A Scrap Quilt and Bear Paw Block Tutorial

Scrap quilts. My quilting heart belongs with scrap quilts! There is no denying that I have a lot of fabric scraps (and fabric) and I love every single scrappy piece, no matter how small. My scraps are unfortunately not well organized; they are not sorted, not pressed, nor neatly folded. Instead they are stored in two large plastic tubs which I scrounge through regularly in search of "that one piece ..." which has to be in there. In other words, my scraps are out of control.

And so it began. Time to tame the scrap bins.This quilt design is a traditional Bear Paw block alternated with a patchwork square; squares and half square triangles, that's all. Working with small half square triangles was fiddly but once I found my sewing rhythm, working in batches of 10 Bear Paw blocks at a time, it seemed to come together quickly. Let me also say that I did turn to my fabric stash to add a balance of color and prints to this quilt top.

QUILT STATS:

180 blocks 

90 plain squares

90 Bear Paw Blocks
12 rows each of 15 blocks

360 Half Square Triangles

990 Patchwork Pieces

Quilt top measures 54 inches x 67.5 inches.

QUICK BEAR PAW BLOCK TUTORIAL:

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS for a 4.5 inch finished Bear Paw block:
(Cutting instructions)
1 square 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches
1 square background (low volume fabric) 2 inches x 2 inches
AND for Half Square Triangles:
2 squares background (low volume fabric) 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches
2 squares contrast fabric 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches

Piecing Half Square Triangles (HSTs):

Take one square of low volume fabric and one square of contrast fabric.

With a pencil and ruler, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the light color square. With right sides together, layer the lighter square on the darker square and stitch a 1/4" seam on BOTH SIDES of the drawn line. Cut apart on the drawn line (you  now have two HST units) and press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.

Repeat with the remaining 2 squares. Trim all four HST's to measure 2 inches x 2 inches.

Piecing the Bear Paw Block:

(1/4" seam allowances used throughout)

Sew the Half Square Triangles (and the 2" square of low volume background fabric) together in the following sequence and unit orientation:

2 block unit.
3.5 inches x 2 inches.

3 block unit.
5 inches x 2 inches.

Press seams either to the dark or to the light fabric. I have pressed my seams towards the lighter fabric in this instance as it resulted in less bulk and allowed for nesting of the final seam.

Sew the 2 block unit to the 3.5 square (press seam towards the square), then sew the 3 block unit again pressing the seam towards the square.

Block measures 5 inches x 5 inches (including seam allowances).

Make 90 Bear Paw blocks - or however many you require for the size quilt you would like to make. Alternate the Bear Paw block with a 5 inch square of fabric.

Lots of photos! 

Any questions?  Please feel free to ask by leaving a comment, and I will explain/clarify by reply comment.

Edited to add: Cutting instructions for 2 more Bear Paw Block sizes:

7.5 Inch FINISHED Bear Paw Block:

For each Bear Paw Block cut:
1 square 5.5" x 5.5"
1 square background (low volume) fabric 3" x 3"
For the Half Square Triangles:
2 squares background (low volume) fabric 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches
2 squares contrast fabric 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches
(Trim the HST's to measure 3 inches x 3 inches)
Block measures 8 inches x 8 inches - including seam allowances.

9 Inch FINISHED Bear Paw Block:
For each Bear Paw Block cut:
1 square 6.5" x 6.5"
1 square background (low volume) fabric 3.5" x 3.5"
For the Half Square Triangles:
2 squares background (low volume fabric) 4 inches x 4 inches
2 squares contrast fabric 4 inches x 4 inches
(Trim the HST's to measure 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches)
Block measures 9.5 inches x 9.5 inches - including seam allowances.

Happy Sewing,

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Scrappy Bear Paw Quilt - A Finished Quilt

More Red Pepper Quilts Tutorials

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