"Dumb" Hexie Question
 

Hope someone here can help me figure this out.

I want to make a hexie quilt. I bought a Fiskar's hexie punch (which works great) and cut out my hexie templates from old file folders. I've watched many tutes on hexies and they all use fabric cut into hexies to make hexies! Seems counterintuitive to me and I can't for the life of me figure out an easy way to precut my fabric into hexagons (yes, I am challenged! :p). Is there another shape that could work - perhaps a circle - that would work to make hexies? HELP!!!

Thanks to all. I look forward to the wonderful suggestions I am sure to get.

I cut strips and then squares big enough for my paper hexie. I have the same punch and it makes cutting papers so much faster and accurate.
As I'm gluing (I use a Sewline glue pen) I trim the excess material off. Works for me...

If you purchased the punch with 1 inch sides, a 2 1/2 inch square will fit the hexie. No need to trim to a hexie shape. Just fold. If you desire to trim the seams, you can do that after the hexies are sewn together and the threads are removed.

I am using 1 inch hexie papers and making 2 1/2 inch strips cut into 2 1/2 in squares of fabric. I find that trimming the corners off a little helps to eliminate some of the excess bulkiness. So far I have made over 600 of the little buggers in spare time and on a weekend trip in the car---getting anxious to put something together and think it will be a table runner to start with--its my first try at this so antsy to see what it turns out to be.

I do the same as Mike'sgirl. I also cut the fabric into squares and then trim a bit of the excess fabric. I use the hexagon punch too - works great! I also use a hole punch to put a hole in the middle of the hexie template, baste the fabric (do not go through the paper) and when it comes time to remove the paper template just flip them out with a chopstick or end of your scissors. Easy peasy! I also leave the basting in - can't see it and it doesn't do any harm. Have fun making hexies! :)

Ooh, I've been considering getting the fiskars hexie punch...when I was looking at them online I couldn't work out what size they were...if I remember rightly the largest one was shown with a size of one inch, but it didn't specify whether that was along one edge or at the largest point across the hexie...can anyone clarify for me?

I usually cut squares, then just cut a bit off the corners.

I hand cut my hexie papers while watching tv. then punch a hole in the center to hold in place,on the fabric, with a pin.I mostly cut my fabric from scrapes of about 3 inch pieces. In the sec. picture the basting thread is under the fabric from corner to corner. I use tweezers to remove the papers. I love making hexies.!!!http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...l-2014-100.jpghttp://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...l-2014-101.jpg

It should always be the length of one side. I cut 2.25" fabric strips to cut my hexs. I use my tiny 18mm Olfa rotary cutter to trim the two edges on each side of the hexagon. Goes real fast and easy.

The measurement is of one flat side.
For my 1/2" hexie I use 1 1/2" squares. When I made my last small quilt I didn't trim the fabric. Getting the papers out of this small piece was a bit of a challenge. In fact when I started quilting I found a few papers still inside - and they still are! A quilter would be able to find them, but I doubt anyone else could ��

kathyd

I use a Go die to cut my hexies. I don't use paper I stitch them together using a 1/4 seam. It's a one step process and it I can sew a lot together in no time. Here is the back side of flower shapes I'm making.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]478701[/ATTACH]
No stitches show because no whip stitches needed.
Inklingo is a great way to cut and sew hexies. http://lindafranz.com/

Sisty-I purchased the fisckar hex punch at michaels (used50% off coupon), came home all prepared to punch templates, and my hand is still recovering 2days later! I apparently purchased a defective punch. I live 40 miles from the closest michaels, so I emailed fisckar-packaging states " lifetime wattarnty...they informed me the model I purchased is no longer available, but they will send me the current model. It's listed as the x-lg hex punch on their website, and each side is 1" long. ($18) I tried my punch on all weights of card stock, and it took 2 hands to punch through some thin scratch paper. Here's hoping my replacement arrives soon and I can punch templates! ;)

i do 3/4" hexes, use the fiskers and use old manilla folders or scrap booking card stock. no problems.
a pic of my current quilt is in pictures under Lynnies Hexes. I've done gmfg in 3/4" also. No problems cutting the hexes either. try thinner paper or card stock. can only punch 1 layer at a time

Although I recently bought and am happy with, the new GO die for paper & fab cut at once, I was intrigued with this discussion on the fiskar punch, so I looked it......found one on eBay for good price..same size as GO die.....this way I can do " on the go" pattern cutting if necessary.......or not n the mood to pull out die cutter.......

