Making Hexagons using paper or card.

You can download a pdf version of this page.

Hexagons are hand sewn using stiff paper or card the fabric is tacked to and removed after a hexagon is surrounded.

Ready made plastic template hexagons can bought made in different sizes which can be used as a master template, other shapes that can be used in the same way are diamonds, half hexagons and triangles. If you buy a pack they are often will fit together to make more patterns.

The master template is used to draw round to make as many hexagons as you need. The paper or card needs to be stiff enough to hold the shape of the hexagon when the fabric is tacked over. But thin enough to allow a needle to pass through easily.

A good source of card are Christmas and Birthday cards.

Use a sharp pencil and keep it sharp so the drawn line does not get to big and distorts some of the hexagons.

Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut out the hexagons keeping them all the same size.

The bought pack of templates should provide a second set that is 1/4" larger used to draw round the fabric.

Copyright.

Please ask people to download their own copy of this pattern. The patterns cannot be used for teaching a workshop without permission, please contact me for details of rates for teachers who want to use a pattern for a workshop. If you wish to enter a quilt show with a quilt / wall hanging from any of my patterns you must credit me with the design. You may make a quilt / wall hanging from this pattern for your own personal use or as a gift for someone else there is no limit for how many you make in this category.

Hexagon quilts are great way to use up scraps of fabric, or can be used to make patterns such as Grandmothers garden. They have often been made using any fabric that has been near to hand tea towels, old shirts and can be a great way of keeping a history of fabric that has been used in your family.

To cut the fabric out place the template on the wrong side of fabric and draw round the template then cut out. Templates shown are not to scale.

hexagon templates.

To Make the Hexagons.

1. Take one of the fabric hexagons and place one of the card hexagons place in the centre on the wrong side of the fabric. Make sure there is an equal amount of fabric on each side.

hexagon on fabric

2. Use a thread for the tacking that will easily be seen when you need to remove it. Have a needle threaded ready to tack the card and fabric together.

3. Hold the centre of the card and fabric firmly and fold one of the fabric edges over the card hold this in place and begin to tack the fabric in place. Just in from the edge of the folded fabric take the needle from the back to the front of the card, then bring the needle from the front to the back half way along the side.

Sewing fabric to hexagons

4. Turn the hexagon round to the next side and fold this down over the card make sure to corner over the point is tight. Make sure you keep the fabric from moving so that each side that has not been turned over has the equal amount of fabric on.

Take the needle from the back to the front going though both the new fold and the old one. Make a second small stitch in this side before continuing round folding each side of fabric.

When all the sides have been stitched in place make a couple of small stitches which will hold the thread in place until it can be removed.

Make as many as can to get you started.

Sewing fabric to hexagons

To sew the hexagons together.

1. Choose a hexagon that will be in the centre of the first six hexagons, place a second hexagon on top of this right sides together. Choose a thread that blends with all the colours in the fabric.

Sewing hexagons together.

Start sewing at one of the corners, pushing the needle through the fabric of both the hexagons, but avoiding the card. Try to keep the stitches small and close together.

2. Sew along the first side. Do not secure the thread at the end of the side, keep it ready to stitch the next side.

Next take another hexagon and match up the sides of the two that have been sewn together, place the third hexagon right sides together over the centre one, continue stitching round the side.

Carry on with the other four hexagons. When all the hexagons have been added to the centre one secure the thread.

Remove the card from the centre hexagon which will make sewing the sides up easier. Remove tacking thread.

Start sewing the sides of the hexagons together. Once all of them have been stitches begin making the next set.

Set of hexagons sewn together.
© Becky Sharp 2008.