Welcome to my Bear’s Paw Class


Accuracy equals success. Not perfection but being aware and taking steps to prevent problems before they happen.


1 Straight seams (use a drawn line to sew on if straight is hard for you).
2 Cut accurately (Trim where needed for a square square)
3 Measure constantly
4 Check each step and if it needs redone do it now not later.
5 Look at seams as you join pieces together and make sure your overall look is straight with the other seams


If you are accurate when you cut and if you are accurate in piecing the squares together you will have a good Bear’s Paw. But you have to be able to have all 4 Bear’s Paws the exact same size to make them fit together so the lines are all in line. I don’t like to see a Bear’s Paw quilt block where the Paws don’t line up across the sashings. Maybe this is a bit picky of me but I think it breaks the picture up like a cracked mirror when lines aren’t across from each other. So I am going to show you how I use my cut down method to make this happen to create a good picture.

Now there will be some waste but to get a good accurate Bear’s Paw I think it is worth it.

The second reason to use my cut down method is really probably the main reason I started using this process. It is hard to work with small pieces and this way you have more to hang onto and still get the size you want. You can use this method for larger quilt blocks or smaller quilt blocks.

You will need:

1 strip of light 1 ½” x 6 ½”
2 strip of light 1 ½” x 9 ½”
1 strip of light 1 ¼’ x 10”
2 strips of dark 1 ½” x 9 ½”
1 dark square 1 ½” doesn’t have to be exact as you will be cutting it down

Ruler and a 1 ¼” template. I like to use a 2”( or whatever size is required for the size of quilt block you are making) template to cut the paws but you can do it with a ruler. A template is just a smidge more accurate and less trouble to do.

1 sew strips
2 cut out HSTs
3 trim HSTS
4 sew pairs of HSTs together
5 sew one pair HSTs to corner light
6 sew second pair HSTs to center dark
7 trim each set of joined fabrics
8 sew center set to corner set
9 Trim both sides of HSTs to 1/4" seam allowance
10 Trim the center to square it.
11 measure

Your measurement should be based on having a good ¼” between the point and the edge. If you don’t have that then you need to fix it now. This is the place most people have trouble because they just do the steps without paying any attention to whether the fabric pieces are where they should be.

You need the HSTs to be in the same place on the center in all 4 paws. I use to just put them together and then I would find some paws would be right and some paws would be off a bit here and there. You need to measure and you need to compare the paws as you go along so they are all the same size.

So here we go!!

Continuing on....

Next week we will work on the checkbook cover. It will need a full quilt block for the center. There are options you can do with this. You can make 2 more halves and put one half on each side of the center quilt block for the top of your checkbook cover. You can use strips to see on each end of the top with the one Bear's Paw quilt block in the center. Or you can put a row of HSTs on each side of the center Bear's Paw Quilt Block. You are welcome to come up with any way you like to finish out the top of the checkbook cover. The center will be the Bear's Paw. The top will measure appox. 8" x 4 1/2"to5"

Hope you enjoy these lessons!!! I will post the checkbook lesson next Friday and then the bookmark the next Friday. I think I offered a coin purse also and I will show that one the following Friday.

Thanks everyone!! I hope you have fun!! Don't stress out and if you need any help just let me know!!!

But that won't work for a miniature. The projects I am teaching requires a smaller size than 1 1/4" So if you want to cut out a 1" HST then go for it. I do use 1" but not many are able to do that. To make a 4" Bear's paw won't work with a 1 1/4" HST. I do it this way because it makes the tiny piecing possible. This is to make it easier for accuracy. I have never had any problem with bias in any size quilt block I have made. I have used this method for almost 10 years and have made dozens of hot pads and coin purses and mini quilts with this method. This makes the tiny piecing not so scary.

Sometimes a few extra steps are worth it. But that is up to each quilter. What works for me may not work for others. I just provide my methods and if anyone wants to use them the fine and if it doesn't work for you that is fine too. Each to their own.

