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Hexagon quilts are commonly assembled with English paper piecing (EPP): wrap fabric around individual paper hexagons, then hand-sew the prepared pieces together edge to edge. The paper holds each fabric shape steady while you work. A quilt-as-you-go hexagon method is another option, but it uses a different construction approach.
How English paper piecing works
In EPP, a paper template supports the fabric and guides the stitching. The Illinois State Museum describes the paper as “a guide for sewing and a support for the pieces” (Illinois State Museum: English Paper Piecing).
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Each fabric hexagon is wrapped around its own paper shape and basted in place. Once prepared, the pieces are joined by hand with a whipstitch along their aligned edges.
#1 Best Overall
- Quilting Template：You’ll get 600 pre-cut hexagon quilting templates, each with a 1-inch side length—more than enough for daily quilting projects. Every template is accurately cut to ensure neat, uniform piecing and appliqué, helping your work look polished and professional with little effort
- Easy-Removal Hole：Each hexagon template has a handy center hole. Use a crochet hook or pencil to pull it out smoothly without damaging your fabric—perfect whether you sew edges with thread or use glue. Pick forgiving glue to keep the paper from thinning after repeated use
- Sturdy Quality Paper：Made of high-grade paper that’s tough enough for tracing and cutting. It holds consistent shape and strength, no tearing or warping mid-project. This sturdiness keeps your paper piecing process smooth and frustration-free every time
- Simple To Use：Even beginners can use these easily: Place the hexagon paper on your fabric, sew along its edges, then stitch a full circle to secure it. Trim excess thread, and you’ll have a perfectly shaped hexagonal fabric piece ready for your quilt or craft
- Multi-Scene Use：These lightweight templates work beyond quilting—great for hand sewing, clothing making, DIY decorations, and all kinds of crafts. They’re a go-to for both seasoned quilters and hobbyist crafters looking to add hexagons to their projects
Supplies for preparing and joining hexagons
A practical EPP kit can include the following. Some methods use a glue stick as an alternative or addition to tacking stitches.
- Hexagon-shaped paper templates
- Fabric, such as quilting cotton
- Hand-sewing needle and neutral thread
- Pins and scissors
- Thimble and, if useful, a needle threader
- Optional fabric glue stick
These tools and materials appear in the Thames Valley Quilters Guild handout and the Stitchin’ Post EPP tutorial.
Rank #2
- VALUE PACK OF 1200: Includes 1200 pre-cut 1 inch white hexagon quilting paper templates, no measuring or cutting needed - plenty for full-size quilts, group sewing sessions and long term EPP projects.
- EASY-REMOVAL CENTER HOLE: Each template has a middle hole, so you can pop papers out smoothly with a crochet hook or pencil after the edges are sewn or glued, without tearing fabric or bending stitches.
- STURDY 250GSM PAPER: Thicker than standard cardstock, these precision-cut templates keep crisp, accurate edges and stay flat through repeated basting; reusable again and again when paired with a forgiving glue.
- EASY TO USE FOR BEGINNERS: Wrap fabric around the template, baste with needle and thread or glue, stitch hexagons together, then remove the papers; a perfect first EPP project for new quilters.
- WIDE APPLICATIONS: Ideal for English paper piecing quilts like grandmother's flower garden, plus patchwork, bags, coasters, home decor and DIY crafts; also a thoughtful gift for quilting and sewing lovers.
Prepare fabric hexagons around paper templates
- Cut fabric with an allowance. Place a paper hexagon on the wrong side of the fabric and cut around it, leaving enough fabric to fold over every paper edge. The Thames Valley Quilters Guild handout specifies a “fat 1/4” allowance; treat that as its method’s measurement, not a universal rule.
- Center and fold. Pin the paper to the fabric, then fold the fabric allowance over the paper edges, working one side at a time. The Red Handled Scissors hexagon tutorial also describes centering the paper on the fabric’s wrong side and folding the fabric around it.
