08 February 2008

Homespun BOM: Bear Paw

It's that time again. This block has some definite problems. Amy at The Calico Cat, pointed out the highly visible oops. Can you find it? As for the subtle oops, well it is in measurements. Through no fault of mine, I might add!

Consider this. All the bear paw blocks that I've been able to find instructions for finish at 10" or 14". Now can you remember what size these blocks in the BOM are to finish? 12". The gal that handed out the instructions said to "just cut a smidge bigger". A smidge?

If you do the math, or in my case I went to EQ6, the pieces are cut with numbers ending in 11/16 or 9/16. Fooey. I have both Omnigrid and CreativeGrid rulers and neither one go down to sixteenths. Another Fooey. I actually have one ruler left from my drafting days that is 18" long and goes down to 32nds. It has divots out of the side from using an xacto knife on it doing paste up (anybody know what I'm talking about here?) but it will handle a rotary cutter. I plan on remaking the large block. The small one came out fine with nice friendly numbers.

15 comments:

  1. Oh a 7 x 7 block finishing at 12". That is tricky. Maybe paper piecing would help? The little one is a real cuttie though. Take care.

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  2. I have some rulers like that!! :-)

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  3. Aren't all bear paws supposed to have an errant toe? Mine do *s*

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  4. I do know what you are talking about. Why or why the goofy measurements to begin with? I love the Bear Paw block.

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  5. Oops -- some minor adjustments needed, or re-engineering!

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  6. Upper right corner (hst turned around). As for the measurements -- um, cut it a little big???? Is she NUTS??!!?? Hope your ruler works out!

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  7. Either that or make it to a size that makes sense and add a sashing! (what I would more likely do)

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  8. I can understand the errors...and the issues with making a size not given.
    I have a book called, make any block, any size-it's my reference for cases like this!

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  9. Well, we've ALL done that piecing fooey, if we're honest about it. I like the check fabric but it can be a pain if you're obsessive-compulsive about grain straightness. Either you write off worrying about it (well, it looks more handcrafted that way) or fret yourself gray-headed cutting them out EXACTLY straight. As for block size, I have re-jiggered whole quilt designs to avoid certain block sizes!

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  10. I think I would be tempted to make a 10 inch block and then just add an outside border to make it 12 inches. I can't imagine trying to construct one using those measurements. I am surprised that the BOM doesn't have better instructions than that.

    Good luck with it :))

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  11. Ouch - that toe problem looks painful!! LOL

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  12. I love your bears paw with a little interest in the toe. I've found 1 Omingrid ruler with that measurement between 7/8 and 1 is were you want to aim. I just had to do this measurement with my Lori Smith BOM.

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  13. I love your bear paw blocks, especially the little one.

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  14. I saw someone on Simply Quilts who said that when you need a sixteenth of an inch, just move the ruler over a tad! I'm not that casual. I'm eager to hear how your other ruler works.

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