Free pattern day! Bear Paw Quilts

Bear Paw quilt blocks consist of a square with half square triangles on two adjacent sides.  The finished block resembles - you guessed it - a bear's paw!  Download your favorites today!! To go to a pattern: Scroll down the page until you see the quilt you like, then click on the words "CLICK for PDF download" (or the hyperlinked website name) in the title above the quilt.  

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For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Wash Your Paws (Giant Bear Paw) quilt, free pattern at Wooly Petals (CLICK for PDF download) 

Sparkler quilt, free pattern by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Paws for Thought quilt, free pattern at Banyan Batiks (CLICK for PDF download)

 Lodge Life wall quilt, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

New Beginnings quilt, free pattern by Marie Bostwick & Deb Tucker (CLICK for PDF download)

A Walk in the Woods, free pattern by Bob Coon for Kona Bay Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Paws Out quilt, free pattern by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

In The Wild quilt, free pattern by Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Evening Stroll quilt, free pattern at RJR Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Animal Tracks quilt, free pattern by Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Bear Paw Rollup quilt, free pattern by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Bear Feet baby quilt, free pattern by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Garden Path quilt. free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

 Bear Paws and Pines quilt, free pattern by Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Caboodle Basics quilt, free pattern by Henry Glass Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)  

Dino Tracks quilt, 51 x 60", free pattern by P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

Forest Tracks quilt, free pattern by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Bear Paw flannel quilt, free pattern by Landauer Publishing (CLICK for PDF download)

Lakehouse Forest Track quilt, free pattern by Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

 Legends of the Park quilt, free pattern by Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download) 

Lend A Paw quilt, free pattern by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

New Dawn quilt, free pattern by Marcus Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

On The Road quilt, free pattern by Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

The Fire Within quilt, free pattern by Margrit Hall, Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

 

Image credits: All images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links. Some of these are tutorials while others include downloadable (.pdf) patterns; we have tried to note which is which in the titles.  We update our links every 6 months as needed; however, websites may change their pages in between updates. If any links are broken we'd love to know; please email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.  

 

Going Green

March is the month of St. Patrick's Day on the 17th and the Spring Equinox on the 20th. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the month where trees and plants start to pop out new leaves. To honor the month, here are some beautiful green quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns and collectible items! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter! 

Solstice, made and quilted by Ruth Suk

This quilt was beautifully pieced, with a giant star medallion highlighted in the center of a field of gold. Ruth Suk used freezer paper piecing to create the gorgeous green medallion.  "I am new to paper piecing and enjoyed the freezer paper piecing process."  Published design: Solstice by Bryan House Quilts.

Starget by Joyce Holley, quilted by Nancy Goans

Star lovers will love this design! Starget is a double circle of stars that bring light, medium and dark fabrics colors together to shine. Joyce Holley says that each block in this quilt is named after a rock & roll musician (star) including Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, and Johnny Cash. Starget is a pattern designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Design.  

 Joyce Holley says, "The challenge of Starget is to maintain every point on each star.  Starget is a great quilt to challenge your skill. I enjoyed making this quilt."  Nancy Goans quilted and brought out the stars.

Black & White & Green all over by Christine Nelson, quilted by Athena Taylor

Lime green strips really stand out against the graphic black prints in this quilt, creating a woven look. The pattern is by Carolyn Forster, published in Today's Quilter magazine (Cariad Mawr, a Welsh Frame Quilt, in Today’s Quilter issue 87 Page 67(2022).  Christine Nelson says, "I saw a quilt in Today's Quilter magazine and had to make it... I chose black and white with touches of green to make the unusual quilt design stand out."

The original pattern, by Carolyn Forster, was itself inspired by a project in the book The Quilts of the British Isles by Janet Rae (1987).  The book featured a scrap quilt made in Wales around 1910.  It looks like it would be fun to make - although keeping everything in line would be a challenge!

For more Quilt Inspiration, please check out our Free Pattern Day for Green Quilts (CLICK HERE!)

 

Image credits: Original quilt photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show (Starget, and Black & White & Green All Over) and the 2025 Arizona Quilters Guild show (Solstice).

 

It's Modern Quilt Month! (3)

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the third of FIVE posts. According to The Modern Quilt Guild, modern quilts often use bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space. Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter. 

Garden Gone Wild, made and quilted by Sherrie Spangler

Splashy colors represent an exuberant untamed flower garden, with quilting lines adding a wind blown feeling. Sherrie Spangler says, "I painted much of the fabric, including sheer silk for color depth.  Feathers, yarn and beads scattered across the surface add to the wildness." The raw edges also add to the soft look of this quilt.

 Ripples in a Crayola Sea, made by Mimi Pollow, quilted by Quality Quilterz

Mimi Pollow says, "This quilt was started on a quilting cruise. Yes, it is from a kit, but it was far from easy.  In fact, it took me almost a year to finish." Pattern source: Strippy Double Diamond by Carol Morrissey.  

