The 'Hand' Quilt - Crowding the Back Burner

76" x 89"

I've been busy making progress on that 'list' I shared in my last post but today I want to show you some blocks I've been working on for, let's just say - - - awhile....one of those many projects relegated to the 'back burner'.

My inspiration, once again, came from a vintage quilt. I saw this one in the Utah state book. They call it "The Hand".  It was made in Utah by Harriett Ambrosine Hacking in the late 1800's.

It's a bear paw variation that I find interesting.  The addition of that tiny triangle square at the inner corner of each 'hand' gives it a little spark, I think.

Working it up on graph paper

When using a vintage quilt for inspiration I don't have a pattern so I must draft the design first. I look at the size of the original quilt to estimate the size of the blocks. (one reason I hate it when a photo of a quilt does not include the size!)
Of course, one can make them smaller or bigger than the original but I like to get a feel for the scale of the original and then make my decision.

Here are some of the blocks I've completed. I am not sure if I will follow the original setting exactly or not, nor am I sure what final size I will make but with 10.5" blocks, I know it will be bed size.
In comparing my blocks to the original, I see that I need to make more 'low-contrast' blocks. And I love the two blocks with yellow in them in the original quilt, don't you?






Now that I think of it, I started another Bear's Paw years ago -  many years ago! I dug it out of my UFO bin so you can compare the blocks.

When I started this one I was thinking of a bed quilt for the cabin but now I think I may be happy with a smaller piece for the wall. Sometimes letting projects 'rest' partway through gives you an opportunity to go in a different direction!

Next: Bowtie on the Bed