Thanks Rhonda.... I will start cutting the strips tonight, but going any further has to wait until morning. I'm better in the mornings. And I want to do you justice......

Thanks Rhonda - I love miniatures.

Thanks Rhonda. This is wonderful. Works beautifully!

What to do ? I do not have this tiny ruler so it makes my work easier and quiker?can i trim with 6"*12"
rorrr what is your sugestions ?
What is HSTS
Thanks

the 1/4" template is to cut out the half square triangles or HSTs blocks. I can send you one or you can use a ruler. If you know how to make a half square triangle block you can make them however you are used to making them. After you make one then you will need to cut it down to the 1" size. Does this make sense to you?

If you need the template send me your postal address in a pm. Just click on my name and then click on pm and leave me your message and I will get one in the mail to you! Thanks!!

This look like something I can do! I'm working on a postage stamp quilt, so maybe this size won't be TOO intimidating. :) Thanks for the lesson, Rhonda.

Rhonda,
Thank you so much for the 1 1/4 template I received today. I tried making the Bears Paw tonight and you all will laugh at me. I got so excited about making each one, and I had keychain on the brain....well I got all the blocks made and put them together and you know what? I forgot all about the sashing......lol But it's gonna be a keychain anyway!

Tammy

So where's the picture Tammy???? Hmmmm??? LOL We haveta see the end product!!

Okay .....now you have to remember this is my First time try so go easy on me....lol

Tammy it is terrific!! I like your color combo. I have that fabric in the center. You did a great job. Thanks for posting your pic. I hope others will too!

for those who want to know I will be going alittle smaller for the bookmark. You can trim the HST to 3/4" or even 5/8" and go smaller. Because I leave the HST longer and don't cut it into a square you still have something to get ahold of. If anyone wants to practice on this I will be using it when I post the Bookmark on Dec 1st.

If you want to use the size of bear's paw we used in this first lesson when you make the bookmark that will work too. Your bookmark will just be a little bigger than mine.

Tammy, love your block! Who says you need sashing?

Tammy it makes me think of a sun with rays coming out of it! If it was yellow it would look like a square sun! LOL Just a bit of fantasy!

Finished my bear paw, I'll wait until next week to cut it down just so I know how I want to finish it for the check book. My DH really likes this and wants me to make a bigger one. I know he loves that dessert sand color, and if I can find it from the place I first bought it, I may just make him his own quilt.

Thank you Evie

I'm laughing over here. I will keep that yellow in mind...hehe I have started cutting out another one and this time I won't get so excited I forget my sashing. :)

Katie that is Beautiful! I really like that. Great job!

Katie, that's really lovely!

It turned out great Katie! If you are using it for the checkbook it needs to be 4" or less. Can you cut it down to that size and still have a 1/4" seam allowance? I trim my sashings to 3/4" or 5/8" so the whole quilt block is smaller. If you need to do a smaller one you might try makeing your sashings smaller.

I love your colors and you did a wonderful job on this!!

I think it will be right at 4". But I might make my sashings a little narrower. But I think it turned out so cute. But then again, my decorating in my living room/dining room/ kitchen is decorated in "Native American". So who knows, I may end up making more and make them into coasters. Tons of possibilities.

ditto, isn't it amazing what different fabric, and a small border can make the same block look so different. I want to see everyone else's blocks too.

You can turn the claws into the center for a differant look too.

That's just so cool. I wonder how I can get my blocks I make in EQ6 to look more realistic like yours do. Will have to read up on that one. I thought the last block you threw in there by accident but as I scrolled the screen up and just saw half the block, then I saw the Bears Paws. Before that all I saw was squares and flying geese......lol

Rhonda, the blocks that are all turned around are different, but makes me look to see how you twisted them & it's clever how you can think outside the box. I'll have to try this when I can sew/quilt again. I'm really missing it.

