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Community & Culture

Block Swap

An organized exchange where quilters make and send blocks to each other according to agreed-upon rules.

A block swap is a community event where multiple quilters each make one or more quilt blocks to an agreed design, fabric palette, or theme, then exchange them so each participant receives blocks made by others. Swaps can be small (two people trading a single block) or large (50+ participants in a round-robin-style exchange). The NiftyFifty quilt swaps are large-scale block swaps where one quilter from each US state contributes a block representing their state. Swaps build community, expose participants to different fabrics and skills, and produce unique quilts that couldn't be made alone.

Related Terms

Quilt BeeA small group of quilters who meet to work on each other's projects in rotation.Round RobinA collaborative quilt project where each participant adds a border or section to another quilter's center, passing it along until it returns to the original maker.Quilt GuildAn organized group of quilters who meet regularly to share skills, swap fabrics, and celebrate the craft.

Practice makes perfect.

NiftyFifty connects quilters from all 50 states through block swaps, bees, and quilt-alongs. Great place to put new techniques to work.

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