 Woven Wonder, made and quilted by Jana Knutson.

What a fantastic woven-look quilt! Jana Knutson says, "Only 400 squares to match up points! One and done pattern but it was fun." Pattern source: Over and Down Under by Bonnie Sullivan (available at many sources). 

It All Comes Together by Peter Adams, quilted by Kathy Harris. 

A graphic contemporary look was achieved with this two-color quilt. Pattern source: Modern 180 (Deb Tucker's Studio).  Peter Adams says, "This quilt was created following the Modern 180 Tumbling Triangles pattern, which uses the Studio 180 V-block tool. A V-block unit contains a centered triangle.  I was intrigued that the triangles appear to be suspended and in a free-fall motion."

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Our Northern Neighbors

July 1 is Canada Day. Best wishes to all our Canadian readers!  Here are two beautiful quilts featuring intricate maple leaves and flying geese from a pattern called Northern Neighbours.by Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Designs.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and new & vintage jewelry. For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !  

Northern Neighbors by Joyce Holley, quilted by Nancy Goans

Red and white quilts are instant classics.  The contrasts are perfect for these maple leaves! Joyce Holley says, "[With its] intricate maple leaves and flying geese, this quilt celebrates our Canadian Neighbors to the North. Made for Canada's 150th Anniversary."

Lake Superior, made and quilted by Jean Firestine

We love the wintry feel of this gorgeous blue and white quilt by Jean Firestine.  The quilt was "based on the maple leaf & flying geese blocks from the Northern Neighbors pattern, which was developed for an event between quilters in Minnesota and Canada." Beautiful batiks and creative quilting (by Jean herself) can be seen in the closeup photo below.

Jean explains, "I grew up on Lotus Lake in Minnesota and spent my freshman year of college in Duluth, which is on Lake Superior.  The quilt design contains snowflakes and waves to remind me of winter on the north shore."

Note: The Northern Neighbors pattern uses Deb Tucker’s Corner Beam, Split Rects, and Wing Clipper 1 tools for ease of construction.

For more quilt inspiration, check out this FREE Snow Geese pattern by Deb Tucker (CLICK for PDF download):

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson (Arizona) quilters guild show.

Fun with Fabric! (part 2)

We were delighted with the immense talent on display at the Spring quilt shows. The quilters made great use of a wide range of fabrics from batiks, to solids, to traditional and modern prints.  Join us in admiring these creations!

p.s. check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry!
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

My Adorably Dressed Girls by Caroline Ellermann

This outstanding quilt was made from recycled dresses! Caroline Ellermann says, "What an honor to have your daughter-in-law ask you to make a quilt from 30 of her favorite dresses worn by her daughters.  The beautiful and fun fabric designs were a challenge to combine, but the results were very rewarding."

 For her creation, Caroline modified the Garden Party quilt pattern by Laura Heine. The quilting was done by Gale Smith of Phoenix, Arizona.

Christmas Rose by Kathryn Wild

We really liked this quilt! Kathryn Wild made Christmas Rose with over 200 fabric scraps for her daughter’s birthday.  We were fascinated by all the different prints! The quilt was inspired by a 2003 Alexander Henry fabric, which you can see in the border. The scalloped edges of the quilt echo the various flower shapes.  It was quilted by Quality Quiltz using a poinsettia design as shown below.

Sourdough by Sheila Arnold

The strong contrasts and varied prints in this scrap quilt really appealed to us! Sheila Arnold says that Sourdough was pieced about 30 years ago. Some tiny black squares rotted and she had to replace them before quilting. It was quilted on her embroidery machine during the pandemic, using Edge to Edge quilting by Amelie Scott Designs.  

Modern + Buttons: Walmart #5 by Karen G. Fisher

This fun modern art quilt was created with color blocks in an asymmetrical “modern” arrangement with gray background. If you look closely you can see that each little square is embellished with a large, colorful button!

Karen G. Fisher says, “This is my fifth quilt highlighting my favorite buttons from Walmart, plus my signature tucked technique, in an asymmetrical “modern” arrangement with gray background.”  The quilting was done by Karen herself.

 SueNami by Joyce Holley, quilted by Penny Boese

This quilt was beautifully made by Joyce Holley and quilted by Penny Boese. SueNami won a blue ribbon in its category* at the 2022 Tucson quilt festival.  It was based on the SueNami pattern by Studio 180 Design by Deb Tucker.  (*Two person, medium, pieced).

Joyce says, "This was a great way for me to use some of the colors in my stash. SueNami is my first Hunter’s Star quilt... I enjoyed the process and how the points are points." The quilting done in multicolored thread was also outstanding.

Image credits: Photos were taken at the 2022 Arizona Quilters Guild Quilt Arizona show (Modern + Buttons, Sourdough) and the 2022 Tucson Quilters Guild Quilt Fiesta (Christmas Rose, My Adorably Dressed Girls, SueNami.)