Using a Template
Cut a hexagon out of cardstock to create your own template. You can purchase pre-made hexagon templates, or you can make your own out of cardstock with 6 equal sides. Check your quilting pattern to see how large you should make your hexagons to figure out the size for your template. Use a ruler when you cut out your hexagon so that all of the sides are even.
Cut out a strip of fabric about 1 in (2.5 cm) wider than your template. Measure out a strip of fabric that’s a little larger than your template that you made. Cut a strip out of the fabric you’re working with to start making your hexagons. The strip can be as long as you want it to. The longer you make it, the more hexagons you’ll be able to cut out of it.
Fold the fabric in half and cut off the seam to create 2 pieces. You can cut out double the amount of hexagons if you fold your fabric into 2 layers. Match up the ends, then use a rotary cutter to snip off the folded edge so that your fabric is in 2 pieces.Tip: If you’re working with thin fabric, you can even fold it into thirds and cut off the fold on each end.
Place your template on the end of the fabric strip. Starting at 1 side of the fabric strip, position your template in the center of the fabric. You can line it up with the edge so you don’t waste any fabric when you cut.
Use a cutting tool to trim away the fabric following the template. If you’re using scissors, pick up your fabric as you cut it. If you’re using a rotary cutter, lay the fabric on your cutting mat and trim away the edges. Keep your cuts the same distance away from the template on all sides so that your hexagon is even.
Move your template down the fabric strip until you run out of fabric. Once you have 1 hexagon cut, you can keep going until you cut away all of your fabric. If you need to make more hexagons, just cut out another piece of fabric and keep going. Check your quilting pattern to see how many hexagon pieces you need to cut. This is a great technique to use if you need a lot of smaller hexagonal pieces.
Making Hexagons without a Template
Cut a square twice as big as you want your hexagon to be. Since you’ll be cutting away a lot of your fabric, you’ll want to leave some wiggle room. Make sure all of your sides are even so that your hexagon will be even too. For example, if you want a 3 in (7.6 cm) hexagon, cut out a 6 in (15 cm) square.
Fold the square in half and angle the folded side towards yourself. Keep the correct side of the fabric facing upwards and match 1 side of the square to the other side. Lightly press down on the seam to keep the fold in place, then position the square so that the fold is the closest side to you. You don’t have to press down very hard, but make sure the lines of the fabric match up so that they’re even.
Use an angle ruler or protractor to trim off 1 side at a 30-degree angle. Line up the ruler or protractor on the folded fabric to find a 30-degree angle from the left corner to the center. Use scissors or a rotary cutter to trim away the edge of the fabric at a 30-degree angle through both layers of fabric. Make sure that your line is completely straight!Did You Know? Some cutting mats have angles printed on them that you can use as a guide. A rotary cutter will be easier to use than scissors since you can keep your ruler in place as you cut.
Cut away another 30-degree angle on the other side. Keep the fabric piece in the same position and measure another 30-degree angle on the opposite side of the one you just cut. Angle the second 30 degree angle in towards the center and use your cutting tool to trim away the excess at a 30-degree angle.
Open up your fabric square so the wrong side of the fabric faces you. You’ll notice that while you now have a hexagon, it isn’t even on every side. Position the fabric so that the fold you made originally is parallel to you with the back side of the fabric facing upwards.
Fold 1 long edge over to meet the other long edge. Grab 1 side of the hexagon fabric that you just cut and pull it over the center of the fabric, moving in a diagonal direction. Bring 1 side of the hexagon over to the other side, then lay it gently onto the other side so that your fabric folds in half. The edges won’t match up completely, and you’ll see about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) of the underside of the fabric sticking out. It’s okay that the fabric doesn’t match up yet, because you’re about to fix it!
Trim away the excess fabric that sticks out from the edge. Place a ruler along the edge of the fabric that’s sticking out and use scissors or a rotary cutter to trim away the excess. Only cut off the part of the fabric where you can see the underside sticking out, nothing more. This cut will even out the lengths of the sides so that your hexagon has the right amount of sides.
Flip the fabric over and trim away the excess on the other side. Without unfolding the fabric, turn the entire thing over until you can see the underside of the fabric sticking out on the other side. Use the ruler and your cutting tool again to trim off the excess. Now you have an even hexagon! If you do accidentally unfold your fabric, just fold it again along the seam that it was just folded. That way, you’ll ensure that your cuts are even.
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