3D Hexagon Project - Instructions Part 2 of 3

Welcome to

 3D Hexagon - Easy Y Seams

 Table Runner Project 

Part 2 of 3

By Paco Rich

It is important that you read through every part, as I feel every piece of information mentioned here will help make your learning experience a great one. I am here to help you learn, so please ask me questions!!! **Click on images to see them larger...

After picking your fabrics, you want to make sure you cut them accurately. Click here to go to the 3D Hexagon - Easy Y Seam Project - Instructions Part 1 of 3: Fabric Requirements/Supply List.

Cutting Directions:

Because most standard quilting fabric is 42" to 44" wide, you will be able to make two 3D Hexagons from one strip of fabric from each of your three fabrics. Five 3D Hexagons from two strips of fabric from each of your three fabrics. **If using Batik/Bali fabric, you should be able to make three 3D Hexagons from one strip of fabric from each of your three fabrics.

For three hexagons, we will cut 2 strips of fabric measuring 3" wide from each of the three selected fabrics.

How you cut your strips is up to you, but accuracy is important.

• To see how I cut my Strips Of Fabric - Click here.

Or

• Bonnie Hunter has a nice tutorial on how to cut strips, check it out by clicking here - Making The Best Cut with Bonnie Hunter

You want end up with a total of 6 strips of fabric that measure 3" wide: 2 darks, 2 mediums, and 2 lights.

Making Half Hexagons, 60° Diamonds and Triangles (reverse direction in steps below if cutting lefthanded) 

As mentioned in the supply list, we will learn two ways to cut half hexies. The first method I show will be using the triangle ruler, the second method will be the 60° line on a square/rectangle ruler. Choose one of these methods. If you fall in love with making the 3D Hexagons, I highly recommend you invest in a 60° triangle ruler. There is less fabric waste and it makes cutting easy and accurate.

Half Hexies - Method #1- with a 60° triangle ruler (6 half hexies from 3 fabrics - 18 half hexies total)

First, lets check your 60° ruler, not all triangle rulers are created equal.

Place your square ruler on the horizontal line of your triangle ruler. You want to find the line that measures 6 5/8" across. That is the line you will use in place of my 5 1/2" line in the directions below. If you are unsure, contact me and I will help you figure out which line to use. 

Lay out your strip (still folded in half) on your mat. You want the selvages to your left and the fold to your right.

You want to lay your 60° triangle ruler on top of your strip, as close to the selvage end (without being over the selvage), lining up the 5 1/2" line with the bottom of your strip and the 2 1/2" line with the top of your strip.

I placed a piece of yellow painters tape on the back side of the ruler so I can see the numbers easier.

Use your rotary cutter and cut on both sides of the ruler. You now have 2 half hexies.

Rotate (not flip) your ruler to where it is upside-down and line up your ruler on the remaining strip. Line up these 2 points; the 5 1/2" line along the top of your fabric, AND line up the left edge of your ruler with the fabric edge from your previous cut. Cut on the right side of your ruler. You now have 4 half hexies.

Rotate your ruler once again right-side-up and line up your ruler on the remaining strip: line up these 2 points; the 5 1/2" line, AND line up the left edge of your ruler with the fabric edge from your previous cut. Cut on the right side of your ruler. You now have 6 half hexies. **Save the leftover pieces from the end of the strip (pictured in the right of the photo below), we will use them below for cutting the diamonds.

Repeat the half hexie - method #1 steps with the other strips fabric. You will end up with a total of 18 half hexies - 6 from each fabric.

Half Hexies - Method #2- with the 60° line on a square/rectangle ruler (6 half hexies from 3 fabrics - 18 half hexies total)
Cut out 6 rectangles that measure 6 5/8" x 3". If you leave your 3" strip folded in half, you can cut 2 rectangles at a time.

For cutting one pair of rectangles at a time, line up the corner of your ruler with the bottom right corner of your fabric, at the same time, line up the 60° line on your ruler with the bottom edge of your rectangle fabric.

Look at how small the space (red bracket) is in the above picture. If your space is larger than what is pictured, try the 30° line on your ruler.

Measure twice! Cut once.

