Thursday, February 25, 2021

Black Bear Quilt Block Tutorial




Hello, friends!

Long time no see! Well, except for the update the other day. I am finally posting the next in the National Days quilt blocks lineup. National Black Bear Day was/is June 5th. (I'm so behind, I'm about to lap myself. ha!)





This one went through a LOT of tweaking before I was finally happy with him. First his cheeks were too big, then the proportions were wrong, then his eyes would NOT work out. That is until I stumbled upon his rolling eyes and TA-DA! He finally looked right to me. And really, who doesn't need an exasperated, eye rolling black bear? haha Esp. these days. I kind of love him. He's my current spirit animal. ;)

In June last year, we were in Jackson, WY on a quick road trip just to get out of the house. I think I shared pics of that. We didn't see any black bears that trip, but we did see some grizzly bears. We loved it so much there, we ran away from home again, back to Jackson in October, for fall school break, and that time we saw a black bear! In the top of a tree. Batting at the leaves, the top of the tree swaying. It was awesome and kind of hilarious. We couldn't really get a good pic, though because the park rangers were there, making sure cars kept moving and didn't block the road and there was nowhere to pull off. Which was best for the bear, because that meant he could keep doing wild bear things and not be bothered by people. (We also saw moose, bison (of course!) pronghorn antelope, and a black wolf ran across the road right in front of us! And we heard elk bugling!) I'm ready to go back! If only...

But until then, fabric bears will have to do. Here's how the eye-rolling black bear goes together.

{The symbols beside some of the cutting sizes/fabrics are meant to correspond/represent those pieces in the assembly diagram. I sometimes get asked that question.}





Fabric A (backgound):
(2) 1" sq. (~)
(1) 1 x 3 1/2" (>>>)
(6) 1 1/4" sq. (+)
(2) 1 1/4 x 2 3/4"
(2) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(2) 2 3/4 x 4"


Fabric B (dark brown/black):
(2) 1" sq. (~)
(1) 1 x 4"
(2) 1 1/4" sq. (+)
(2) 1 1/4 x 4"
(2) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(2) 2" sq.
(2) 2 x 2 3/4"
(1) 2 1/4 x 3 1/2"
(2) 2 3/4 x 3"


Fabric C (light brown):
(2) 1 x 1 1/4" (@)
(2) 1 1/4" sq. (+)
(1) 1 1/4 x 2"
(2) 1 1/2 x 2 1/4"
(1) 2 1/2 x 3"



Fabric D (black):
(2) 1 x 1 1/4" (@)



Fabric E (white):
(2) 1" sq. (~)





Double Upper Corners

1. Place a square at the left end or left upper corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or right upper corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.




-Using the above method, (2) 1" sq. of Fabric A and 2 1/4 x 3 1/2" rect. of Fabric B-long edge at the top, make this unit.



-Using same method, 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric B-left upper corner, 1" sq. of Fabric B-right upper corner, and 1 1/2 x 2 1/4" rect. of Fabric C-long edge at the top, make this unit.



-Using same method, 1" sq. of Fabric B-left upper corner, 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric B-right upper corner and 1 1/2 x 2 1/4" rect. of Fabric C-long edge at the top, make this unit.



-Using same method, (2) 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric B and 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" rect. of Fabric D-long edge at the top, make one unit. When you flip it around when stitching it into your block, it will make the nose.



-Using same method, 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric A-left upper corner, 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric A-right upper corner, and 2 3/4 x 3" rect. of Fabric B-long edge at the top, make one unit.
--Place a 1 1/4" sq. in the left lower corner of this unit, right sides together. Stitch from corner to corner. Trim, flip & press to make this unit.



-Repeat these steps, but placing 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric A in left upper corner, 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric A in right upper corner, and 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric A in right lower corner of 2 3/4 x 3" rect. of Fabric B-long edge at the top. You will have this unit.


--------------------

Right Lower Clip & Flip

1. Place square at lower end or right lower corner of rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.




-Using above method, 1" sq. of Fabric E, and 1 x 1 1/4" rect. of Fabric D-short edge at the top, make one unit. Repeat for total of two units. These are the eyes. 

 

-Repeat these steps using 2" sq. of Fabric B and 2 3/4 x 4" rect. of Fabric A-short edge at the top. When you flip it around in your block, it will be the bear's cheek on the right.


-Repeat these steps using 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric A and 1 1/4 x 4" rect. of Fabric B-short edge at the top
--Flip unit around and repeat using 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric C. You will have this unit.



---------------------

Left Lower Clip & Flip

1. Place square at lower end or left lower corner of rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from left upper to right lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.




-Using above steps, 2" sq. of Fabric B and 2 3/4 x 4" rect. of Fabric A-short edge at the top, make one unit. When you flip it around in your block, it will be the bear's cheek on the left.


-Repeat these steps using 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric A and 1 1/4 x 4" rect. of Fabric B-short edge at the top
--Flip unit around and repeat using 1 1/4" sq. of Fabric C. You will have this unit.


--------------------

Assemble as shown below, using scant quarter inch seams.





And you should have an 8 1/2" block (8" when finished in quilt) of my new favorite animal. The eye-rolling black bear.🐻 It's been so long since I've typed one of these tutorials, I feel a little rusty. Let me know if you find any errors or typos or have any questions!

If you're just coming across these blocks, I'm keeping them all linked *HERE*. Or you can click on the National Days button in the right side bar up there. Thanks for dropping in today! 

If you're just finding these blocks, you might also be interested in the free Minecraft, Pokemon, and Harry Potter sew alongs. If you make any and post pics come find me on social media so I can see. I can be found in these links/places:


Let's see.. anything else.. OH! Someone asked how to follow by email notifications, because they don't do any other social media accounts. There should be a subscribe button up there in the right sidebar, where you can enter your email address and click submit, and you should get new post alerts. 

I'll try to have another block again soon, and get back to Instagram and knock the cobwebs down over there, and on facebook, too. There's so much to do.

Oh! Have you guys heard about the free sew along sampler that Riley Blake is hosting right now? I'll try to post about it in case anyone wants to participate. It just started this month and lasts until June. A great way to use up some scraps.

Okay, I really have to go now. Dinner refuses to cook itself. haha!

Be back soon! Until then, Happy Stitching!

xoxo




5 comments...:

so sweet kelli! minds me to Balu the bear.....:0)greetings from denmark, Ulrike :0)

Kathy S. said...

Nice choice on the eyes. It reminds me of a teenage bear. LOL. Thanks for the cute block tutorial.

Lori said...

this little guy is adorable. thanks. oh what a wonderful place to get away and see nature at its best. wow i have wished for 30 years that dinner would cook itself. LOL still wishing but it just doesnt happen. Oh well. we are empty nesters now, but if I had thought of this when the kids were young I so would have done it. I now will cook up a storm, creating dinners for at least a month. All we have to do is pull out of the freezer what we want for the next week and let it thaw in the fridge. Then heat it up on the stove. So much easier. Anyway, have a wonderful weekend. And thanks so much for sharing these wonderful blocks. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

sam said...

Oh so cute. Perfect for a chair cushion Thanks for your creative efforts and sharing.

I love his eyes! He's cute! Hope you get to go back again.

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