Nifty Fifty Swaps

A Nifty Fifty swap brings together exactly 50 quilters — one from each US state. Each participant makes identical quilt blocks in a shared theme and color palette, then mails their 50 state blocks to the Nifty Fifty hostess. She will sort and mail back the blocks to the quilters. At the end, each quilter has 50 unique blocks representing all 50 states, ready to assemble into a one-of-a-kind quilt.

Since the first swap in 1997, the NiftyFifty group has completed over 30 themed exchanges, producing more than 70,000 handmade quilt blocks.

1. Enrollment — When a new Nifty Fifty swap opens, quilters claim their home state on a first-come, first-served basis. One quilter per state.

2. Theme & Guidelines — Each swap has a specific theme (color palette, technique, or subject) and block size. The swap hostess follows the general Nifty Fifty guidelines.

3. Create Your Blocks — Make one sample block for a breast cancer charity quilt. Then 50 identical blocks following the theme. Your block should reflect your state's identity within the swap's guidelines.

4. Mail — The quilters will mail their 50 state blocks to the Nifty Fifty hostess. She will sort and mail back the blocks to the quilters.

5. Receive & Assemble — Collect 50 unique blocks from across the country and assemble them into your quilt.

Nifty Fifty swaps have covered an incredible range of themes: traditional state blocks, batik fabrics, Amish designs, Civil War history, snowflakes, state flowers, redwork embroidery, Sunbonnet Sue, 1930s reproduction fabrics, patriotic tributes, and international exchanges reaching quilters in 50+ countries.

Quilting is a tradition of generosity — people sharing time, skill, and fabric with strangers. Bring that spirit to every interaction here.

Nifty Fifty is built on trust, generosity, and a shared love of the craft. The master Nifty Fifty guidelines ensures that all have a complete quilt in the end.

All participants must abide by the exact guidelines so all blocks will arrive on time and will be compatible in color scheme and size. Please keep in mind this is a large commitment. ALL deadline dates must be kept to prevent anxious or disappointed quilters! Also, please understand the commitment you are making when signing up for your state's block. If you cannot complete your blocks within our deadline dates, we will have "holes" in our quilts. The hostess will keep track of everyone’s progress on our Nifty Fifty Quilters website. If you are late with your blocks everyone in the
exchange will be aware and not just the hostess so...

IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS PLEASE DO NOT COMMIT.

And have no doubts about being dropped if you are late. I have hosted many of our Nifty Fifty Quilt Block Swaps and I find if participants are late with their sample blocks then they usually they do not follow through and our replacement quilters are much faster and reliable. Of course there are exceptions and that will be decided on a one on one basis.

Please read carefully through each section of our master guidelines. Keep in mind that each swap will have different block sizes and themes.

Each individual Nifty Fifty Hostess will follow these general guidelines. They will edit the guidelines with the details of size, theme, fabric etc. All hostess guidelines will be approved by Teresa before the swap is open to accept participants.

1. The theme for Nifty Fifty Swap #_______is _________Blocks.
2. All blocks will be _____ inch finished blocks (____” unfinished) The blocks can be hand appliquéd, machine appliquéd, machine or hand pieced or paper pieced. No on point quilt blocks allowed. We are encouraging original designed quilt blocks to represent your state. So please feel free to design your own block but it is not required.
3. Each participant will represent one state.
4. Fabric---The participant must use at least one designer fabric in their quilt block. All other fabrics must be good quality and 100% prewashed cotton. If a hostess picks out a focus fabric that the quilters must coordinate their block with then she will mail all participants a fabric swatch of that designer fabric for the quilters to use to match up their other fabrics in their blocks. And/or the hostess may pick out a common background fabric of a neutral color if that is what is required in the blocks. Depends on the theme. Then all quilters must purchase the same fabric. The hostess will give out the fabric information and options of where to purchase the fabric. This is to ensure the background fabrics will be compatible with the rest of the blocks.
5. Each participant must send a sample block by the first deadline date to be approved by the hostess. The sample block will be used for a Breast Cancer Charity Quilt.
6. Do not start your 50 blocks until you get approval from the hostess and you see your sample block uploaded to the swap photo gallery.
7. If you are late with your sample block you will be dropped from the exchange unless you have prior approval by the hostess.
8. All fabric must be pre-washed before sewing your quilt blocks.
9. We will be signing the quilt blocks with our names and representing states with fabric pens unless the swap includes signature blocks to go along with the main blocks. If there are signature blocks in the swap then they must be safety pinned to the state blocks.
10. All blocks must follow our Nifty Fifty Quality and Sewing Tips
11. Any quilter may adopt a state. But they must have some connection to their adopted state.
12. Mail your blocks to the hostess. All packages mailed to me must have a confirmation number. You must email me your confirmation number as soon as your package goes in the mail.
13. Do not keep your own block when mailing the hostess your set of state blocks. This is confusing when sorting the blocks. The hostess must have all your state blocks and you will get your state blocks back in your returning blocks.
14.The hostess will set up a system to have swap members pre-pay return postage and a return address label + a donation for the charity quilt (for the border/backing fabric, the batting and for it to be quilted) as they commit to a swap.

