Quilting Affection Designs: Island Batik Ambassador Vintage Reimagined

The month of March for the Island Batik Ambassador's challenge project was called Vintage Reimagined. We are taking old vintage blocks and quilts and inspiring them into new creations. The block I chose was the 54-40 or Fight Quilt Block.

A History lesson on the 54-50 or Fight Quilt Block goes back to the election campaign of James Polk in 1844, the slogan for his campaign was 54-40 or Fight. Many women of the era would stitch their political views into blocks due to they weren't supposed to voice their opinion at that time. Polk wanted to expand the country to include Texas, California and all of Oregon. Oregon border latitude was 54 degrees and 40 minutes, so he made his rallying call "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight." He did become our 11th United States President, but he didn't win the 54th parallel.

Also, this Block is a Studio 180 Design BlockBuster Block, the only difference from the original block and the Blockbuster is the color placement and the placement of the V-Block Center.

The block itself is made from 4-Patch and V-block units. The V-Block has many names, Triangle in the Square or Tri-Recs units; it depends on the tool or technique you are using. I call them V-Blocks since I work with the Studio 180 Design V-Block® tool.

The Island Batik fabrics I used for this project was mainly from batik foundations which include Neutrals, Basics, and blenders. The gold fabric wasIsland Batik scraps I had from a previous years project.

With this block, I needed Dual-Colored V-Blocks units. The center would remain the background color, and green and gold would turn to be the side pieces. All my pieces were cut using the Studio 180 Design V-Block® Tool.

Next, I made the 4-Patch units. The Studio 180 Design Four Patch Square-up© tool for creating your Four-Patch units. Many of us who have been quilting a while, know it is hard to get the perfect Four-Patch unit. With this tool, you make your units slightly oversized and then quickly trim them into the correct sized Four-Patch units.

With making four patch units, you will cut strips of each of the colors you will need in your four patches. Positioning your strips right sides together, stitch down the long edge of the strips with a good 1/4" seam. Then press the seam of the strips sets to the dark. Cut your strip in half crosswise and nest on of the strip sets so one the colors are opposite the other color. You will then sub-cut along the strips using the same width you cut your strip at.

Remember to keep the sub cuts together. You then stitch down the long sides of the layered pairs. This is a great time to chain piece all your pairs. Press to one side, and spin the seams will help to make your unit lay flat.

Then using your Four Patch Square Up© tool, you will trim up the unit since your four patches are slightly oversized.

You will have a perfect Four-Patch unit every time when you use this method. If you would like more information or want to purchase this tool check the Studio 180 Design website.

Once you have all your units made, just layout the 3 x3 grid and stitch all the units into rows. And then stitching the rows together.

For my project, I made four blocks with sashing pieces stitch all around the blocks. My quilt measures 36" x 36" when complete.

I quilted this quilt with Hobbs Heirloom Premium Cotton Batting.

I hope you enjoyed this little project, make sure you check out the other Island Batik Ambassador Vintage Reimagined Projects this month. Already planning out we have something planned exciting for our April projects, so stay tuned.