Hexagon help

I've just found this really old thread when I did a search for hexagons, as I've been thinking about trying them & making a scrap quilt. After reading all of the stories where people have added to them over the course of years & used old clothes which have held sentimental value I am completely in love with the idea!

As someone who is still new to patchwork I am now starting to understand how people end up with so many UFOs x

Anyone got any advice on the size of the hexagons? I was thinking 2" would be big enough to see the fabric pattern but not too big.

Hi KayKay,

Be careful starting on this it is addictive!

You need to consider what size scraps you have, hexagons with sides of 2" will need scraps of about 4 1/2" square, this seems a big scrap to me, but then I'm the idiot who uses hexagons with 1/4" sides needing only 1" square scraps. I can't remember what size I used when I started, too many years ago, really it's up to personal preference and as I said the size of scraps you want/have to use.

2" sides need 4 1/2" square
1 1/2" sides need 3 1/2" square
1" sides need 2 3/4" square

These are just rough amounts rounded up to the nearest 1/4".

I hope this helps, if you have any questions please ask.

Alison.

Hi KayKay

I am no expert but I am working on some samples with 1 1/2" sides and I would say that they are plenty big enough for a beginner. Like Alison says, and she is the expert, 2" seems too big.

I have used my Sizzix to cut out the 1 1/2" hexagon paper templates.

Margaret

4 1/2" seems like a big scrap to me too, I didn't realise it would need to be so big. I was thinking 2" tall, I don't know how long that makes the sides, I think that maths is beyond me

1/4" sides? Wow! I think that would send me cross eyed, but I bet the finished quilts look spectacular

i don't have a Sizzix machine, so I was wondering how everyone made sure that their hexagons were cut perfectly. I was thinking about buying some to start with, I've seen them for sale on eBay.

I was thinking that hexagons might be the perfect project to keep in my handbag as I think I'm about to enter the phase of life where I'm waiting around for kids. Whether it be outside school, or just in the car to make sure a little person has a decent length nap

Hi Kay Kay

1 1/4" is the best size for me - my first quilt was in hexagons that size. I bought a template which gave me a metal hexagon template for the papers and a plastic see through one for the material. I just drew round them and then cut out, They fit in a zip lock bag nicely and easy to pop in your handbag as you say.

I make loads of cat mats now as they are an easier size to work on and don't take too long to make - around 23" x 18" in size.

I can't work out how to get a picture on here, but here is a link to my Facebook page which if you scroll down to the bottom of the photos you can see some examples of the cat mats.

https://www.facebook.com/Sylveryne/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums

Have fun with it.

XJ

KayKay, this might be helpful - free templates and also here

Irene