Quilt As You Go Hexagon Tutorial: Jenny Doan's Beautiful Hexie Quilting Method

• ✂️ 10" Square Layer Cake (or precut squares) — Shop Precuts
• 📐 Hexagon Template (sized for 10" squares) — Shop Templates & Rulers
• 🧵 Coordinating Thread — Shop Thread
• 🪡 Hand Sewing Needle
• 🧶 Batting (cut to size) — Shop Batting
• 📌 Straight Pins — Shop Pins & Clips
• 🔲 Background/Backing Fabric — Shop Fabric
• ✂️ Rotary Cutter & Mat — Shop Rotary Cutters
• 🔥 Iron & Pressing Surface

Step 1: Cut Your Hexagon Pieces

Start with your 10" square layer cake pieces. You'll need three layers for each hexagon: a top fabric, a batting piece, and a backing piece. Place your hexagon template on the square and use your rotary cutter to trim the corners off, creating the hexagonal shape. As Jenny demonstrates, "Just lay it on that square and cut your corners off." Cut all three layers — top, batting, and backing — using the same template.

Step 2: Layer and Pin Your Sandwich

Now comes the "quilt as you go" part. Lay your backing piece down first (right side down), place the batting on top, and then add your top fabric (right side up). Pin through the center to keep everything aligned. Jenny uses a grid background to ensure perfect alignment: "What that gives us is a grid to lay everything so it lines up perfectly."

Step 3: Fold and Pin the Edges

Here's where the magic happens. Remove your template and start on one side of the hexagon. Fold the backing fabric up to meet the edge of the top fabric, then fold it over again to create a clean, finished edge — just like a tiny binding. Jenny finger-presses each fold and pins it in place: "Finger press and roll up, and put a pin in there." Work your way around all six sides of the hexagon.

Step 4: Hand Stitch the Edges

Using a needle and coordinating thread, hand stitch the folded edges down with a blind stitch or ladder stitch. Jenny makes a single-turn knot and works her way around each hexagon: "It's just exactly like binding — straight down, you don't go through to the back, and up." This is the perfect take-along project for TV time or road trips.

Step 5: Press Your Finished Hexagons

Once all edges are stitched, it's time to press. Jenny emphasizes the difference: "Actually don't iron, you press them." Hold the iron on each section, give it a shot of steam, and make sure those corners lay flat and crisp. A well-pressed hexagon makes joining so much easier.

Step 6: Join Your Hexagons Together

Stack your completed hexagons and start joining them face to face. Line them up edge to edge and whip stitch them together from the front. Jenny shows how to come across the edge and then step up about a quarter inch for stability. Continue joining hexagons in rows, then stitch the rows together to build your quilt layout.

Step 7: Complete Your Quilt Layout

Arrange your hexagons in your desired pattern — whether it's a classic honeycomb grid, a flower garden arrangement, or a random scrappy layout. Since each hexagon is already quilted, once they're all joined together, your quilt is essentially finished! No need for a separate quilting step. Add a binding around the outer edge if desired, and admire your stunning hexie creation.

• Use a grid background: Laying your pieces on a grid ensures perfect alignment every time.
• Press, don't iron: Hold the iron still and use steam rather than sliding it — this prevents stretching the bias edges of your hexagons.
• Mix your fabrics: Layer cakes give you a ready-made color palette, but you can also cut your own 10" squares from fat quarters for a scrappier look.
• Check your corners: Make sure each folded corner stays flat before you stitch. A little extra pinning at the points saves ripping later.
• Great for beginners: This project combines machine-cut precision with relaxing hand stitching — perfect for building confidence with both techniques.