Saturday, March 16, 2024

Hen & Chicks Bears Paw Block 10






Bear's Paw is another classic and simple quilt block.  The paw always looks proportionately large compared to the claws.  This is one that I would love to modify to insert sampler, string or crumb blocks into that space.  I have seen some stunning quilts made with one block in multiple sizes with the smaller blocks inserted into strategic spots in the larger blocks.  So many ideas and not enough time to try them all!  

The subunits are pretty simple this time.  One large purple square, one small background square and 4 HST units.  Use whichever method you like for these of course.  I will include sizes for the two at a time method in the cutting chart.

Each pair of claws gets sewn together first.  Side by side for the top claws and top to bottom for the side claws.   Notice the orientation of the diagonals.   The direction of pressing doesn't matter much yet, but I pressed the seams toward the purple.  
Now it is just a 4 patch.  Sew the background square to the top row and the side claws to the large square.  then sew the two rows together.  In this case I pressed the seams on the side claws toward the large square to minimize bulk which mean that the top claw seam went toward the small white square.  
Here is your final block.  Can't you just picture another block nestled in place of that solid square?

 

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