Tammy I have EQ5 so I don't know if yours is similar but I presume so. I go into new block and I draw the line to make an HST. 2 triangles. Then I go back to the quilt and I set the layout for a 2 by 2 block layout. Then you go back to layer 1 and put my new block into the squares. I add my own fabrics to my library. So I use my own fabrics in most of my designs. If you need to see it I can probably do a screenshot to show the steps.

Rhonda, I will try to scan in some of my fabrics first and see how that does. I just thought maybe the fabrics that come with it would look more realistic.

I just prefer my own but I have several I use that are in the library already.

Thanks Sheila. It will all still be there when you are ready! That is the cool thing about this board. The tutorials are still there so you can do them whenever!

Okay ya'll, I think I did this one right. Whew....that was work. :)

Very nice block, and wasn't it fun!!! I had to take my sashing out, and cut it down a little so I don't cut off points of the claws when I make a checkbook cover.

Thank you Katie. Yes it is very fun. I never dreamed I'd be able to make something so small and have it match up right. Yes, I had to take that middle sashing out once cause I forgot to cut it down to 3/4" wide....grrrr I'm happy with it. Now tomorrow night I will make it into something, don't know what just yet. My daughter wants coasters so I think I'll make here some for christmas. I really like this Bears Paw. I always wanted to make one but was afraid of the points. Rhonda is such a good teacher! She gets an A+ !!

Tammy you did a wonderful job of it! It all lines up so well! That lining it up is the trick to keeping your points in my opinion. Also you have a good amt between your points and your edge. That looks terrific. One of the things I don't like about some quilt blocks I have seen is they don't give enough attention to making sure they keep that seam allowance. And then they lose the points. I am quilty of losing them if I get in a hurry and don't take the time to measure well.

You are doing great! Now when we do the checkbook cover we are going to go just a bit smaller. Not alot but a bit. I try for 4 1/2 by 7 1/2 or 6". So I like to add a small border at the top and bottom of the quilt block. If we cut the sashing a bit smaller then it gives the block just a bit more room to add the borders on and still be at 4 1/2"

If anyone is going to work on this soon you might like to know I use a 1/2" border on the bottom( measure from the seam where the border is sewn on) and a 3/4" border on the top. I sometimes end up with a checkbook cover that is a bit more generous than I like but it won't hurt if your checkbook cover is alittle wider or deeper than you intended. It will still work just fine.

Thank you Rhonda. Oh my smaller???? lol...here I am trying to let my nails grow out and they will be nubs again workin' on a check book. lol I just love making this Bears Paw though. I think they are so cute. How in the world do you make these miniature blocks quickly though? Took me three nights getting this done. But I have a hard time pulling myself away from the board cause there's so much to read and see and learn. I wish my computer was in my sewing room. I have a laptop in there but I don't have internet ran in there....yet....lol Maybe this spring I can do that if it's not too expensive. Another thing I found that helped me was I bought some Applique pins cause I thought they were cute cause they were so small. And I pulled those out tonight and they worked good for me. I tried the needle and thread but it was taking me forever I thought. But I do know you have to tack it some way to keep it from shifting. Anyway I'm having so much fun. And I thank you for all your help and teaching people it is possible to make these little blocks.

Rhonda, here's my attempt. Oh, boy, sewing these little pieces together does take patience! I think a couple of my seams are a bit crooked but I THINK I can get it to work. We'll see how that works out once you post instructions for the wallet.

Very nice Evie! I like your fabric choices. They are tiny little things to work with but it's so worth it when your done.

Looks good Evie. I like your color choices! The only thing I see is the one paw on the left bottom doesn't line up with the one on the top. It isn't much but it is up to you if you want to "fix" it or not. As long as you can get a 4" square after you trim the quilt block you would be ok to leave it if you'd rather. It is great for the first try!! I used to really struggle with lining up those seams! This method helps but I still have trouble getting them even sometimes. It is just one of those hazards that happens with this particular quilt block. If you want to straighten it I can suggest what I think would make it fall in line a little more. But You Did A Great Job on it! I love it!!

Rhona,

It looks like a bow-legged bear doing a yoga position but I cannot remember the name of it this early in the a.m.