It’s no secret that I love hexagons. They’ve been part of my stitching life since my very first quilt, and I still enjoy seeing what happens when I put these simple shapes together.
So, I thought I’d share a little of my hexi history and a few projects to tempt you into some hexagon stitching of your own.
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Where My Hexagon Story Began
My very first quilt was a Grandmother’s Flower Garden. As a child, I’d gathered fabric scraps from the floor of my mother’s best friend Mavis’s sewing room. When I started my nursing training, I finally found a use for them.On my first night in the nurses’ accommodation, I found several people stitching English paper pieced hexagons. Joining in with all those scraps I’d been saving seemed the natural thing to do.
On my first night in the nurses’ accommodation, I found several people stitching English paper pieced hexagons. Joining in with all those scraps I’d been saving seemed the natural thing to do.
That quilt contains corduroy, jersey and seersucker, all brought together with inexpensive poly-cotton. I had very little idea what I was doing, but I thoroughly enjoyed making it. Hexagons have been a favourite ever since.
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My Next Hexagon Quilt Adventure
Around 2004–2005, a beautiful Japanese cotton/linen blend arrived in the shop and inspired a row quilt with different pieced hexagons. It was my first attempt at pieced hexies. The fabric sold quickly and the quilt was never finished, but my love of piecing within those six sides certainly continued.
Over the years, I’ve tucked hexagons into flowers in Bring Me Flowers, borders in Happy Birds, panels in Green Tea & Sweet Beans and pieced blocks in Golden Days. They’ve also found their way into cushions, pincushions and my Postcard Projects.
Close up of my Bring Me Flowers quilt, cute hexagons!
Can you spot the hexies in my Golden Days Quilt? Pattern and Templates available for this!
I originally shared this story when Bowie Stars was launching as a Block of the Month.
One Shape, Plenty of Possibilities
What I love about a hexagon is how much I can do with it. I can repeat it, piece within it, combine it with other shapes or let it become part of a larger design. There always seems to be another combination to try.
And loving hexies doesn’t mean you have to make every project the same way. English paper piecing wraps fabric around paper shapes before joining them. Hand piecing joins fabric pieces along their seam lines, while foundation paper piecing uses a printed foundation to guide stitching. There are machine-pieced hexagon projects, too.
Hand piecing is my perferred method. If you have never tried hand piecing here is a little video I created with Moda that will get you started on a good path! If you get the bug, I also have an entire hand piecing and hand quilting course you can join!
I’ve gathered a few projects below to show you some of the possibilities. Follow each design’s instructions and choose the approach that suits the project—and the kind of stitching you enjoy.
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My Favourite Hexagon Projects
Ready to give hexagons a place in your next project? Here are some of my patterns and Postcard Projects, along with foundation papers, a fabric starter kit and a lovely quilt by Louise Papas, available in our shop.
Hexie Kisses - Skill Level: Confident Beginner/Intermediate
This quilt pattern was written for machine piecing, Hexie Kisses is a good choice for anyone who loves the hexagon shape and enjoys stitching at the sewing machine. The finished quilt measures 168 × 215 cm (66 × 85 inches).
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Hexigo Round: Skill Level: Confident Beginner
This design is based on a vintage quilt in my collection, I have always loved it. I decided I would make this one into a Postcard Project as well as a kit!
The Hexigo Round Kit includes Postcard Project #19 with its acrylic template.
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Postcard Project #11: 1½ Inch Hex - Skill Level: Beginner
This Postcard Proejct explores the familiar hexagon with a project you can grow to your preferred size. We also have Postcard Project #6 which is a 1" hexie. A template is included, and the instructions are written for hand piecing with the option to machine piece. 
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Fractured Hexagon - Foundation Papers and Acrylic Templates
Fractured Hexagons allows you to explore pieced hexagons and the secondary patterns they create when placed side by side. The Fractured Hexagons FPP pad supplies foundation papers with 110 sheets which makes a finished quilt approximately 179 cm (70 inches) square, or the papers can be used for other projects. The Fractured Hexagon Tempter is a good alternative if you love this block but don't enjoy Foundation Paper Piecing!
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Catherine Wheel Postcard Partner
I love combining shapes, and Catherine Wheel brings four of my Postcard Project shapes together: #11, the 1½-inch Hex; #12, the 6 Pointed Star; #14, the Rhomboid; and #18, the Half Rectangle Triangles. All of these shapes make an exciting pieced hexagon shape!
Acrylic templates and instructions for five projects are included. Written for hand piecing, it can also be machine pieced using the templates’ ¼-inch seam allowance. This block packs a lot of visual interest and it's one of our favourites here at Jen Kingwell Designs.
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Picnic at Emerald Station by Louise Papas
Louise’s hexagon quilt was inspired by childhood trips on Puffing Billy and picnics at Emerald Lake outside Melbourne. The pattern and acrylic templates are included, and the finished quilt measures 155 × 175 cm (61 × 69 inches). I’m delighted to include Louise’s design in this little hexagon celebration.
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Questions About Hexagon Projects
Do hexagon quilts have to be English paper pieced?
No. My first quilt was English paper pieced, but the projects in this roundup use several approaches. Hexie Kisses is written for machine piecing. The 1-inch Hex, 1½-inch Hex and Hexigo Round Postcard Projects have hand-piecing instructions and can also be completed by machine. Fractured Hexagon uses foundation papers. Check the instructions for the project you choose.
What is included in the Hexigo Round starter kit?
The kit includes 5 metres of fat eighths, 1.5 metres of white fabric and Postcard Project #19 with an acrylic template. Fabric selections may vary. If you’d rather use your own fabrics, the Postcard Project is also available separately.
Is Bowie Stars still a Block of the Month?
I first shared this story for its original Block of the Month launch. The product linked here is the Bowie Stars pattern booklet, which includes the Spring and Autumn layouts. While we aren't working it as a BOM the pattern and templates are still available to purchase and make your own!
Do the Fractured Hexagon foundation papers include the pattern?
No. That listing is for foundation papers only. The Fractured Hexagon Tempter with pattern is sold separately.
Whether you choose a growing collection of small hexies or a quilt built around one oversized hexagon, I hope you find something here that makes you want to stitch. Gather some favourite fabrics and see where those six sides take you.