Now I wonder if there is a diamond punch somewhere...that might be a cool challenge too....back to search......

I have searched and searched for a diamond punch. If you find one could you please let me know.where????

The Fiskars hex punch is $16 for the large and $19 for the extra large on the Fiskars website. Very reasonable prices considering how many hexies it takes to make a quilt. The large for paper and the extra large for the fabric. Perfect combination. This would make a great gift for a quilt friend.

Iron fabric to freezer paper for perfect punches.

Word of caution. My fiskars punch will NOT cut fabric. It's for paper or cardstock, it's not a blade but like a hole paper punch. If you can use it for fabric, your hands are much stronger than mine.

Fisckar Punches are made for scrapbooking. They are meant for cutting paper. Perhaps the paper you are trying to cut was too thick, thus the need to use both hands. Just wanted to give you a heads up, so you will not be disappointed when you get the new punch.

I've just ordered the xl punch :-) I'm excited now! The details on amazon said it will cut up to 210gm card...not entirely sure what that means but I shall have a looksy now as I want some decent card for my hexies!

I highly recommend that you don't use the thick rigid card stock. I started out making my hexies from the heat resistant Mylar template (which CANNOT be cut with the punch btw) and I found it very difficult to sew the hexies together. You need it to be flexible because you may need to be able to bend or fold the hexies to sew them together. I use pretty cheap "value" type of card stock with my punch. I get 20 hexies from each sheet. Some I reuse after removing them, others I just pitch depending on how beat up they get. You will really manipulate your quilt top while sewing the hexies together.

also, the punch will not cut fabric.

I haven't used the Fiskars punch for fabric but I have the Creative Memories hex punch that you push down like a big button and it cuts fabric when ironed to freezer paper. I thought the Fiskars would work that way too. I guess not since it is squeezed punched. I usually order the papers from paperpieces.com. So convenient if you like to use the papers. They have every shape for EPP.

Off to the goodwill store..always have boxes of thank you, birthday, invitations, etc. cheap.......good for hexie patterns

I bought a pack of 300 hexies by paper pieces, but as I am in the UK it cost quite a lot! I found the xl hexie punch for about the same price as the pack of papers so I figure it will work out cheaper on the end if I can just punch my own papers. I was planning on getting a nice big pack of cheapy card to use when I can find some :-)

Free hexie templates - including diamond. Print, cut with an old rotary cutter blade (or scissors - NOT THE FABRIC ONES she says, screaming ;) ) http://sewquickly.com/1-hexie-template-free-download/ A nice tute:
http://cadouri-din-inima.blogspot.co...templates.html

I have the Fiskars XL punch; it works great on cardstock - and my fav is the multiple subscription cards that come in every magazine.

Although I am just starting w/ hexies, I am fussy cutting. A great tute: http://luannsloosethreads.blogspot.c...-tutorial.html

Okay...I am understanding that most of you cut your fabric into squares, then trim after hexie is basted. Is this correct? How much larger do I make the square than the finished hexie? 1/2", 1"...this is where I get stuck now. Thanks.

BTW, buying cards, etc. at thrift shops is a great idea! I've been using recycled file folders with my Fiskar's punch.

I am using the Fiskars punch and it makes 1" hexies and I am using 2 1/2" squares. I don't have extra fabric to trim after making the Hexie

THANK YOU ALL!!!! Now off to try to make some hexies...will let you know how I make out.

I'm not using squares, I'm using scraps so my fabric starts off all kinds of weird shapes. I pin my hexie template to the fabric and then sort of roughly trim the fabric down to a hex-ish shape, trying to leave somewhere between a quarter-inch to half-inch of fabric around the template.

I was taught to baste right through the paper but I used cardstock, so I've copied what I saw others here posting and just put a couple stitches at each corner. Seems to be working great! I sure am slow though, I only can do about 5 or 6 in a sitting before I get sick of it. I really am not much of a hand-sewer but I'm determined that eventually I will make enough of these that I can do something with them!

I haven't joined any together yet but I don't think that part will be hard. It will take me forever, but it won't be hard!

Doesn't anyone else use freezer paper? Just iron it on and proceed as normal. I like that much better than cardstock. Very cheap, too.