Quilt Block Tutorial – The Bigfoot Bear Claw Block

The Bigfoot Legend

In August 1958, a bored bulldozer operator decided to stomp giant black bear prints in the mud where he was working with loggers in Northern California. He excitedly rushed back to camp to report these prints. Fueled by the myth of a giant Sasquatch in British Columbia and the Yeti of the Himalayans, a legend was born.

Today’s extra-large block expands on the traditional Bear Paw block, although as you can see a Bear Paw Print looks nothing like a bear paw block! Oh, well, it’s still a fun block.

Creating the Bigfoot Quilt Block

Here are the fabrics I am using:

Before starting this project, I recommend that you press your fabric with spray sizing. It will make it easier to cut small pieces. Take the time to clean your machine, put in a new needle, and fill a few bobbins. When pressing, just hold the iron over a spot for a moment or two. This pattern assumes a perfect 1/4” seam.

Making Magic

This method works well when you need to make a lot of identically colored HST blocks. Here is an overview of the method.  Make a test block first. (My personal preference is to cut the squares slightly too large so that I can square up the HST blocks later on.  If you are sure of your 1/4″ seam, you can use 5-3/4″ blocks. )

Assemble:

• (2) 6″× 6″ Background Squares
• (2) 6″× 6″ Claw color Squares

On the back of the Background squares, draw 4 lines: one vertically through the center; one horizontally through the center, and one on both diagonals.  These will be your cutting lines. 

Place the Background square and the Claw color square right sides together. Sew 1/4″ on both sides of the diagonal lines. You will probably find it easier to chain stitch these. Sew all the squares diagonally first, going from one block to the next without snipping the thread in between the blocks.  When that is done, you can do the other side. 

Press your sewn block and cut it apart on the drawn lines. If you cut it apart using a rotary cutter, take care not to move the squares with each cut.  A rotating cutting mat will come in very handy.  When you have all the blocks cut, you will need to square them up to  2-1/2″× 2-1/2″. Make (16).

Piecing the Block

Assemble:

• (16) 2-1/2″ HSTs
• (4) 2-1/2″ Background squares
• (4) 2-1/2″ ×  4-1/2″ Background rectangles
• (4) 4-1/2″ Bigfoot Brown squares
• (2) 2-1/2″ Center Color squares.
• (1) 2-1/2″ ×  6-1/2″ Center Color rectangle

Sew the HSTs in (4) sets of two with the HSTs facing different directions. Pressto the dark.

Sew a square to one side of the A group (the bottom group in the picture below) and press as shown. Make 4.

Sew the B units (the top group in the picture above) to the side of the 4-1/2″ Bigfoot Brown Square. Press. Make 4.

Now sew the block together and press. It should measure 6-1/2″ square. Make 4.

The Sashing

These claws are set in a sashing. Sew a 2-1/2″ Center Color rectangle to the end of a 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ Background rectangle. It should measure 6-1/2″ long. Make 2. Press to the dark.

Sew the 2-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ Center Color rectangle between two 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ Background rectangles. Make 1. It should measure 14-1/2″ long. Press to the dark.

Sew the 6-1/2″ long sashing between two blocks and press as shown. Make 2. 

Sew the 14-1/2″ long sashing between the two sets and press to the sashing. 

You made a Bigfoot Quilt Block! Enjoy!

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