Monday 14 September 2015

Scrappy Bear Paw is finished!

Yes, my scrappy bear paw quilt is finished and I'm very pleased with it.  It's bright and cheerful, and a very useful size too.  A number of people from our guild are making the same pattern, and we hope to have a big show and tell at our November meeting.  I'll post a photo when the hall is filled with lovely scrappy bear paw quilts.




I enjoyed hand quilting each block in a different colour of Perle 8 - my preferred method of hand quilting.



I started this quilt earlier this year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Capital Quilters Guild in Wellington, New Zealand.

You can read the background to it in this post from March, and see close ups of all my individual blocks in this post from May.


As some people pointed out on those earlier posts, we don't have bears in New Zealand, but the block was chosen by the founding members of the guild because of it's meaning as the hand of friendship. They wanted the guild to be a friendly place for quilters to meet, and they certainly achieved that.




The amount of low volume fabrics in this quilt is quite a departure from my usual style, but making this quilt forced me buy some low volume fabrics and start experimenting with them.  I've discovered that I like black and white, and grey and white low volumes, but I won't be crossing over into cream and white, they're just not for me.

Of course you'll see that I compensated for all that low volume by using plenty of bright Kaffe Fassett fabrics in this quilt.  When the idea was floated of making each block a different colour my first thought was my Kaffe Fassett stash.


I used a bright Art Gallery fabric for the back.  You'll see that I had to add a strip to make it wide enough.  That's what happens when you buy the end of the bolt, and then decide to add sashing to quilt top and it becomes too wide for the backing.  I don't mind though - it adds interest and colour.

I haven't made a label yet, but I will do a label to remind me why I made this quilt. I hope to still have it in 20 years time when our guild turns 50.  I wonder what people will think of it then!


Vital stats:
Block size:  20.5" square finished
Quilt size: 68" x 68.5"

This was one of four things on my Finish A Long list for Q3 2015.

28 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

looks great! love all the colors you used and the quilting

Kris said...

Oh, wow, Wendy!! Your Bear Claw quilt is simply fabulous!! I love the background fabrics against the wonderful Kaffes and bright fabrics!! And your hand quilting is magnificent!!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

A lovely version of the Bear Paw, those scrappy bright fabrics look great with the neutral backgrounds! I looked at the closeups of your blocks, your hand quilting is amazing!

margaret said...

this is a wonderful bear paw quilt, loving all the colours and the background fabrics work beautifully with it, one f my favourite quits I have ever seen, like you I love perle thread for hand quilting, just wish my fingers did not suffer so much!

margaret said...

meant to ask what it the fabric you have bound it with think I need some!

Dasha said...

Lovely vibrant colours in that Wendy. And I love the low volume prints (even if you don't LOL). They really set off the colours in the blocks.

Sew of Course said...

What a lovely Bear's Paw quilt, I like the way you have used the scraps and a different colour for each block!

Sandra White said...

That is a beautiful use of scraps. I love it.

Deb A said...

Beautiful! I love how you quilted it. Found you from FB Celebrating Hand Quilting.

kack2 said...

Wendy., your beautiful Bear Paw has so much light and life to it - love the choice of colors and the use of low volume prints as background give the quilt more interest and movement. Your quilting is so perfect!

Ruth said...

Beautiful - love the handquilting!

Linda said...

A brilliant quilt. Love all the strong colours in the bearpaws and the Perle stitching. A really lovely quilt to celebrate 30 years of your Group.

Granny Maud's Girl said...

It turned out so well that our local group is making blocks as part of a bee because one of our members wants a quilt like yours.

Sandi said...

Wendy, I've enjoyed watching you through this journey of quilt making and have enjoyed each step along the way. I love utility quilting with Perle cotton also. My dear friend and mentor Ethel introduced it to me early in my quilting career. I love how you used different fabrics of the same colour within your blocks, the low volume blacks, whites and greys show them off beautifully and your final binding choice is perfect.

Enjoy your quilt for many years my I'm sure it will be a hit at the 50th anniversary"

Carol Q said...

oh yum... so beautiful Wendy. the hand quilting looks fab too. the binding is very subtle but what a perfect match.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Beautiful finish, Wendy! I like that you explored low volume prints and have found what works for you. The binding also really pulls it together and frames it well.

Dolly said...

That is SO PRETTY. I've made ONE bearpaw quilt, in a full size, and never thought I'd want to revisit the design. But your quilt gives me second thoughts on that.

SO VERY PRETTY.........and the strip down the back is a definite PLUS . It will also help date the quilt, I think, as so many of us do that right now.

Rochelle aka Bella Quilts said...

Such a beautiful quilt Wendy. Did you use scraps or just go straight to the fat quarters? Whichever you used, it was a good choice. Thank you for sharing.

Wendy said...

It's lovely! So bright and cheerful. The kaffe fabrics are really set off by the low volumes. Love your hand quilting too

Wendy said...

It's lovely! So bright and cheerful. The kaffe fabrics are really set off by the low volumes. Love your hand quilting too

cityquilter grace said...

it is beautiful....well done!

Staci said...

Beautiful! The hand stitching is the perfect finish.

HeathersSewingRoom said...

A great finish. I really like the selection of colours and prints that make up the bear paws. Your quilting in Pearle cotton really sets off the design. Well done.

Anonymous said...

This is lovely Wendy, love those colours and I love the story of why it was chosen as a symbol of your quilting group.

ukcitycrafter@live.co.uk

Karen S said...

Lovely end result with your bear paw quilt. The colours are wonderful. And the hand quilting is a real bonus.

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

You know I love this quilt Wendy - it's so bright and cheerful and the hand quilting you did is just right. I love how you take the time to think through your projects carefully and add just what is needed.

Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! Such a beautiful job you did on the quilting.

NickiJ said...

A really stunner you must be absolutely amazed at each time you look at it. Great effort!