Hexagon Quilting Patterns
If one takes the time to look into the history of quilting, it will reveal fascinating facts and information about quilting designs and patterns. One of the more complex patterns from centuries past, is the hexagon pattern. While complex, it offers not only a great challenge for quilters, but a way in which limitless creativity can be expressed. There are endless color combinations and ways in which the pieces can be assembled together. Hexagon, by its very nature calls for intricate detailed work because of so many smaller pieces which go into the design. And cutting them out can be a challenge as well. Learn as much as you can about this pattern before beginning, and you’re sure to have a priceless quilt when you are finished.
Hexagon Quilting Patterns Create Unique Designs
Most quilters agree that hexagon quilting patterns are one of the oldest and easiest to make, not including squares and circles. But many complain that it requires too much time to cut out all the material pieces. While hexagon quilting patterns can be labor intensive and time consuming, here are a couple of tricks that can help to speed up the process.
Once you have decided on the size of your quilt and the size of the border it will have, and then measure how wide an area will be made up of the hexagon quilting patterns. Whatever that width is, divide by the size of the hexagon being used and round to the nearest whole number. This is done to determine how many you need for the width. Then repeat the process for the length to find the total number you will need for the entire quilt.
Many of the hexagon quilting patterns by their simplicity appear more complicated to cut out. Basically they are a six-sided figure, so to begin with, cut a strip of cloth as wide as is needed for the size of the hexagon, plus the border. Now mark a line at the center of the cloth. This will be used as the guide for the exact center point of the design.
Time Saving Tip
Based on your pattern, mark the first hexagon and then, making sure you leave room for the border, continue along the length of the cloth until reaching the end, drawing more hexagons on the material. To make the job go faster, stack many pieces of fabric on top of each other. This way when you cut one from the hexagon quilting patterns, you can cut several at once saving a great deal of time.
If you stack eight layers of fabric, and fasten them securely together, you will be able to cut eight hexagons as once. Take care that the layers of fabric stay together or the shape of those on the bottom may vary from those on top. Most of the hexagon quilting patterns will include patterns for the triangles needed for your quilt, but those will already be cut out due to the shape of your hexagons.
Keep in mind that if you plan to create a two-sided or reversible quilt, you will be cutting double of everything. If you want the two sides to look alike, cutting from the hexagon quilting patterns can be accomplished by stacking still more layers together. Expert quilters agree that eight layers are the maximum. However, if you are just starting out with quilting, it’s probably advisable to cut no more than four layers at a time, cutting more often.