In my previous post I shared a photo of all 60 of my Quilter’s Color Quest Bear Paw blocks up on my design wall. After three days of walking past them and looking back at the photo I picked out two blocks that weren’t quite working for me.
The problem was the lack of contrast between the spotty fabric used for the claws and the unbleached calico background. I discarded one of the two blocks, reworking the other with darker ‘claws’.

There are a couple of other blocks struggling with low level contrast but I can live with those.
I’ve been playing around with layout options using EQ7. Keeping the blocks on point in a 5 across and 7 down layout uses 59 blocks. Handy as that’s how many blocks I now have! Serendipity and all that π
Narrow sashing between blocks is the way I’ve decided to go. The extra fabric brings the quilt top to a useful 50″ x 70″ size and, as Rebecca pointed out in her comment, using sashing gets rid of the problem of have to match seams π I did play with the idea of coloured sashing and/or coloured setting triangles but I think there’s enough going on, what with the scrappy nature of the Bear Paws, without adding more patterns for eye and brain to negotiate!
This morning, after re-working the low contrast block, I cut lots of 1ΒΌ” strips from the left-over calico background. Now I’m in the middle of stitching the Bear Paw blocks to the long strips – as many as will fit on each one.
I’ve used this method of speedy piecing to make Log Cabin blocks – it’s very satisfying. Just be sure to orientate the blocks the same way as each other when laying them on the strips to stitch… Ask me how I know! π
Linking with Alycia for Finished or Not Friday.
Allison
This is going to be so incredible! I love the narrow sashing, too. What a beautiful quilt this will be!
Thank you! I do enjoy making scrappy quilts and these Bear Paw blocks have been perfect as a background project over the past six months.
The narrow sashing is perfect. It will be fabulous!
Thank you! I’m pleased with it. Now to calculate the cutting of the setting triangles!
I used that method when using longer strips for my Crumb quilt. Your Quilter’ Quest quilt is going to be SEW lovely!!
Thank you! I’m getting ahead of myself now and wondering about adding a scrappy border! But maybe scrappy binding will be enough?
Good call on replacing the low contrast blocks! π
Thanks! π
I love this one!! I am with you – and like the reworked blocks better – i like the contrast. it is going to be incredible!!
Thanks Alycia! I really want to see this quilt through to a finish. I’m now considering adding a scrappy border….:-D