Our page is dedicated to successful quilt block swaps. The following instructions are for participants of the quilt block swaps and the hostesses. Be sure to edit your block size and yardage. Enjoy!!

QUALITY CHECK POINTS
1. Fabrics are pre-washed and pressed.
2. Points and seams match up.
3. Block size has added the ½ inch unfinished size to the block. The hostess will be
measuring!!
4. Seam allowance of 1/4" all around without invading
block pattern
5. Seams are straight - whether machine or hand pieced
6. Seams on the back are pressed in one direction and
lay flat unless hand pieced.
7. Applique stitching is hidden, unless intended to be
visible (i.e. button hole stitch or machine applique).
No use of fabric paints and no raw edges allowed.
9. Fabrics coordinate in color and design
10. Press your signature after signing them.
11. Be sure to stitch to the end of the seam
12. Make sure machine is in good working order
11. You had FUN doing it!!!!!!!!

SEWING AND YARDAGE TIPS
In order for your blocks to be exactly the correct unfinished size you must cut and sew accurately. Almost all quilt pattern books have basic instructions in the
beginning of the books, so if you're having trouble getting a block to size, why not go back and review the basics.

CUTTING
Make sure that you square up your fabric and do a "clean cut" before cutting your strips. Also make sure that you place the ruler on the right cutting line and when you start to cut, don't remove your hand from the ruler, but rather "walk" your hand up the ruler until the cut is finished. There are a few "How To" books on the market that just address how to rotary cut.

SEWING 1/4" SEAMS
Your seam should actually be a "scant" quarter of an inch, or just inside the 1/4"
mark you are using. Before you begin sewing you must check your 1/4" seam allowance because not all machine presser foots mark a true ¼”. Please do so by doing a practice ¼” seam on your sewing machine. Remove your sample and measure it away from the sewing machine. If it is not a true ¼” then adjust it so it is a perfect ¼" and mark this line with several pieces of masking tape along the right side of your machine. Always follow this new guideline.

YARDAGE
To figure up your yardage for each of your fabrics take the size square you need to cut and figure out how many you can cut from the width of your fabric. For example if your fabric is 44" in width and if you need to cut 6.5 inch squares you divide 6.5 into 44. I round up my inches to make it easier so I would divide 7 into 44. This will give you 6 squares per row. 7 x 6=42. Now that you know you can get 6 squares out of a row then you take the amount of total squares you will need to cut and divide 6 into that amount. So let's say you need 50--- 6.5" squares then you will need to divide 6 into 50 to find out how many rows you will need --- 6 x 9= 54. This tells you that you will need at least 9 rows. Once you get the amount of rows you will need then you take your size block again and multiply it by the rows to find you yardage. 7" x 9 =63" The result is you will need to buy 63 inches of fabric. I always round up so I would purchase two yards. This will give me an extra 9" in fabric and it is always a good idea to always purchase enough extra fabric to be able to cut one extra row in case of mistakes.

Everyone who signs up for a quilt block swap expects good quality quilt blocks in return. The great thing about our Nifty Fifty Quilt maintain this quality the hostesses are very strict in looking over the sample blocks. There has been times when a hostess has had to reject a sample block but that does not mean the quilter is out of the swap. The quilter just needs to correct the problem and submit a new sample blocks. Sample blocks will be rejected for the following reasons:

1. If the block does not follow the fabric requirements

2. If the points do not meet.

3. If the block is 1/4 inch either too small or too large from the
unfinished size.

4. If the signed name is either too large (should be no larger than 1/4
inch letters) or if the signature is in the 1/4 inch seam allowance.

5. If seams are not straight - whether machine or hand pieced.

6. If seams on the back are not pressed in one direction and lay flat
unless hand pieced.

7. If applique stitching is not hidden, unless intended to be visible (i.e. buttonhole stitch or machine applique). No use of fabric paints and no raw edges allowed.

8. If fabrics do not coordinate in color and design.

9. If the swap theme is not followed.

VERY IMPORTANT....PLEASE READ
We want the results of these swaps to be known as top quality quilts. For this to happen the hostesses may decline any sample block that does not follow our guidelines. The hostess will notify the quilter if there is an issue with their sample block. She will give the quilter time to correct the issue and to resubmit a new sample block.

Please do not feel offended if your sample block is declined. It only means that the hostess is doing her job so that everyone will receive all top-quality Nifty Fifty quilt blocks from each quilter. Please take her suggestions as positive feedback and correct any problems with your quilt blocks. These are. unique quilts and we want everything to coordinate and measure up correctly. It will be well worth your effort. Refer to our Nifty Fifty Sewing Tips if needed.

There are three deadline dates. They will not be set until the swap is completely filled.
1. Sample block mailed to the hostess--the sample block will be used for the Breast Cancer Charity Quilt
2. First set of 25 blocks with a confirmation number
3. Second set of 25 blocks with a confirmation number

Nifty Fifty Quilters are built on trust, generosity, friendship, kindness, support and compassion, all woven together with a shared love of sewing and quilting. Each Nifty Fifty quilt block encompasses a piece of those connections. They tell unique stories, and the completed quilts will be shared with warmth and love. Each Nifty Fifty quilt is a reminder that we are not alone—that our community shares compassion and friendship, even in life’s hardest seasons.