Welcome back!
This tute includes Five Fun Facts about designing quilts with Inklingo Pieced Hexagons.
One – Hexagons Can Be Turned Horizontal or Vertical
Some hexagon quilt designs have the hexagons sitting on a flat side . . .
. . . and some are set on point.
These two quilts are identical!
One is turned so the Pieced Hexagons are on point.
This little “twist” is a good thing to know about when you are designing a setting.
There are worksheets for hexagons in the Hexagon Quilt Design Book (free when you buy hexagons to print on fabric, details).
TWO – Design with Hexagon Quilts in Electric Quilt
Electric Quilt software allows you to choose whether your layout will have the hexagons set flat (H) or set on point (V).
Worktable > Work on Quilt
Quilt > New Quilt > One Patch Quilt
Layout > Edge Length
and then choose Patch Style H or V, as shown above.
By the way, have you entered a “Modern Quilt” in the Club EQ July Challenge yet? EQ Challenges are great fun.
THREE – Dimensions of Hexagons
The dimensions of Hexagons are different from flat side to flat side and from point to point.
The measurement from point to point across the center 2 times the measurement of the side. The measurement from flat side to flat side is less than the measurement from point to point across the hexagon. (See below.)
FOUR – Dimensions of Hexagon Quilts
You can use the dimensions of the hexagons to calculate the overall size of the quilt.
In this example, the Pieced Hexagons have 3-inch sides.
Just add up the 3-inch sides. It’s easy.
I counted 21 x 3 + (2 x 1.5 at the edges) for a total of 22.
22 x 3 = 66
However, the measurement from flat side to flat side is different, so there is a bit of math involved to get the other side.
Monkey’s TIP 1.73 is a good number to know about.
The measurement from flat side to flat side is 1.73 times the measurement of the side (instead of 2 times the measurement of the side from point to point across the center.)
If the Pieced Hexagons have 3-inch sides: 3 x 1.73 = 5.19
I count the number of them and multiply. In this case
5.19 x 13 = 67.5
FIVE – The Number of Hexagons in a Quilt
You probably want to start with the finished size and work backward to see how many hexagons you need.
If you know the finished size should be about 85 x 85 for a Queen size, you can plan the number of rows.
85 divided by 5.19 = 16.4
85 divided by 3 = 28.3
You would probably want this layout for pieced hexagons and stars to be 16 x 28. (Electric Quilt makes it easy!)
THE TEST!
If the Pieced Hexagons in this layout have 3-inch sides, how big is this quilt?
These Five Fun Facts will help you calculate the number of rows required for any size quilt.
There are many other ways to set 300 Pieced Hexagons.
Isn’t it nice to know that no matter how complex looking the design, it is easier and faster to sew when you print the shapes on fabric with Inklingo?
MORE WEDNESDAY TUTES
Would you like to catch up on the Inklingo Tutes for Pieced Hexagons?
- 300 Inklingo Pieced Hexagons
- Wednesday Tute 01 (with video) (free PDF to download)
- Wednesday Tute 02 (also with video)
- Friday bonus – Pieced Hexagons to Color (free PDF to download)
- Wednesday Tute 03
- Pieced Hexagon Poetry
- Wednesday Tute 04 (inset seams)
- Wednesday Tute 05 (finished sizes of the shapes)
- Wednesday Tute 06 (how to count hexagons)
- Wednesday Tute 07 (settings for Pieced Hexagons)
Click on the video to play.
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Thanks for visiting. See you soon!
Linda & Monkey
New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.
Thank you so much for this. It is just what I am needing as trying to square up my Grandma’s Starfish Garden, the stars are made out of pretty shell and fish designed fabrics surrounded by white hexagon’s and I have a delightful mermaid fabric for the border for a new grandchild due early next year. Fingers crossed it is a girl.
I know that hexies are the current trendy design but for me they are not my favorite. I really love to see what you come up with using all the shapes so I can appreciate just not want to make! LOL
Simply WONDERFUL! so “Hexciting”! Thank you Linda!
Oh, I see! Finished quilt #2 was just turned counter-clockwise by 90 degrees (or a quarter turn for those of us math-challenged)! At first I thought there was some fancy designing going on here… so easy, a monkey could do it! (lol!)
Of course, if we wanted to do a scrappy quilt, I’d just keep on adding shapes until it was the right size. I’m not very picky. But yes, sometimes it is nice to know how many of them you are doing and how much fabric is involved. Great to know the magic number: 1.73! Thanks again!
Linda this is just awesome! Thanks so much for all this wonderful information. Makes doing an individual design so easy!