The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

Did You Know?

Black bears are a native animal to Missouri, are depicted on the Missouri state flag, and nearly became extinct until lately. Pettis County has been marked on a map
in 2008 and 2010 created by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Locals will tell you there are more recent sightings but apparently it’s not something people report. They’re on the comeback and if you are interested, the Missouri Department of Conservation has a Black Bear Sightings map. click here.

First off, a complaint. This is not a 12 inch block as stated in the book. It’s a 14-inch block. And do you know that nearly all of the tutorials online offer 14-inch blocks. I’m sure it’s a quilt dimension thing, like making it a desirable size when completed. But it’s frustrating for me personally when I need all 12-inch blocks. Enough said about that though. On with the block.

Both photos above are cellphone captures of mine from the Star Quilt book. They show a completed quilt on the left using only Bear Paw blocks and a photo as depicted in the Kansas City Star in 1937.

Stacks of lights and darks sorted, Darks counted out, and the Marked Blocks ready to sew are in the 3 pics above. Organization is pretty important in quilting, as is fabric choice, accurate cutting and correct seam allowances. I’m blessed to have years and years of tutoring from my own mother and grandmother in making this daunting task to some come so easily for me. But remember, there’s always Youtube when problems arise. 😉

Finding out the size at the start is something I neglected until the moment I began this layout process. By the time I made it to the last seam (Middle Photo), I knew I had a pretty large block on my hands. So what to do?

By the end of the A to Z Challenge I’ll have a solution for this large block. It may or may not fit into my quilt in this instance. Other options may include a new block with the correct dimensions, or a pillow creation, or possibly a whole quilt with only Bear Paw blocks? Each of these are possibilities that I’ll consider.

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in.