Bear's Paw Bookmark

Before trying to make this project please refer to the Bear's Paw Quilt Block tutoiral first:
http://rhondasquilttutorials.blogspot.com/p/bears-paw-quilt-block.html



I sold alot of bookmarks when I was selling to a local gift shop and this is one of the bookmarks that was popular.

You will need to make 3 Bear's paws. The 1 1/4" HST is cut to 1". Then your paw should be about 2 - 2 1/8" square. Make sure all 3 of your paws are reasonably the same size.

Finished Bookmark

3 Paws with sashings - ready to sew

I trimmed the two center sashings to 1/2" from the seam

I sewed on the two center sashings and the top one but not the bottom yet.

Trim all the sashings except the top one. Sew the paws together, Leave the bottom to last. Don't trim the bottom one yet.

Sew on the bottom sashing but don't trim it yet. trim the sides to make sure they are straight and measure to make sure your center is the same size from bottom to top. Add the borders on the sides.

Here's where the center is trimmed

Ok all the sashings are added. Now you can stop here and trim the light blue for a border and skip on to the finishing steps. But I like to add 2 borders and I like to end with a dark border.

So I trimmed the lt blue to 1/2" and added dark blue borders.

I trimmed the dark blue to 1/2" from the seam

I don't like to do any more math than I have to so I turn the top face down on the backing fabric and cut out just a bit bigger than the top.

Pin the top to the back and trim

I start on the side and sew around the edge til you get back to where you started. I use a 1/8" seam here but you can use 1/4" I iron all my seams open so when I get to this point I usually hold the seam fabric back out of the way while I sew the sides. If you don't the bulk of the seam can throw your needle out of a straight line.

Leave an opening about 2" wide so you can turn the bookmark MAKE SURE YOU BACKSTITCH WHEN YOU START AND WHEN YOU STOP

Turn your bookmark right side out through the opening you left.

You can see the finish seam around the edge. I also use 1/8" here but you can use 1/4" I usually try to stay close to the edge or at least to center the seam on the borders. I usually spray with Magic Sizing and iron thoroughly. Not press but Iron! I let it dry overnight to get some stiffness.