- Background (muslin)
- Dark (indigo)
- Accent (madder red)
Block No. 06 · Sashed four-patch
Bear's Paw Quilt Block
Also known as Duck's Foot in the Mud, Hand of Friendship, Cross and Crown
Part of: Half Square Triangle Quilt Blocks
The Bear's Paw quilt block pattern uses small triangle claws around four larger paw squares. This traditional nature-inspired design is also called Bear Paw, and its narrow sashing keeps the four paws distinct.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Grid
- 7 × 7
- Pieces
- 45
Chart
Cutting for a 14" block
7 × 7 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 14 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Rectangle | 4 | 2 1/2" × 6 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 8 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 16 |
| Dark | Square | 1 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 8 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 16 |
| Accent | Square | 4 | 4 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut 8 dark and 8 background half-square triangle parent squares. Cut each once on the diagonal and sew dark to background. Make 16 claw units and trim each to 2 1/2".
Step 2: Cut 4 accent paw squares at 4 1/2" and 4 background corner squares at 2 1/2".
Step 3: For each paw, sew two claw units together side by side so the dark triangles point the same way; make 8 claw pairs. Sew one pair to the side of a paw square, background corners out.
Step 4: Sew a background corner square to the end of a second claw pair and add it across the top of the paw. Make 4 paw units, mirroring them so every claw row faces the outer edges. Each paw measures 6 1/2".
Step 5: Cut 4 background sashing rectangles at 2 1/2" by 6 1/2" and 1 dark center square at 2 1/2".
Step 6: Row 1: paw, sashing, paw. Row 2: sashing, center square, sashing. Row 3: paw, sashing, paw. Press toward the sashing.
Step 7: Join the rows, nesting seams at the sashing. The block should measure 14 1/2".