http://thescrappyappleyard.blogspot....templates.html
The above weblink is an excellent tutorial for using the MYLAR precut hexes templates - they're punched in the center so you can pop out the template with a chopstock (or whatever) after the hex is "basted" into shape.
The mylar works far better than paper or cardboard and doesn't have its sides compromised after several uses - when tracing or sewing with them, often the sides get worn within just a few uses (traces) because of the softer nature of the card stock. You can get a set of 50 or so of these in a pack, so you can get pretty far ahead in prep work, to be able to sit down and baste-baste-baste before more trace-trace-trace. The website also has links to the mylar pop-out templates).
I have tried several methods and this is the only one that works for me.