AQS Block by Block Basics: Bear Paw Block sponsored by AccuQuilt

By American Quilter's Society
Oct 7, 2025

AQS Block by Block Basics: Bear Paw sponsored by AccuQuilt

Welcome to the AQS Block by Block Basics Series sponsored by AccuQuilt! Each month, we'll spend three weeks playing with one block.

Week one, we'll kick things off with hand piecing from templates like the quilters of yesterday.

For week two, we'll use the AccuQuilt Cutting System and machine-piece the blocks with a focus on precision piecing.

Finally, in week three, we'll focus on making the block fabulous with a variety of embellishment techniques.

Be sure to join our AQS Quilting Project Parade Facebook Group to sew along with other quilters, ask questions, and share your progress.

If you missed blocks in the series, check them out by clicking the name:

Bears Paw Block

12" x 12" finished block size

Week One: Template cutting and hand piecing

Week Two: AccuQuilt cutting and precision machine piecing

Week Three: Embellishment fun

Each month, we'll complete two blocks, one hand pieced and one machine pieced. You can finish one or both of the blocks to make mini quilts or use them in projects. We'll have lots of creative ideas along the way for using your 12" blocks. We'll also offer finishing instructions if you prefer to save all the blocks for a quilt.

This month’s block, Bears Paw, features Half Square Triangle units and squares. We’ll explore scrappiness throughout the month, moving through the levels of coordination into something a little crazy by the end. We’ll have a slew of Bear Paw blocks by the end of October!

“I found this block offered me the chance to savor the satisfying experience of assembling each Bear Paw in the same order as the others. This is something I enjoy about patchwork piecing. Take this moment to slow down and notice what feels good to you in your piecing process.” -Emily Cross, Ozark Modern Crafting

Week One

Template Options

Follow the steps from our first month (click here to visit the first tutorial) to make the templates needed for this month's block.

You need the following templates, and note you may have made some of these previously for other blocks in the series:

(1) 4" x 4" square

(1) 2”x 2" square

(1) 2" x 2" square, subcut diagonally once to make a half square triangle (HST)

As noted, you may have equivalent templates from previous months. For example, the Fish block uses all the same templates.

Then, following the color layout you like*, mark patches out as listed below:

(4) 4" x 4" square

(4) 2" x 2" square

(32) 2" x 2" HSTs

*Note: More fabrics are used in the example block than listed in the pattern. Try your own variations!

Remember, these are finished sizes and don't include the seam allowances. Be sure to label your templates so it's easy to find the right size when you need it!

Select your fabric, and start tracing. If last month was your first time hand piecing, you'll have a pretty good idea of how much seam allowance you want.

If this is your first try, here's some important info you shouldn't miss:

Seam allowances are different for hand piecing. They don't serve as a guide for accuracy, rather, they exist so the fabric doesn't fray too much while you sew. If you're new to hand piecing, give yourself some extra room. You can always trim them down later.

Step one: Select the fabrics for the block.

Step two: Trace the template on the backside of the fabric, leaving enough room between the patches for the seam allowances (a 1/4" or so for each patch is preferred for the seam allowance, but it's not a rule for hand piecing - you'll learn what you like best).

Step three: Cut out the patches, leaving enough fabric outside the drawn line for a seam allowance. DO NOT CUT ON THE DRAWN LINE - it's tempting, but don't do it.

Hand Piecing

Previously, we covered the Quilter's Knot, the Tailor's Lock Stitch, and the End Knot. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

To begin, lay out the block using all the marked pieces, as shown below. Use this arrangement when piecing to stay organized.

This version of Bears Paw is made up of four “paws” all oriented in the same direction, as if these are tracks left from a walking bear.

Hand piecing Bears Paw uses all the same techniques as you used for the previous blocks to create Half Square Triangle units.

Half Square Triangle Units

Line up the half square triangle patches right sides together and pin. Take care not to stretch the material too much across the bias of the fabric. Sew a 1/4" seam from corner to corner.

Again, remember not to sew into the seam allowances, just corner to corner.

Finger press the HST unit. The unit measures 2½" x 2½" square, unfinished. Repeat to make 16 HST units.

Paw Print Units

Using your block layout as a guide, arrange two HST units right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam. Make sure to pass through the seam intersections*. When there’s an intersection at the beginning and end, like with this block, I like to start the knot on the back HST in the corner without a seam. Then I bring the needle to the opposite lower HST, then pass the seam through the allowance to the upper HST and back through to the starting knot. One backstitch to secure, and I’m off sewing the seam to the end, repeating the same process reversed to finish.

*Below is a refresher on how to pass through the seam when hand piecing.

Passing Through the Seam

Step one: When you come to a seam, take a back stitch on the marked line, right up to the seam.

Step two: Pass the needle through the seam on the same side you are stitching from, above the seam's stitches. If you pass the needle below the seam's stitches, your stitch will show on the front of your block.

Step three: Once on the other side of the seam, take a stitch forward and then backstitch over this stitch to continue.