Since my Original "Hexagami" Tutorial, I've made hundreds of these little sweet folded dimensional star/flower hexagons, tried a few of different gadgets and rulers, and found some quick tricks to create these little gems that I thought I'd pass along to you!
SUPPLIES:
- Fabric: Solids, tone-on-tone prints, or anything that reads as a solid. The design is lost if the fabric is patterned.
- Needle and matching thread
- Pins
- Buttons, about 1/2" in size
- Clasp or pin (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1) Cut a Hexagon.
TIP: Whatever size hexagon you begin with, the finished hexagami will be exactly half the size of the original.
Begin with about a 10-inch square of fabric, starched and pressed well. Use any hexagon ruler or half-hexagon ruler which measures between 4" to 5" along one side of the ruler (see below for other ruler sources).
This Hexie Half ruler by Lori Holt features a dotted line indicator so you can position the dotted line on a fold and quickly cut the angles. A rotating mat is also very helpful!
I have also used my AccuQuilt Go! cutter with a large half-hexie die with fabric placed on the fold to cut out my hexagons. I drew a line on the die to indicate where the fold should go. ↓↓
This Hexie Half ruler by Lori Holt features a dotted line indicator so you can position the dotted line on a fold and quickly cut the angles. A rotating mat is also very helpful!
I have also used my AccuQuilt Go! cutter with a large half-hexie die with fabric placed on the fold to cut out my hexagons. I drew a line on the die to indicate where the fold should go. ↓↓
If you don't have any of those or rulers tools, just use any ruler with a 60-degree angle marking or edge. See Tutorial: HOW TO CUT A PERFECT HEXAGON (any size) without any special gadget or gizmo!
Step 2) Finger-Press.
FOLD wrong sides together from point to point; finger press. Rotate hexagon and fold again at the points, with the flat side at the top and bottom. Repeat a third time. See the 6 triangle divisions, criss-crossing at the center?
Next, fold a flat outer edge so it aligns with a center fold line. Finger press.
Rotate the hexagon and repeat until all six outer edges have been folded to the center. Unfold and you can see all the divisions we'll need to make our dimensional star.
*Step 3) First Stitch.
Thread a needle with a single strand of thread; knot one end. Take a little stitch through the center of the hexagon.
Take a STITCH, about 1/8" from the raw edge, halfway between the hexagon points,
pushing the needle from the wrong side to the outside.
Repeat with all six sides.
Push the needle back through the center and pull on the thread to bring
all the raw edges to the center, forming SIX triangle points.
Take a minute to get the raw edges centered at the middle.
Flatten each point, aligning with the outer fold lines, first to one side then the other.
Crease well. Take a few stitches through the center to anchor the thread,
then bring the needle to the top and set it aside.
Now you are ready to form the individual diamond shapes.
pushing the needle from the wrong side to the outside.
Repeat with all six sides.
Push the needle back through the center and pull on the thread to bring
all the raw edges to the center, forming SIX triangle points.
Take a minute to get the raw edges centered at the middle.
Flatten each point, aligning with the outer fold lines, first to one side then the other.
Crease well. Take a few stitches through the center to anchor the thread,
then bring the needle to the top and set it aside.
Now you are ready to form the individual diamond shapes.
Step 2) SKIP the point, and grab the adjacent fold line at the edge, again bringing that edge to the center. Anchor with another whip-stitch to secure. Set the needle aside.
Step 3) PINCH the triangle you've just created, which should already be folded to the point. Fold to the left; finger press. FOLD to the right; finger press. Edges of the triangle should align perfectly with the outer edges of your hexagon shape.
Step 4) FOLD the point of the triangle to the center of the hexagon, forming a little TREE-shape. Finger press. I like to "fingernail" press the end at the corner, to get a nice, crisp point of the diamond shape.
Step 5) PINCH the raw edge and bring it to the outside corner.
You'll see the edges start to curl in. Pull that point all the way to the top,
forming a diamond shape. Finger-press in place.
The raw edges will overlap slightly.
forming a diamond shape. Finger-press in place.
The raw edges will overlap slightly.
Step 6) Without losing its shape, FOLD the tip back down to the center,
then take a STITCH or two to secure.
then take a STITCH or two to secure.
Yeah! One down. You'll be an expert at this by the time you finish the next five segments!
Repeat steps 1-6, stitching, folding, finger-pressing the remaining segments,
forming a dimensional star in the center of the hexagon.
forming a dimensional star in the center of the hexagon.
Cover the raw edges in the center with a button, a yo-yo or smaller
hexagami yo-yo (see TUTORIAL) to finish! (I love that "Fudge Factor"!)
hexagami yo-yo (see TUTORIAL) to finish! (I love that "Fudge Factor"!)
Make & Take Hexagami pin, Spring Quilt Market 2013
I anticipate using these dimensional hexagons mostly as embellishments, but they could be made singly and joined together to make larger projects. Use your imagination! Here's a sweet Hexagarden wall hanging featuring hexagami flowers.
Hexagami flowers embellish my adorable "Sheep Shape" quilt featured in
Quiltmaker Magazine May/June 2014 !
Quiltmaker Magazine May/June 2014 !
UPDATE: Voted as one of the Top 5 children's quilt patterns in the 33-year history of Quiltmaker Magazine, "Sheep Shape" (with the hexagami tutorial) was featured in
Quiltmaker's Reader Favorites Summer 2015.
Quiltmaker's Reader Favorites Summer 2015.
Happy Hexagami!
AccuQuilt Die Cutter - Half Hexagon
AccuQuilt Die Cutter - Mini Half Hexagons (3 sizes)
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