The Bear's Paw is a satisfyingly substantial block built from four matching "paws," each combining a large square pad with a row of half-square triangle claws. Sashing strips and a center square knit the paws together into one of the most recognizable patterns in traditional American quilting.
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What is a Bear's Paw quilt block?
The Bear's Paw is a traditional block made of four identical paw units arranged around a sashed center. Each paw combines one large square — the "pad" — with a cluster of small half-square triangle claws that point outward, plus a small background square that tucks into the inner corner. Strips of sashing separate the four paws and frame a single center square, giving the block its distinctive cross-shaped negative space.
It is an intermediate-friendly block: the construction is logical and repetitive, but accuracy with the many HSTs is what keeps the paws crisp. If the claws are new to you, brush up with our half-square triangle guide first.
Anatomy: paws, claws & sashing
Breaking the block into parts makes it far less intimidating:
- Four paw units — the repeated building block; sew one well and you can sew all four.
- The pad — a large square in the paw fabric that forms the body of each foot.
- The claws — small HSTs, usually three per paw, lined up so the colored triangles point away from the center.
- Corner squares — a small background square sits at the inner corner of each paw unit.
- Sashing & center — four background strips and one center square join the paws and form the cross in the middle.
Bear's Paw sizes & cutting chart
The Bear's Paw is most often made as a generous 12" or 14" block because the paws need room for their claws. The chart below uses a quarter-inch seam allowance; claw squares are cut for the two-at-a-time HST method and trimmed down.
| Finished block | Large pad (cut) | Claw HST squares (cut) | Sashing strips (cut) | Center (cut) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12" | 3 1/2" | 2 3/8" | 1 1/2" × 5" | 1 1/2" |
| 14" | 4" | 2 7/8" | 1 3/4" × 5 3/4" | 1 3/4" |
Skip the math: Quiltler 3 sizes every claw, pad, and sashing strip and totals your yardage automatically. Try the fabric calculator to see exactly how much fabric you need before you cut.
How to sew a Bear's Paw block
- Cut the pieces. Cut four large pad squares, the claw HST squares, four small background corner squares, four sashing strips, and one center square from the chart.
- Make the claws. Sew the claw squares into half-square triangles — typically three per paw, twelve in total — and trim each to size.
- Build one paw. Sew the claws into short rows so they point outward, then join them to the large pad square and add the small corner square. Repeat to make four matching paws.
- Add the sashing. Sew a sashing strip between the two top paws and between the two bottom paws. Sew the remaining two strips to either side of the center square to make the middle row.
- Assemble three rows. You now have a top row (two paws + sashing), a middle row (sashing + center + sashing), and a bottom row (two paws + sashing).
- Join and square up. Sew the three rows together, matching the sashing, press, and trim the block square.
Pro tip: Chain-piece all of the claw HSTs in one go, then trim them to a single common size before assembling the paws. Consistent claws are the secret to four paws that match perfectly.
History & folk names
The Bear's Paw is a genuinely old pattern with deep folk roots, and like many traditional blocks it traveled under different names. In some regions it was called Duck's Foot in the Mud; among certain communities it was known as the Hand of Friendship; and it has also appeared as the Lily. The animal-track name suited frontier life, where a bear's print in soft ground was a familiar sight. Whatever it was called, the paw-and-claw construction stayed the same, and the block remains a favorite for its bold, graphic presence on a bed.
Scrappy & modern variations
- Scrappy claws — use a different fabric for the claws on each paw for a charming, stash-busting look.
- Two-color Bear's Paw — a single bold print against a crisp background for a striking, graphic quilt.
- Pieced center — replace the plain center square with a tiny nine-patch or star for extra interest.
- Oversized single paw — enlarge one paw unit into a whole block for a modern, minimalist quilt.
Design your Bear's Paw quilt digitally
With four paws, claws, sashing, and a center, the Bear's Paw rewards planning. Using Quiltler 3 you can build the block, audition paw and background fabrics, and tile it to preview sashed quilt settings before cutting a thing. When you are happy, export a PDF with cutting instructions and exact yardage. Pairing the Bear's Paw with a simple nine-patch alternate block makes a fast, classic quilt.
New to digital design? Start with our guide to designing quilts or our beginner's guide to quilting.