bear claw plus

Designed by Cheryl Brickey, pieced by Paige Alexander, and quilted by Johellen George

The addition of a plus sign and alternating block color schemes into a traditional Bear Claw pattern creates an interesting secondary star design.

Materials

Yardages are based on fabric that is 40˝ wide.

White: 2½ yards

Pink: 2⅝ yards

Binding: ⅝ yard

Batting: 72˝ × 72˝

Backing: 4 yards

Cutting

WHITE

Cut 3 strips 6½˝ × width of fabric (WOF).

Subcut into 16 squares 6½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 squares.

Cut 8 strips 4˝ × WOF.

Subcut into 72 squares 4˝ × 4˝; each strip yields 10 squares.

Cut 7 strips 3½˝ × WOF.

Subcut 1 strip into 4 rectangles 3½˝ × 9½˝.

Subcut 2 strips into 12 rectangles 3½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

Subcut 1 strip into 1 rectangle 3½˝ × 9½˝ and 4 rectangles 3½˝ × 6½˝.

Subcut 3 strips into 26 squares 3½˝ × 3½˝; each strip yields 11 squares.

PINK

Cut 4 strips 6½˝ × WOF.

Subcut into 20 squares 6½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 squares.

Cut 8 strips 4˝ × WOF.

Subcut into 72 squares 4˝ × 4˝; each strip yields 10 squares.

Cut 8 strips 3½˝ × WOF.

Subcut 1 strip into 4 rectangles 3½˝ × 9½˝.

Subcut 4 strips into 20 rectangles 3½˝ × 6½˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.

Subcut 3 strips into 28 squares 3½˝ × 3½˝; each strip yields 11 squares.

BINDING

Cut 7 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Fabrics: Rhoda Ruth by Elizabeth Hartman and Kona Cotton solids in White—both for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

instructions

Seam allowances are a scant ¼˝ unless otherwise noted. Press all seams open unless otherwise noted.

Half-Square Triangles

Sew 72 white and 72 pink 4˝ squares into 144 half-square triangles measuring 3½˝ × 3½˝ using the directions in Making Half-Square Triangles.

Pink Bear Claw Blocks

Double-check the orientation of the half-square triangles before sewing the blocks together.

1. Sew together 2 half-square triangles and 1 pink 3½˝ square.

2. Sew together 2 half-square triangles and 1 pink 6½˝ square.

3. Sew the units from Steps 1 and 2 together to make a pink claw unit measuring 9½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make a total of 20 pink claw units.

Pink claw unit

4. Sew together 1 pink 3½˝ × 6½˝ rectangle, 1 white 3½˝ square, and 2 pink claw units. Make 2.

5. Sew together 2 pink 3½˝ × 6½˝ rectangles and 1 white 3½˝ × 9½˝ rectangle.

6. Sew together 2 units from Step 4 and 1 unit from Step 5 to make a pink Bear Claw block measuring 21½˝ × 21½˝. Repeat Steps 4–6 to make a total of 5 pink Bear Claw blocks.

Pink Bear Claw block

White Bear Claw Blocks

1. Sew together 2 half-square triangles and 1 white 3½˝ square.

2. Sew together 2 half-square triangles and 1 white 6½˝ square.

3. Sew the units from Steps 1 and 2 together to make a white claw unit measuring 9½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make a total of 16 white claw units.

White claw unit

4. Sew together 1 white 3½˝ × 6½˝ rectangle, 1 pink 3½˝ square, and 2 white claw units. Make 2.

5. Sew together 2 white 3½˝ × 6½˝ rectangles and 1 pink 3½˝ × 9½˝ rectangle.

6. Sew together 2 units from Step 4 and 1 unit from Step 5 to make a white Bear Claw block measuring 21½˝ × 21½˝. Repeat Steps 4–6 to make a total of 4 white Bear Claw blocks.

White Bear Claw block

Quilt Top Assembly

1. Arrange the 5 pink and 4 white Bear Claw blocks according to the quilt top assembly diagram.

2. Sew the blocks into rows. Sew the rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 63½˝ × 63½˝.

Quilt top assembly

Finishing

Refer to Finishing Your Quilt as needed.

1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 72˝ × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 72˝ × 72˝.

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Bear Claw Plus was quilted with swirls, pebbles, and straight lines to highlight the plus signs within the bear paws.