How to Make a Bear Paw Quilt Block
Create a classic traditional Bear Paw quilt block with our free twelve-inch Bear Paw block quilt pattern.
The Bear Paw quilt block is a classic and well-loved quilt block pattern.
This post has been updated from a previous version
About Bear Paw Quilt Blocks
It is composed of a combination of squares and triangles arranged to resemble the shape of a bear’s paw, with each “paw” typically featuring four small squares and four half-square triangles.
The design is then framed by a larger square, which forms the base of the paw. You can also have Bear Paw quilt blocks with six or eight half-square triangles.
The Bear Paw block is believed to have originated in the 19th century and is often associated with pioneer times in America. The block’s solid and angular lines evoke the idea of a bear’s claws; a symbol of strength and survival.
Twelve Inch Bear Paw Quilt Block Pattern
Equipment
supplies
- 1 Fat Quarter Background Fabric
- 1 Fat Quarter Paw Fabric the white text fabric on my block
- 1 Fat Quarter Paw Claw Fabric the stripe fabric on my block
- 1 Large Scrap Center Fabric
Instructions
Cut:
- From Background Fabric:4 pieces 2 1/4” x 2 1/4”4 pieces 2” x 5 3/4”8 pieces 3” x 3”
- From Paw Claw Fabric:8 pieces 3” x 3”
- From Paw Fabric:4 pieces 4” x 4”
- From Center Fabric:1 piece 2” x 2”
Step One: Create Half Square Triangles
- Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of your two 3” x 3″ background fabric pieces.
- Layer one 3” x 3” Background Fabric piece with one 3” x 3” Claw fabric piece right sides facing.
- Stitch 1/4″ on each side of the line you drew.
- Cut apart along the line.
- Open the fabric piece and press the seams towards the darker fabric.
- Trim and square up to 2 1/4” x 2 1/4”
- Note: you will trim quite a bit of fabric off.
- Repeat until you have 16 Half Square Triangle units.
Step Two: Assemble Corner
- Sew two half-square triangles together as shown in the diagram. in step 3.
- Repeat this with two more half-square triangle units.
- Sew one set of units to the side of the 4” x 4” Bear Paw Fabric as shown.
- Sew one 2 1/4” x 2 1/4” piece of background fabric to the remaining sewn half-square triangle unit.
- Sew this piece to the bottom.
- This will create the lower left-hand corner of the block.
- Repeat three more times to create the other corners. All of the corner pieces are assembled the same way, but if you are working with directional fabric, use the assembly diagram below to ensure that all of your fabrics face the correct direction.
Step Three: Assemble
- Sew the block together as shown in the diagram.The 2" x 5 3/4" pieces of background fabric are the rectangles in the diagram.
Design Notes
I made this block harder than I needed it to be because I chose to make the triangles out of striped fabric.
When you create half-square triangles out of striped fabric, one triangle has stripes facing one way, and the other has stripes facing the other way.
When you construct your block, you must ensure that all of the stripes face the same direction. The side triangles had horizontal stripes for my block, and the top and bottom blocks had vertical stripes.
It seems like this would be a simple process, yet somehow, I messed it up several times!
Bear Paw Quilt Ideas
While the traditional Bear Paw block is made with a single “paw” in each corner of a large square, this block has many variations.
You can create a Paw-only quilt block, as shown above (the block is made with Christmas fabrics). You can find a 6″ Paw Quilt block tutorial at Diary of a Quilter.
Some quilters choose to make a four-patch or nine-patch center instead of a single square, or they may use different colors and fabrics to create a more modern or scrappy look.
The block can be set together in a grid or used as a focal point in a larger quilt.
I used pieces from a 10″ precut stack to create this Giant Bear Paw Baby Quilt.
For my Riley Blake Block Challenge blocks I chose to create a similar design and stitched all of the blocks into a Bear Paw Sampler Quilt.
I also wanted to share this amazing bear paw quilt by Heidi Staples. I love her color choices and how she combined a bear paw block with a log cabin block.
Big Bear Cabin Quilt by Heidi Staples
More Classic Quilt Block Patterns
- Churn Dash Quilt Block Pattern
- Nine Patch Quilt Block Pattern
- Log Cabin Quilt Block Pattern
- Shoo Fly Quilt Block Pattern
- Friendship Star Quilt Block Pattern
- Sawtooth Star Quilt Block Pattern
- Economy Quilt Block Pattern
You May Also Like
- If you’re new to quilting, check out our list of resources for beginning quilters.
- How to Choose Colors for your Next Quilt Project
- Guide to Precut Fabrics
Could we use the half square triangle paper on these? I see they have one that finishes at 2 1/4. Thank You.
I don’t know, I’m sorry, I haven’t used that paper before.
Would it be possible for your patterns to be fixed where we could save them and not have to print them out? I’m trying to be less wasteful with paper these days.
Thank you for sharing your talents in constructing blocks!
Hi, I’m sorry I can’t do that – when I offered them as PDF’s people were selling the files! The print button seems to be the best way to allow an easy way for you guys to follow the directions, but try to maintain some control over the patterns. You could start a Pinterest board and save the links, then just print them off when you’re ready to sew.
the five stars will not hold. so *****
thank you