Bear Tracks Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Skill Level: Beginner

Momma Bear said, "The Bear Tracks quilt block is JUST RIGHT if you're a beginning quilter!"

She's one smart cookie!

With just half square triangles and cut squares, it's a nice little block to practice your new skills.

No special tools to buy either and no paper piecing.

Sweet!

You may have heard this block called by another name like: Duck's Foot in the Mud, Maple Leaf Quilt, Tea Leaf, or Tea Leaves. Quilting's like that!

The Bear Tracks quilt block tutorial starts here

Want help setting the blocks when you're finished? Check out the three quilt layouts at the end of this page.

Are you ready?

Let's get started.

📋 General Instructions

If you need help printing this tutorial, you'll find it here.

Bear Tracks design

Sample Size: 6" finished / 6½" unfinished

Grid: 3x3

Attribution: Nancy Cabot

AKA: Duck's foot in the Mud (Nancy Cabot), Leaf (Nimble Needle Treasures), Tea Leaf (Modern Priscilla), Tea Leaves (Nancy Cabot)

Design Type: Even 9-patch

Seam allowances (SA) are pressed toward the darker fabric unless otherwise stated.

When pressing, first press the sewn unit in the closed position to set the seam. This melds the thread into the fabric. Open the patches and press from the front.

Choose two fabrics with enough contrast so that the points show.

Pick a finished block size and cut your patches.

			Cutting Chart for a Bear Tracks Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
Patch	Fabric	Qty	3”	4-1/2”	6”	12”
1	L	1	1-1/2”x1-1/2”	2”x2”	2-1/2”x2-1/2”	4-1/2”x4-1/2”
2	D	3	1-1/2”x1-1/2”	2”x2”	2-1/2”x2-1/2”	4-1/2”x4-1/2”
3**	D	2	1-7/8” x 1-7/8”	2-3/8”x2-3/8”	2-7/8”x2-7/8	4-7/8”x4-7/8”
4**	L	2	1-7/8” x 1-7/8”	2-3/8”x2-3/8”	2-7/8”x2-7/8	4-7/8”x4-7/8”
5	L	1	1-1/2”x1-1/2”	2”x2”	2-1/2”x2-1/2”	4-1/2”x4-1/2”
Unfinished Block Size			3-1/2”	4-1/2”	6-1/2”	12-1/2”
Trim HSTs to...			1-1/2”x1-1/2”	2”x2”	2-1/2”x2-1/2”	4-1/2”x4-1/2”
Grid Size			1”	1-1/2”	2”	4”

**Try adding an additional 1/4" to the length and width of this patch when cutting and then trim the unit to size after stitching...makes for perfect HSTs...every time!

Step 2: Assemble the units for a Bear Tracks

With right sides together (RST), sew a light #1 to a dark #2.

With RST, sew a dark #2 to a dark #2. (Yeah, that sounds kind of silly...but that's how this block is made!)

I'm using a quarter inch foot with a flange on the righthand side for this step

Press. These two 2-piece units are complete.

To make the half square triangles (HST), draw one diagonal line on the back of the two, lighter #4 patches. I've used a red pen here (black arrow below) so it's easier to see. In a for-real quilt, I'd use a mechanical pen because the line stays nice and fine the length of the line.

Stitch a quarter inch away from both sides of the line.

A more traditional quarter inch presser foot is easier to use for this step

Cut the two sewn units apart on the diagonal line to create four HSTs. If you added a bit to the patch-size as suggested in the cutting instructions, cut these HST to size now.

That number is located at the intersection of the row labeled 'Trim HST to...' (highlighted in yellow) and the column for your finished block size. In this example the block is 6" finished, so the HSTs are trimmed to 2-1/2" square.

NOTE: If you plan on making lots of Bear Tracks, my choice would be to use the more efficient, 8-at-a-time method of making HSTs. Click here to learn how.

Step 3: Assemble your Bear Tracks quilt block

Lay out the cut squares, pairs of squares and HSTs for your Bear Tracks into rows and columns. Double check that the HST units are placed in the right direction. It's too easy to get them mixed up.

Press the SA of the two dark #2s towards the left, opposite of the light/dark pair. The seams then nest to make it easy to match them.

The units are ready to stitch into a Bear Tracks quilt block

Stitch the units in each row together. I find that when I pin my SAs are more accurate, especially at the ends.

Press with the SAs in the direction of the arrows.

Press in the direction of the arrows so that your seams will next for the final step

Stitch the rows together, again, using pins if you find them helpful. (I most certainly do!)

After a final press, (check out our Best Pressing Technique) your Bear Tracks quilt block is finished!

Bear Tracks

Ideas for your Bear Tracks quilt blocks

To keep things simple, we'll use the same background or 'L' fabric for all the blocks.

First let's set the blocks edge-to-edge in groups of four, rotating each one a quarter turn to form 'wreaths'. To maintain symmetry, use even numbers of blocks in the rows and columns.

Bear Tracks quilt blocks set edge-to-edge

Same layout with the addition of sashing and cornerstones. This looks much like the traditional Bear's Paw quilt block.

Bear Tracks quilt blocks set with sashing and contrasting cornerstones

And finally, instead of sashing, a strip is added to two adjacent sides of the block, log cabin style so the the design appears to float. Each row contains two positions of the block.

Bear Tracks quilt with sashing on only two sides of each block

There's more blocks to sample...

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