Bear Paw Quilt
Bear Claw & Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Top Pattern inspired by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
This quilt top combines four traditional Bear Claw blocks at the center, surrounded by a field of Jacob’s Ladder blocks that create movement and visual rhythm. The original MSQC pattern used a black background and coordinated precuts, but this version is built entirely from scraps — giving the quilt a lively, one‑of‑a‑kind character.
The background fabric is a deep, rich dark green from Dry Goods Country Store in Kutztown, PA, chosen as an alternative to the original black. The green adds warmth and depth, allowing the colorful scrap blocks to glow without overwhelming the design. A narrow yellow inner border adds a spark of light, while the blue outer border frames the entire composition with a calm, grounding edge.
This quilt top is currently awaiting quilting, which will add texture and dimension to the finished piece.
This quilt was given to a friend for housewarming present.
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This Bear Paw quilt has a story behind it.
I made this quilt entirely from leftover fabrics from other projects. I had originally seen a Missouri Star Quilt Company video featuring a Bear Paw quilt, bought the pattern, and gave it a try. The first time around, I managed to mess it up! LOL.
Later, I watched another video that taught me how to turn a quilt block on point. That technique gave me the idea for creating this version of the Bear Paw.
While the original Missouri Star Quilt Company quilt inspired me, this quilt is not the same as the one in their video. I took what I had learned, combined it with my own ideas, and created something that became my own.
And that's one of the things I love about quilting. You can start with someone else's pattern, use fabrics you already have, learn a new technique, and somehow the finished quilt becomes uniquely yours.
Even though this quilt was made from leftovers, I think those leftovers came together pretty beautifully. What started as scraps from other projects turned into a quilt that I am really proud of.
