State Flowers
200450 quilters · 52 blocks
Each quilter depicted their state's official flower in fabric — from Alabama's camellia to Wyoming's Indian paintbrush. NF18's botanical exchange combined botanical artistry with state pride.
NF19 — Redwork
200450 quilters · 52 blocks
Red embroidery on white or cream backgrounds in the classic redwork tradition. NF19's 9" blocks featured state symbols, flowers, and regional imagery rendered in a single bold thread color.
NF20 — Sunbonnet Sue I
200550 quilters · 50 blocks
The first Sunbonnet Sue exchange dressed everyone's favorite quilting girl in fabrics and accessories reflecting each state's character. NF20's 12" blocks gave Sue fifty different regional personalities.
NF21 — Native American Heritage
200550 quilters · 50 blocks
A respectful tribute to Native American textile traditions. Quilters incorporated traditional geometric patterns, earth tones, and symbols honoring the indigenous peoples of each state. NF21's Spring 2005 exchange produced 9" blocks of great cultural richness.
NF22 — Carol Doak Stars
200250 quilters · 47 blocks
Foundation-paper-pieced star blocks using Carol Doak's star patterns, executed in batik fabrics on black backgrounds. NF22's precise, jewel-bright 12" blocks showcased the precision of paper piecing.
NF23 — Amish I
200450 quilters · 50 blocks
Inspired by the bold simplicity of Amish quilting traditions. Deep, solid colors on black or dark backgrounds created striking 12" blocks that honored this timeless quilting heritage.
NF24 — 1930s Reproduction I
200250 quilters · 38 blocks
Depression-era charm in fabric form. Pastel feedsack prints and cheerful patterns from the 1930s brought nostalgic warmth to NF24's 9" blocks.
NF25 — Sunbonnet Sue II
200650 quilters · 34 blocks
The beloved Sunbonnet Sue returned for a second exchange. NF25's 12" blocks dressed Sue in even more state-specific fabrics, accessories, and regional details.
NF26 — 1930s Reproduction with Signatures
200250 quilters · 50 blocks
1930s reproduction fabrics combined with each quilter's signature on tiny 4" blocks. NF26's November 2002 exchange created a charming friendship quilt in pastel feedsack prints.
NF27 — Patriotic 9/11 Memorial
200150 quilters · 51 blocks
A heartfelt tribute to September 11, 2001. Red, white, and blue 6" blocks honored first responders, victims, and the resilience of the American spirit. Many completed quilts were donated to affected families.
NF28 — Memory & Album
200650 quilters · 50 blocks
Album-style and memory blocks celebrating personal milestones, family history, and cherished memories. NF28's 12" blocks combined traditional album block patterns with personal stories.
NF29 — Batik Butterflies
201050 quilters · 52 blocks
Delicate butterflies rendered in rich batik fabrics on coordinating backgrounds. NF29's 6" butterfly blocks showcased the luminous, hand-dyed quality of batik through intricate appliqué and paper-piecing.
NF30 — Amish II
200850 quilters · 50 blocks
A second exploration of Amish quilting traditions, NF30 continued the bold simplicity of NF23 with deeper colors and more complex geometric patterns in 9" blocks.
Classic Colonial — Revolutionary War
200950 quilters · 26 blocks
Each quilter researched a Revolutionary War battle, figure, or event connected to their state or the Thirteen Colonies and created a block illustrating it. This special exchange produced a rich textile history of America's founding era.
Twenty Plenty — International
201070 quilters · 3,500 blocks · 40 countries
The NiftyFifty group went global for the first time, welcoming quilters from countries around the world. Twenty Plenty's 9" blocks reflected cultural heritage, national symbols, and textile traditions from dozens of nations.
Brenda's Wish — Memorial Quilt
200950 quilters · 47 blocks
A memorial exchange honoring beloved NiftyFifty member Brenda Neily. Members created blocks in remembrance, producing a heartfelt keepsake quilt that captured the spirit and community of the NiftyFifty group.
Breast Cancer Awareness
200350 quilters · 50 blocks
Pink ribbons and fighting spirit. This deeply personal NiftyFifty exchange raised awareness for breast cancer research. Several members were survivors themselves, making each block a symbol of strength and solidarity.
NiftyFifty Revival 2026
202650 quilters · 50 blocks
The original NiftyFifty quilters are back — and welcoming a new generation. After a 15-year hiatus, the beloved 50-state quilt block exchange returns. One quilter per state. Fifty blocks. One extraordinary quilt.