- Baste the folds. Tack the folded fabric so it stays wrapped around the paper. The guild handout says not to sew through the paper while tacking. Repeat for each hexagon.
- Join prepared pieces. Put two hexagons right sides together and align the edges. Whipstitch along the shared edge, catching the folded fabric edges alternately with the needle. Continue joining edges according to the pattern and chosen layout.
Match fabric cuts to template size
Template sizing conventions can differ, so check what a pattern means by a stated hexagon size before buying papers or cutting fabric. For example, the Stitchin’ Post tutorial dated March 3, 2021, lists three paper-template sizes and corresponding fabric-square examples:
| Paper template size listed | Fabric square example in the tutorial |
|---|---|
| 3/4 inch | 2 1/2 inches |
| 1 inch | 2 1/2 inches |
| 1 1/4 inches | 3 1/2 inches |
These are examples from that tutorial, not fixed cutting standards for every pattern. Use the allowance and cutting guidance supplied with your chosen template; if instructions are unclear, make one test piece and check that the fabric folds comfortably around all six sides.
Rank #3
- VALUE PACK OF 500: Includes 500 pre-cut 1.5 inch white hexagon quilting paper templates, no measuring or cutting needed - plenty for full-size quilts, group sewing sessions and long term EPP projects.
- EASY-REMOVAL CENTER HOLE: Each template has a middle hole, so you can pop papers out smoothly with a crochet hook or pencil after the edges are sewn or glued, without tearing fabric or bending stitches.
- STURDY 250GSM PAPER: Thicker than standard cardstock, these precision-cut templates keep crisp, accurate edges and stay flat through repeated basting; reusable again and again when paired with a forgiving glue.
- EASY TO USE FOR BEGINNERS: Wrap fabric around the template, baste with needle and thread or glue, stitch hexagons together, then remove the papers; a perfect first EPP project for new quilters.
- WIDE APPLICATIONS: Ideal for English paper piecing quilts like grandmother's flower garden, plus patchwork, bags, coasters, home decor and DIY crafts; also a thoughtful gift for quilting and sewing lovers.
Choose a construction approach and layout
Traditional EPP stabilizes each fabric piece with paper and joins the shapes by hand. Missouri Star Quilt Co. also describes a quilt-as-you-go hexagon method in which backing fabric is folded around the edge of the top fabric. Its tutorial shows arrangements including a honeycomb grid and a flower garden layout (Missouri Star Quilt Co.: Quilt As You Go Hexagon Tutorial).
The approaches involve different steps and materials: EPP relies on paper templates and hand-sewn joins, while the cited quilt-as-you-go tutorial shows fabric edges finished by folding the backing around the top. The available descriptions do not establish that one method is faster or better for every maker, so choose according to the construction process and layout you want to use.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template with 3/8in seam use to cut 1in hexagonsGreat for English Paper Piecing
Rank #4
- Quilting Template：You’ll get 200 pre-cut hexagon quilting templates, each with a 2-inch side length—more than enough for daily quilting projects. Every template is accurately cut to ensure neat, uniform piecing and appliqué, helping your work look polished and professional with little effort
- Easy-Removal Hole：Each hexagon template has a handy center hole. Use a crochet hook or pencil to pull it out smoothly without damaging your fabric—perfect whether you sew edges with thread or use glue. Pick forgiving glue to keep the paper from thinning after repeated use
- Sturdy Quality Paper：Made of high-grade paper that’s tough enough for tracing and cutting. It holds consistent shape and strength, no tearing or warping mid-project. This sturdiness keeps your paper piecing process smooth and frustration-free every time
- Simple To Use：Even beginners can use these easily: Place the hexagon paper on your fabric, sew along its edges, then stitch a full circle to secure it. Trim excess thread, and you’ll have a perfectly shaped hexagonal fabric piece ready for your quilt or craft
- Multi-Scene Use：These lightweight templates work beyond quilting—great for hand sewing, clothing making, DIY decorations, and all kinds of crafts. They’re a go-to for both seasoned quilters and hobbyist crafters looking to add hexagons to their projects
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