Bear's paw lap quilt
A 14" traditional block with claws of half-square triangles. Big blocks, so a lap quilt goes quickly.
Blocks: Bear's paw. Layout 3 across × 4 down, quilt top 46 × 62".
Fabric requirements
| Rust | 2 yd |
| Cream | 1½ yd |
| Charcoal | 1½ yd |
| Backing | 3⅝ yd |
| Total (⅛ yd extra per fabric) | 8⅝ yd |
|---|
Quilting cotton 42" usable width. Batting at least 62 × 78" (Twin (72 × 90")). 371 pieces in all, 90% of the cut fabric ends up in the quilt.
Make it any size
Every size gets its own exact cutting plan and fabric amounts, worked out again from the blocks, not scaled up by guesswork.
Units to sew
- 192 half-square triangles (Rust + Cream), 2" finished, trim to 2½"
Cutting plan
A · Rust
- Cut 7 strips 2½" × width of fabric for the binding.
- Join end to end with diagonal seams, press open, then fold in half lengthwise and press.
- Cut 5 strips 4½" × width of fabric.
- From each strip, cut 9 squares 4½ × 4½" (A1).
- Cut 1 strip 4½" × width of fabric.
- From the strip, cut 3 squares 4½ × 4½" (A1).
- From the rest of the strip, cut 9 squares 2⅞ × 2⅞" (A2), trimming the strip end to 2⅞" first.
- Cut 6 strips 2⅞" × width of fabric.
- From each strip, cut 14 squares 2⅞ × 2⅞" (A2).
- Cut 1 strip 2⅞" × width of fabric.
- From the strip, cut 3 squares 2⅞ × 2⅞" (A2).
- From the rest of the strip, cut 6 squares 2½ × 2½" (A3), trimming the strip end to 2½" first.
B · Cream
- Cut 3 strips 6½" × width of fabric.
- From each strip, cut 16 rectangles 2½ × 6½" (B1).
- Cut 6 strips 2⅞" × width of fabric.
- From each strip, cut 14 squares 2⅞ × 2⅞" (B2).
- Cut 1 strip 2⅞" × width of fabric.
- From the strip, cut 12 squares 2⅞ × 2⅞" (B2).
- From the rest of the strip, cut 3 squares 2½ × 2½" (B3), trimming the strip end to 2½" first.
- Cut 2 strips 2½" × width of fabric.
- From each strip, cut 16 squares 2½ × 2½" (B3).
- Cut 1 strip 2½" × width of fabric.
- From the strip, cut 13 squares 2½ × 2½" (B3).
C · Charcoal
- Cut 6 strips 4½" × width of fabric for the border.
- Join end to end with straight seams, then cut 2 × 62½", 2 × 54½".
- Cut 1 strip 2½" × width of fabric.
- From the strip, cut 2 rectangles 2½ × 14½" (C1).
- From the rest of the strip, cut 1 square 2½ × 2½" (C2).
- Cut 7 strips 2½" × width of fabric.
- From each strip, cut 2 rectangles 2½ × 14½" (C1).
- Cut 1 strip 2½" × width of fabric.
- From the strip, cut 1 rectangle 2½ × 14½" (C1).
- From the rest of the strip, cut 11 squares 2½ × 2½" (C2).
D · Backing
- For the backing, cut 2 pieces 62" long.
- Trim the selvages and join along the long edges with ½" seams.
All cut sizes include ¼" seam allowances. Finishing: backing 62 × 78" in 2 pieces, binding 7 strips × 2½".
Make it yours
Swap in photos of your own fabric, plan it from everything in your stash, and tick off every cut in Cut Mode as you go.