Hello, sewing friends! Have you ever looked at a beautiful quilted hexagon and thought, “That looks way too hard for me”? All those angles and points can seem tricky. But I’m here to let you in on a little secret: it’s so much easier than you think.
Today, I’m going to show you how to make a hexagon table topper using a simple, clever method. We’ll turn basic fabric strips into a stunning centerpiece for your table. This is one of my favorite easy sewing projects because it’s perfect for using up leftover fabric scraps. And the best part? We’ll finish it with a clean, professional edge—no complicated binding required!
Get your sewing machine ready. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a gorgeous new decoration for your home.
What You’ll Need for Your Project
Before we start cutting, let’s gather our supplies. You don’t need a lot for this project, but having the right tools makes everything go smoothly. The most important tool is a quilting ruler with a 60-degree line on it. This is the key to cutting perfect triangles.
Here is a quick list of everything you will need.
| Item | What It’s For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric Strips | The main body of the topper | You’ll need five 2.5-inch strips. Great for scraps! |
| Backing Fabric | The back of the topper | A piece slightly larger than your finished top. |
| Fusible Fleece | To add softness and body | This helps with quilting and gives a nice, flat finish. |
| Quilting Ruler | Cutting precise angles | Must have a 60-degree line marker. |
| Rotary Cutter & Mat | For quick, clean cuts | Safer and more accurate than scissors for this project. |
| Sewing Machine | To stitch everything together | A quarter-inch sewing foot is very helpful but not required. |
| Basic Supplies | Thread, pins, iron | The usual sewing room essentials. |
A quick tip on fabric: It’s best to use prints that don’t have a clear “up” or “down.” These are called non-directional prints. They make it much easier to arrange your triangles without worrying about a pattern being upside down.
Step 1: Cut and Sew Your Fabric Strips
First things first, let’s get our fabric ready. Take your five different fabrics and cut one 2.5-inch strip from each one. Make sure your strips are at least 42 inches long, which is the standard width of quilting cotton.
Once your strips are cut, give them a good press with your iron to get rid of any folds or wrinkles. Now, lay them out in the order you want them to appear in your hexagon. This is your chance to play with color and design!
Next, you will sew these five strips together to create one wide fabric panel. Start by taking the top two strips and sewing them together along the long edge. Then, do the same for the bottom two strips. Use a quarter-inch seam allowance for all your seams. If you have a quarter-inch foot for your machine, now is the perfect time to use it.
Once you have your two pairs, sew them to the center strip. You will now have one big panel made of five colorful strips. Take this panel to your ironing board and press all the seams open. This simple step is very important because it helps reduce bulk and makes your final hexagon lay nice and flat.
Step 2: The Magic of Cutting Triangles
This is where your 60-degree ruler becomes the star of the show. We are going to cut our striped panel into six identical triangles.
Lay your fabric panel on your cutting mat with the right side facing up. Line up the bottom edge of the fabric with a horizontal line on your mat. Now, take your ruler and find the 60-degree line. Place the ruler on your fabric so that the 60-degree line is aligned with the bottom edge of your fabric. Make your first cut along the edge of the ruler. This first cut just cleans up the end of the panel; you can set that little scrap aside.
Now it’s time to cut your first real triangle. Without moving the fabric, slide your ruler over. Line up the ruler’s edge with the fresh cut you just made and make another cut. You now have a perfect triangle!
To avoid wasting fabric, the next triangle will be cut upside down. Simply flip your ruler around. Line up the 60-degree line with the angled edge you just cut. Cut again. You will continue this process—cutting one triangle, flipping the ruler, and cutting the next—all the way down your fabric panel. You should get six beautiful triangles from your panel.
Step 3: Assembling Your Hexagon Top
Now for the fun part: seeing your hexagon take shape! Lay your six triangles on a flat surface and arrange them into a hexagon pattern. You’ll notice it looks like a six-pointed star.
To make sewing easier, we will work in two halves. Take the three triangles that make up the top half and the three that make up the bottom half. For each half, you will sew the two outer triangles to the center triangle.
Here’s a special trick for perfect points: When you sew the triangles together, stop sewing a quarter-inch from the inner point and do a backstitch. Don’t sew all the way to the edge. Leaving this tiny gap will make a huge difference when you join the two halves together, allowing your center point to match up beautifully.
After you’ve sewn both halves, press the seams open. Then, place the two halves right sides together. Carefully line up the center seam and all the diagonal seams. Pin everything in place. Sew the two halves together with a quarter-inch seam. When you get to the center, that little gap you left will let all the seams nest together instead of creating a big lump.
Give your finished hexagon top one final press with the iron. You did it! The hardest part is over.
Step 4: Finishing with the No-Binding Trick
This is the best way to finish a quilted table topper without the headache of binding. We will use fusible fleece and a simple “turn it inside out” method.
First, cut a piece of fusible fleece and a piece of backing fabric to the exact same shape and size as your hexagon top. Place your hexagon top on your ironing board with the wrong side facing up. Lay the fusible fleece on top, with the bumpy (glue) side down. Follow the instructions on the fleece package to iron it onto the back of your topper.
Next, you can add some simple quilting if you like. This will hold the layers together and add a lovely texture. An easy way to do this is to “stitch in the ditch,” which means sewing right in the existing seam lines.
Now for the finish. Place your quilted top and your backing fabric right sides together. Pin all around the outer edge. Find one of the flat sides and mark a 4-inch gap—do not sew this part closed! Starting at one end of the gap, sew all the way around the hexagon with a quarter-inch seam, stopping at the other end of the gap. Remember to backstitch at the start and end.
Before turning, snip off the fabric at all six points, getting close to the stitching but not cutting through it. This will help you get sharp, crisp corners. Now, reach into the 4-inch opening and carefully turn the whole thing right side out. Gently poke out each corner with your finger or a dull tool.
Step 5: The Final Topstitch
Your table topper is almost done! Take it to your iron and give it a final, thorough press. Pay special attention to the opening, making sure to tuck the raw edges inside so they are even with the rest of the seam.
To close the opening and give your project a clean, professional look, you will topstitch around the entire edge. Sew about 1/8 of an inch from the edge all the way around the hexagon. This will seal the gap and make your edges look sharp.
And that’s how to make a hexagon table topper! It’s a beautiful piece that looks far more complex than it really is.
FAQs
How to make a hexagonal table?
This guide is for a fabric table topper. It is not for a wooden table. We sew fabric strips together. Then we cut them into triangles. The triangles are sewn into a hexagon shape.
How to sew a hexagon pattern?
First, you sew long strips of fabric. Then, use a special ruler to cut triangles. This ruler has a 60-degree line. You will cut six triangles. Sewing those six triangles together creates the hexagon pattern.
How to join hexagon flowers?
Joining hexagon flowers is a fun technique. Place two finished hexagons with their right sides together. Sew along one flat edge to connect them. You can continue adding more hexagons to build your pattern.
How to make a 6 sided hexagon?
A hexagon is a shape that always has six sides. Our project makes one from six triangles. When you arrange and sew the six points of the triangles together, they form a perfect six-sided hexagon.
What tool has a hexagon shape?
In sewing and quilting, many tools have this shape. You can buy hexagon quilting templates. These are rulers shaped like a hexagon. They help you cut perfect hexagon shapes out of fabric every time.
What Will You Create?
Now that you know the simple steps, you can make these for any season or occasion. Think of a spooky spiderweb design for Halloween, bright florals for spring, or classic red and green for the holidays.
You have the skills to create a beautiful piece of decor for your home. We would love to see what you make! Share a photo of your finished hexagon table topper in the comments below, or let us know if you have any questions.
Happy sewing