Here is how I make my hexagons. First I make the paper pieces. I use this site to print off one template.
http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/hexagonal/

I make 1" hexagons, which are 1" on each side. I print off one sheet, then put 5 sheets of scrap paper under it and cut all at once.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons001.jpg[/IMG]

Now cut 2.5" squares from your fabric.

Place the template in the middle of the fabric. I like to do it kind of diagonally.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons012.jpg[/IMG]

I use hand quilting thread and John James betweens needles. Cut a length of thread the length of your forearm or so.

Finger press one corner together.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons004.jpg[/IMG]

Bring the needle from the back to the front, going through the paper and the 2 layers of fabric. I use this video to help me http://vimeo.com/10990847

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons006.jpg[/IMG]

Then go down through again
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons007.jpg[/IMG]

I like to do this twice on the first corner. Then repeat for all the corners.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons009.jpg[/IMG]

I don't cut my thread after this, I string about 3 together.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons013.jpg[/IMG]

Here are your hexies on the back.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons010.jpg[/IMG]

And here are your finished hexies!
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...exagons014.jpg[/IMG]

how do you join the hex's?? I've never paper pieced!!

That will have to be the next installment! Try this great video: http://vimeo.com/11382391

AWESOME O'ASH! Thanks!!!

wonderful video!! thanks!! O darn, another todo!! :) :)

What a great tute. Thanks.

Thank you for the great tute! :D:D:D

It is very addictive too, great for tv watching or traveling

In sewing the single hexagons together are you using quilting thread or regular sewing thread?. I have cut out 1.45 inch hexagons and I think will cut 3 3/4 squares. Thanks for any input, cindy

Would you please tell me how do you remove the paper..I am new at quilting and piecing.. Thanks!!

thanks, I bookmarked it adding to my to do list. :? I better get busy.

So you leave the paper in them?? Doesn't that make for a very "crinkly" sounding quilt? And then what happens when you wash the quilt? English PP quilting has me VERY confused.

You will evetually remove the paper. Give her time i am sure she will get there. Good Tute so far.

When the hexagons are all joined up you remove the paper.

We had a guest speaker who showed us a Hexagon quilt in process that she took everywhere to work on. Wow! Five of us in our mini group are now creating one, all so different.
Always been popular, but I think it will become extremel popular again!

I made a Grandmother's Garden Quilt using this method. I used index cards for the templates and kept a stack of them plus the fabric pieces in a candy box, took it with me whenever we went on a trip. Basted them, then whipstitched them together while sitting in the back seat like the queen. Hubby and sons do the driving. I learned this method watching some 4-H girls at the county fair and I think of them often teaching the teacher. I used the templates over and over.
This was also my mother's favorite quilt pattern but she didn't use the paperpiecing method, just folded and stitched them together, paper method works much easier.
Carol J.

Thanks for the great tutorial, now for the question. What do you use to cut your paper hexagons and how do you keep the layers from shifting while you do it?

My template is 1 7/8" on each side. I use the pesky little cards that fall out of magazines when you read them. I use to just throw them away. They are just the right thickness and have sometimes have pretty pictures on them.

I do not understand how to remove the paper, if you have sewn though the paper while shaping the hexagon?

Last night I stapled around the edge of the sheets of paper and it seemed to help somewhat. One staple on each side. I wanted a larger shape and was able to get 1.45 with the same count as the 1 inch. When going to 1.5 it cut the count down considerably. Today I will try and figure out what size of a square I need.

Are there any math wizard out there.
If an one inch sided hexagon needs a 2.5 square ,,, then what size square would work for my 1.45 inch sided haexagon?

You are just basting to the paper. You remove your basting stitch after connecting all the hexegons and then pop the paper forms out and reuse for the next project. I'm not sure how well plain paper holds up to re-use, they are not very stiff.

silly me, of course one would remove the basting threads and then it would just pull out( couldnt see the forest for the trees), lol..
Now does anyone have the math questions answer?

For the math question, just measure accross the widest point and add 1/2 inch {about 4in}, then measure top to bottom and add 1/2 inch {about 3 3/4in} so if you want to cut squares, then a 4 inch square ought to be just right. The addition of the 1/2 in will be enough to turn over a 1/4 inch for your 'seam' when you stitch the hexegons together. You can trim off, or leave any extra fabric around the shorter widths. If working with irregular shaped swatches you could just pin your template and cut out 1/4 inch larger than the template.

That is my carry along project. I just keepmaking the little hexagons and eventually I will decide what I want to create. Mine is scrappy but I like scrappy

Thank you for doing that, and God bless.

thank you so much I was quesstamating 3 3/4 but I think I will start with the 4 inch squares to be on the safe side thanks so much for your time, Cindy

Be very careful of making this quilt. It is very addictive. You just don't want to put it down. I didn't anyway. Had to stop to do some other more pressing things, but its coming back soon. I love doing it. It is so calming and such wonderful therapy.

Enjoy ladies.

Mrs. I

I'm working on 1.5 hexagons in the grandmother's garden motif. Making it for a pillow cover. Only work on it once a week. So going is slow; but when I get it finished I'll post a pic if I can figure out how to do it. I've completed all hexes for a table runner, right now a UFO. I'll post that when I figure out how to post pix too. Sorry for the redundancy.

I am doing English paper piecing too. I will post my project sometime. Have never done it yet, but I will get it figured out. I love the fact that I can do this anywhere, I can take it on trips and work, or in front of the tv, etc.

I am working on one now...This is the same method I use.My heagon is 1" so I cut my fabric 4"..square...gives me plenty of room to baste, then after sewing together I trim to 1/4" seam...

Thanks for the link. I used in a different way. I just bought fabric for a one block wonder and wanted to figure out how many blocks I would need to cut to make a quilt. Well I printed out a template, adjusting the size to 1 inch and found out if my octagons were 12 inches, which is the size I want to make,I will need to cut 30 6 inch (unfinished) 45 degree triangles for a 60X72" quilt. Fabulous!

Thanks for the great tute, I am making a Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt and every thing helps to keep me working on it!

Glad you are enjoying the tutorial! Thanks all for answering the questions that were asked. Yes, the paper and basting stitches will come out after they are joined. I use hand quilting thread, but I'm sure you could use whatever you had. I will do another tutorial for joining and making the flowers when I get to that stage :)

I got my first 6 done while riding in the car to pick up my 10yo grandson from his first 2 week camp, here outside of San Antonio. The first one,(hexagon) I had to stop and redo since I wasn't aware of the shifting and had no seam allowance at the last point, live and learn but I do enjoy the mindlessness of it. I sewed all the squares I add cut so now I need to work on another stack of squares. Thanks for the tutorial, Cindy

I use this site also to make my hex's. http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/hexagonal/

I like how you can adjust the printer for different sizes. The small hex's are for a lap quilt.

The larger ones are for an I Spy quilt. I take EPP along in the car, Dr's office, ets. Mindless work and keeping my hands busy.

Great tut.

I made coasters for the whole family last year for Christmas. They loved them. It was something I could do on the truck easily. :D :D

This sounds like a WINNER !!!!!

What am I doing wrong? It looks like you have pictures with your tute, but I can't see them. Tried right click and download pics, but it didn't work. Also, the one link is blocked here, so I can't see that. Any ideas on how to get the pictures to show?

I like the fabric selection you have chosen in the pile, very sweet...