Creating the Charming 54-40 or Quilt Block

Hey there, fellow quilters! Today, I have an exciting quilting project for you—a classic and charming 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block!

But before we delve into the magical world of quilting, let me share a little story with you. Once upon a time, in a quaint little village, lived an adventurous quilter named Emily.

Emily loved exploring different quilt block patterns and had a particular fondness for the 54-40 or Fight design. This block reminded her of a mesmerizing starry night, and she adored the way the colors played together.

Inspired by the beauty of the night sky, Emily decided to create a tutorial for the 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block so that others could experience the joy of making this stunning block.

The 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block is a captivating design made from two basic units: four patches and triangle in a square units.

The block is based on a 3×3 grid, and it offers endless opportunities for creative exploration. With the right color choices and contrast, the star points in this block shine brightly, creating a beautiful visual effect.

Materials Needed

Before we begin, let’s gather the materials needed for this project:

1. Background Fabric: One 2″ x 17″ strip for corner four patches, One 2″ x 4-1/2″ strip for center four patch.
2. Fabric A: One 2″ x 17″ strip for corner four patches.
3. Fabric B: One 2″ x 4-1/2″ strip for center four patch, Four 3″ x 4″ rectangles for triangle in a square units.
4. Sewing machine and thread.
5. Pins.
6. Ruler and rotary cutter.
7. Paper pieced patterns and templates (links provided in the tutorial).
8. Iron (optional, for pressing).

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

Step 1: Download Paper Pieced Patterns and Templates

The Triangle in a Square (TiaS) units in the 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block are paper pieced for accuracy. Click on the links provided below to download the PDF pages for printing the patterns and templates. Make sure to print them at the correct size by setting the ‘Custom Scale’ to 100% in the Adobe print menu.

1. 3″ TiaS (print 1 copy for each block)
2. Templates for 3″ TiaS (print 1 copy; the templates are reusable)

Step 2: Cut the 54-40 or Fight Patches

Follow the cutting instructions below to prepare the fabric pieces needed for the corner four patches, center four patch, and triangle in a square units.

Corner Four Patches:

• Background: One 2″ x 17″ strip
• Fabric A: One 2″ x 17″ strip

Center Four Patch:

• Background: One 2″ x 4-1/2″ strip
• Fabric B: One 2″ x 4-1/2″ strip

Triangle in a Square (TiaS):

• Background: Four Template A
• Fabric B: Four 3″ x 4″ rectangles

Layer the rectangles of Fabric B in pairs of right sides together. Cut through the layers along the diagonal line of Template B to create left and right triangle patches.

Step 3: Assemble the Patches for a 54-40 or Fight

Corner Four Patches:

1. Stitch the two 2″x17″ strips together into a strip set measuring 3-1/2″x17″.
2. Subcut the strip set into eight 2″ wide units.
3. Sew them into four four patches, each measuring 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″. Press and set aside.

Center Four Patch:

1. Stitch the 2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles together into a strip set measuring 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″. Press.
2. Subcut the strip set into two 2″ wide units.
3. Sew them into a four patch unit, measuring 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″. Press and set aside.

Triangle in a Square (TiaS): Trim the paper pieced units to a perfect size of 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.

Step 4: Assemble Your 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block

1. Lay out your units to create the 54-40 or Fight quilt block design, paying attention to the orientation of the four patches.
2. Sew each row together, pressing the seam allowances towards the four patch units.
3. Pin the top row to the middle row, stitch, and press. Repeat for the bottom row.
4. Congratulations! You have completed your 54-40 or Fight quilt block, measuring 9-1/2″ square.

Variations on a 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block:

Quilters love to experiment with block variations. Here are some captivating options based on the 54-40 or Fight design:

1. Grandma’s Star Quilt Block: This two-color version is also known as Grandma’s Star, Nine Patch Star Quilt, or Railroad Quilt. The four patch units form chains on the diagonal that run in one direction.
2. Garden Patch Quilt Block: Another two-color variation, where the four patches form chains that cross the block. It is also called Garden Patch, Texas, or An Old Fashioned Pinwheel.
3. Bird of Paradise Quilt Block: This version requires three fabrics, and the crossing chains formed by the four patches are almost disguised by the color placement.

Oops! A Lesson in Color Value

Choosing the right color value is crucial for the success of the 54-40 or Fight quilt block. Emily learned this the hard way when her first attempt didn’t quite work out as planned. The star points almost disappeared into the four patches due to lack of contrast.

The lessons learned:

1. Ensure enough contrast between fabrics for all elements of the design to shine.
2. Make a sample block before finalizing fabric selection.

Use as an Alternate Block:

In our short video, “Quilt Layouts 101”, you can see how we paired the 54-40 or Fight block with a Mrs. Brown’s Choice block to create a dazzling quilt design. The possibilities are endless—let your creativity soar!

Full Pattern: Click Here

And there you have it, fellow quilters—the fabulous 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block! The combination of four patches and triangle in a square units creates a mesmerizing design that resembles a starry night.

With a variety of variations to explore, you can truly make this block your own. So, gather your fabrics, download the patterns, and embark on an exciting quilting journey to create stunning 54-40 or Fight blocks!

Enjoy the process, and happy quilting!