The Contemporary Bear Paw Quilt Block - A Review - Quilt Pattern Library
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The Contemporary Bear Paw Quilt Block – A Review
Hi!
It’s class time again, and this week I took Sue Beevers’ “Contemporary Bear Paw Quilt Block” class, on the Creative Spark platform. This class is marked as an Adventurous Beginner class, and Sue demonstrates this classic quilt block very clearly and makes it easy to follow along with, as she shares a bunch of different variations.
Sue is an enthusiastic teacher, and her love of this Bar Paw quilt block and all its design possibilities shines through, in this easy set of step by step lessons.
As Sue says, this block is based on a 9-patch block, with three parts – the pad, toes and background. This means that this is an easy block to resize and modify, to create all sorts of variations.
Included with this class is the full pattern too for Sue’s contemporary “Dancing Bear Paws” quilt, and aside from all of the different block patterns, there is a good discussion on how to choose your fabrics for a quilt like this, to create a cohesive look for your own quilt.
The patterns are clear, and easy to understand.
Sue explains how to change this classic block up, and how to divide the 9-patch grid to make all sorts of block variations.
Some of the many variations are fun too – try a Bear Paw quilt block with a border –
Or add a square to the pad.
The Double Bear Paw makes for an interesting block,
And the magic of combining and rotating blocks is well covered too.
This is a great class for beginners to tackle, as you work through these lessons and do the homework assignments, and you build Sue’s quilt step by step as you go.
Sue’s tips on how to quilt these blocks were well thought out too. She feels that as these blocks are quite geometric, that “simple stitches with a geometric feel” both suit the style of the blocks, and the contemporary feel of this quilt. Hers was quilted with echoed straight lines making shapes in the negative spaces of the background, which adds a lovely textural dimension to this quilt.
If you’re after some good piecing practice, and are looking for a quilt block challenge, then this class is worth checking out on the Creative Spark Platform here.
I do have one free class to offer this month too, to a lucky reader, courtesy of Creative Spark, and Sue Beevers. If you’d like to explore the classic Bear Paw quilt block further, please leave a comment below and let me know what you love most about this classic block. One name will be drawn at random next Tuesday 24th June.
Good Luck, and Enjoy your Week!
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I like the way that a Bear Paw looks. I have not made one yet but have a couple of patterns that have it.
This looks amazing
I would love to explore this class
I have always wanted to make a bear paw quilt. I love how it can be resized so easily. The block is instantly recognizable but has so many design options. I would love to win this class on Creative Spark!
I collect bears and this block is one of my favorites so I have made several Bear Paw quilts. I’love to see what Sue has come up with to change them up!
This classic block changes with what ever color you decide to use and design. Let your imagination go and have fun.
Hi Jody,
Thank you for this, it looks very interesting and maybe not too difficult to achieve for eye-catching results.
Will be looking it up.
Kind regards.
momma bears unite! so many possibilities for beauty!
Love the bear paw quilt!! I have one I started but I made one block backwards so I have to fix it. Caught it before it went in the quilt. Anyway I put it aside and haven’t touch it since. You’ve motivated me to get it out and work on it again! Thanks!!
I don’t call myself a quilter per se but this one might just tempt me!
I made a traditional bear paw quilt several years ago and it was fun but I like all the variations Sue shows and would like to try it again.
The versatility of the block is great. It looks totally different just by changing which fabrics are used.
I have this block on my list of ones I want to make. I have never seen so many variations like Sue has in her quilt. Would love to learn how to do those.