Underground Railroad Block 5

Bear's Paw

The Bear's Paw Quilt was the third quilt used to help prepare slaves for their journey to freedom.  Runaways were directed to follow the actual trail of a bear's footprints.  Animal footprints would indicate the best path through the mountains.  Would also lead them to food and water.  

Underground Railroad Block 5

This is the block in the book.

This is my block.

You will need 4 colors of fabrics for this block.

        Background                               Small Chedder print

        Fabric 1 - for claws                   Navy print

        Fabric 2 - for paw                      Bright Chedder print

        Fabric 3 - for center square.     Light blue print

Cutting:

Background - 

                        Corners......(4)  2 1/4" squares

                        Dividing Strips........(4)  2" x 5 3/4"

                        Claws.......(2)  6" squares

Fabric 1 -       

                  Claws.........(2)   6" squares

Fabric 2 - 

                  Paws.......(4)  4" squares

Fabric 3 - 

                  Center.......(1)    2" square

Making the claws:

     Use the 6" squares from the background and fabric 1.

     Place one of each square with right sides together, draw diagonal lines on wrong side of squares.  Sew a 

     1/4" from either side of the lines.  

Cut on the diagonal lines and horizontally and vertically, as shown above.

Press seams toward the claw fabric.

Square up to 2 1/4" square.

Lay your claw squares into 4 stacks of 4.  As shown above.  Notice the way the claw is facing.

With the first 2 rows, lay 2nd square on top of the 1st square.  Sew together on the right side.  I chain stitched my squares together.

Do the same with the 3rd and 4th rows.  Lay the 4th row squares on top of the 3rd row of squares and sew down the right side of the squares.

Clip apart and press open the sections.  The ones on the left press seam to the left.  The ones on the right press seam to the right.

Now lay out pieces to make the paw.  Sew together and press seams.

Repeat until you have 4 paws.

Using 2 of the 2" x 5 3/4" strips sew blocks together horizontally.  Press seams toward strips.

Using the other 2 - 2" x 5 3/4" strips and the center square, lay out between the paws and then sew together.

Press seams toward strips.  Then sew to the 2 paw sections.

You now have your block.  I square my blocks after I have them all made, but if you want to square yours now you can square to 12 1/2".

I really enjoyed this block.  It's the first time I have made the Bear Claw block.

Enjoy and I'll see you next month.