Thursday, January 5, 2012

54-40 or Fight quilt block

The 54-40 or Fight block is made using four patch units and peaky & spike units. It is set in a 3 by 3 square grid layout and uses 3 fabrics. This block works best with sizes that are easily divisible by 6. Instructions to make a 12 inch block are below.

Fabric 1 - background, green: Cut a 2½ inch strip for four patch units and a 4½ inch strip for peaky and spike units.
Fabric 2 - purple: Cut a 2½ inch strip for four patch units.
Fabric 3 - red: Cut a 4½ inch strip for peaky and spike units.



Four Patch units

  • Sew 2½ inch strips right sides together with ¼ inch seam.
  • Press seams to one side.
  • Sub cut strip set into 2½ inch 2 patches.
  • Sew pairs of 2 patches right sides together with opposite fabrics aligned using a ¼ inch seam.
  • Press seams to one side.
  • Make 5 four patch units.

Peaky and Spike units

Templates - print at 100% and cut out adding a ¼ inch seam allowance on all sides. Video tutorial.
  • Match template pieces as if to sew, lining up finished points. Trim narrow edge of piece A to size of piece B.
  • Cut template B pieces from fabric 1 alternating up and down always lining up base with strip edge.
  • To cut template A pieces from fabrics 3, fold strip in half lengthwise and alternate template up and down always lining up base with strip edge. (Note: there are 4 right and 4 left pieces for each block.) Trim narrow point to template to use as a match for sewing together.
  • Sew right A piece to B piece using ¼ inch seam, matching fabric edges and piece A trimed narrow edge. Press toward piece A.
  • Sew left A piece to B piece using ¼ inch seam, matching fabric edges and piece A trimed narrow edge. Press toward piece A.
  • Make 4 peaky and spike units.

54-40 or Fight Finishing

Sew block together as shown in layout using a ¼ inch seam. Press seams to one side.

Other 54-40 or Fight block pages...
McCalls
Quilt blog
Early Women Masters
Quilterscache

5 comments:

  1. I like this block. So many colorways you could use!

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  2. Thanks! It's one of my favorite blocks. You can put it on point and the star points have totally different look too :)

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  3. try this alternating with a shoo fly its beautiful

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  4. I'll give it a try. I love combining different blocks in one quilt. Thanks! Jeanne

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  5. What is the exact measurements across the bottom of the templates?

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