Lift up your ruler. Flip (not rotate) your two fabric pieces horizontally. Line up your ruler the same as before, with the corner of your ruler on the corner of your rectangle and at the same time, line your 60° line on your ruler up with the bottom of your fabric. Measure twice! Cut once!

You have cut correctly if the long side of your half hexie measures 6 5/8" and the top short side measures 3 3/16".

Repeat with the remaining two pairs of rectangles. You will end up with 6 half hexies.

Repeat the steps for cutting half hexies - method #2 with the other two strips of fabric. You will end up with a total of 18 half hexies - 6 of each fabric.

Diamonds- (3 diamonds from 3 fabrics - 9 diamonds total)
If you have pieces of your strip left over from cutting your half hexies, let us start with those pieces. 

Take your square ruler and line up the 3" line (red arrow) with the left edge of the strip.

Measure twice! Cut once. You now have 2 diamonds.

You can see if the remaining strip piece will give you one more diamond. **I like to save as much fabric as I can and create little waste.** Unfold the piece and line up the 3" line of the ruler with the left edge of the fabric. With this particular fabric, I cannot get another diamond. There is a large chunk of fabric missing on the bottom tip of my diamond point. This is why I had you cut a second 3" strip.

Those using Batik/Bali fabric, you should be able to get your 3rd diamond.

If you didn't have any fabric left over from cutting half hexies, let us continue on with the second 3" strip of fabric.

Lay your second 3" strip of fabric on your mat.

Lay your ruler on your strip and line up the 5 1/2" line or the 60° line with the bottom of your strip, and the left edge of your ruler as close to the selvage side of your fabric strip (without the ruler over the selvage). You only want to cut off the selvage side of the ruler.

Now using your square ruler you want to line up your 3" line with the left edge of your fabric strip. *For an easier angle to cut, move your strip at an angle, like pictured below*. Cut. You have 2 diamonds.

Since we only need one more diamond, you want to unfold the strip so you only cut one diamond. Follow the same steps as the picture above. The rest of the strip can be used as the binding or used to make a pieced backing.

Repeat the steps above for making diamonds from the other two fabrics. You will end up with 9 diamonds, 3 of each fabric.

You now have 3 diamonds, one for each pair of half hexagons.

If you've been able to follow along, we now have cut the pieces for our 3D Hexagons.

3D Hexagon Layout -
Let's take a peek and see what they look like!!!
Start with the two dark half hexies and place them like so... **As a way to keep it all straight in my head, I always start with a dark and work my way around to medium and light. 

Two medium half hexies...

Two light half hexies...

Now the diamonds. Starting with the dark diamond, you want to place the diamond across from its like colored half hexies.

You have it in the right spot when the wide angle of the diamond is between the medium and light half hexies.

Medium diamond...

And the light diamond...

Yay! A beautiful sight!

Triangles - Triangle cutting directions will be included with Part 3, so don't toss your leftover fabric. 

One last step to tackle over the course of this week:
Figure out your seam size. Most people use a 1/4" seam, others use what is comfortable for them. As long as all your seams are the same size throughout this whole project, it will work out just fine for this 3D Hexagon Table Runner Project.

Pictured: One set of pieces for one 3D Hexagon.

Now that you know your seam size, separate one group of cut pieces that will make one 3D Hexagon. We will need to mark our start and stop points. I am asking that you mark at least one whole set so that you can train your eyes to see your start and stop points and how they line up with your machine. If you feel more comfortable marking all your pieces for all three of your 3D Hexagons, please do so.

For one 3D Hexagon set of pieces, I want you to mark on the back of each piece - the part where your seams will intersect. Here is an example if your seams are 1/4":

Line up the 1/4" line on the ruler with the edge of your fabric piece. If your seams are 3/8", line up the 3/8" line on the ruler with the edge of your fabric...

Mark a short line near both of the edges. Rotate the fabric and repeat for all sides of the shape. Some felt more comfortable drawing the whole line...

If you are anything like me, I don't like to draw on every piece of fabric. I like to chain piece and spend my time sewing!! I will show you how to line your pieces up and sew without marking the fabric! Yahoo!

Now, we will sew!

Please, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Cutting accurately is important!

Click here to go to

Part 3: Easy Y Seam Assembling Directions.