Upcoming Bear Paw Workshop

Our upcoming workshop in February has spaces available. It will be taught by member Barb Foster on Feb. 20th at our usual meeting place on Johnson Avenue. Barb will be teaching a bias strip piecing method for doing half square triangles, which is very fast and accurate. Students will complete a 14" block from two fat quarters, a block large enough for a shopping bag or wallhanging. Or you might choose to continue on for a larger quilt. It's up to you! Barb will also share a number of variations for this traditional "old favourite"block! This class is suitable for Beginners and beyond.

Click here to see lots of Bear Paw quilts for ideas amd inspiration! If you would like to join us for this workshop, call Workshop Registrar Barb Frame at 459-4732.

By the way, did you know that "Bear Paw" is one of the oldest known quilt patterns? The story of this pattern begins even before pieced quilts became common around the mid 1800's. Earlier quilts were commonly medallion style surrounded by several borders; a sawtooth border was often used. Of course methods used to piece a border could easily be adapted to a block. The Sawtooth block appeared in many early quilts along with Sawtooth stars and diamonds and what became known as BearPaw. As with many patterns, Bear Paw became known by other names too, and each of these names also apply to one or more designs. Bear Paw has also been known as Duck's Foot in the Mud, Hand of Friendship, Tea Leaf and Cats Paw.