All about patchwork and quilting

How to make your own diamonds and hexagons for English paper piecing

By Hatun Comak → Thursday, December 18, 2025

I like to draft my own templates for English paper piecing. Once I've created a master template I make copies of it and use for my epp projects. You can also draft your own template. I find it easier than searching the net, finding the appropriate ones, downloading, printing and copying.

Here I Show how to make your own diamond and hexagon templates.

You'll need graph paper, mechanical pencil and a ruler with 60 degree angle.

If ready, here we go!

Draw a horizontal line on the graph paper.

Decide on the size of the diamond. I make them of 3.5 cm. Draw another horizontal line 3.5 cm away.

Line up the 60 degree mark on your ruler on a horizontal line on the paper. Draw a diagonal line.

Line up the 3.5 cö mark on the ruler on the 60 degree line that you have drawn. Draw a line. Move the ruler over 3.5 cm and draw onether line. Repeat this until the sheet is full of 60 degree lines.

There it is- a sheet full of diamonds. With these diamonds I am planning to make Lone Star Quilt. A combination of diamonds with other shapes will definitely make amazing motifs.

You can create hexagon templates by using the diamond shape. Red lines show how to draw the hexagon. In this way you can create a page full of hexagons.

hourglass quilt block

Hourglass Quilt Block Tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Friday, December 5, 2025

The hourglass quilt block is one of these blocks that has been around and popular in the early twentieth century. It is quite easy to make. For this block I have made a traditional 4-patch block with four hourglasses. With this method you can make different varieties depending on your fabric choices.

Step by Step Tutorial

Step 1: Cutting

For this block you will need:

Fabric 1 (white) 2 of 7.25" x 7.25" squares

Fabric 2 (red) 1 of 7.25" x 7.25" square

Fabric 3 (newspaper) 1 of 7.25" x 7.25" square

Use the cutting measurements above to get your pieces cut out.

Step 2: Make Half Square Triangles(HSTs) 2-at-a-time.

Place Fabric 1 and Fabric 2 square right sides together.

Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner.

Sew along on both sides of the diagonal line with 1/4" seam allowance.

Using a rotary cutter, cut along the pencil line. Press seams to one side.

Step 3: Quarter Square Triangles 2-at-a-Time

Arrange your HSTs in correct layout as shown in the picture below. Place opposite colors on top of each other. The seams should be lined up. Secure with a pin.

Using a pencil, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner, bisecting the seam.
Sew along on both sides of the diagonal line with 1/4" seam.

Cut along the pencil line.

Press each completed squares, trim away, dog ears. Each square should be 6.5"

Step 4: Block Assembly

Arrange your hourglass squares in correct layout.

Sew together the top row. Press seams in same direction. Repeat the same for the bottom row.

Join both rows with 1/4" seam allowance.

Press your completed block and trim down to 12.5" square.

This block is fun and easy to make with many possibilities.

10 Free & Easy Christmas Gifts to Sew

By Hatun Comak → Friday, November 21, 2025

Are you looking for quick and heartfelt Christms gifts to sew? Here you can find 10 free and easy sewing projects which are perfect for any skill level.

Whether you sew for your friends or family members, these Christmas gift ideas are fast, fun and practical to make. Here I list various items to sew for Christmas. Get your favorite fabrics and choose the ones you like to make.

Pen Holder Bookmark by Sewcanshe

This pen holder bookmark is a cute and practical gift for students, teachers or anyone who loves journaling. It can be personalized with the receiver's favorite color, or some embroidary.

Quilted Zipper Pouch

This zipper pouch with hexagon flower shows your abilities as quilter, or you can just flip the quilted part and want to make a zipper pouch since they are aleays in need of using.

Twisted Hexagon Coaster

Coasters are lovely and practical as gifts. This twisted hexagon coaster iş easy to make and look how cute it is.

Simple Stocking Tutorial by Diaryofaquilter

This Christmas stocking pattern is so easy that you can make a bunch of these in an afternoon either for yourself or as gifts.

Basic Tote Bag by Art Gallery Fabrics

Tote bags are a necessity and we are always in need of them. This basic tote bag pattern is so simple to make. You can choose a custom print that made you think of the person you are giving it to. If you want it to be extra special you can add some embroidary also.

Cat Pillow

Pillows are also good idea as Christmas gifts. Yhis cat pillow is a great gift for cat lovers or kids. It is easy and quick to make.

Christmas Tree Napkins

These are perfect gifts that reflect the Christmas spirit. It would be great for someone who likes hosting for holidays.

Hexagon Snowflake Cushion

This hexagon snowflake cushion is quite appropriate as a Christmas gift. With a little quilting work, you can make a very special gift.

Holiday Mug Rug Tutorial

One of the handmade gift musts is mug rugs. With a little piecing, you make this lovely mug rug.

Patchwork Star Ornaments

With simple sewing and quilting techniques you can make these lovely star ornaments.

fabric star ornament tutorial

Fabric Star Ornament Tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Monday, November 3, 2025

Christmas is approaching and you know for sewers and quilters it means that it is time to choose this year's handmade gifts for your beloved ones. A fabric star ornament for Christmas will definitely be loved. It is one of those that looks much harder to make than they actually are.

Making these fabric star ornaments is white easy. There are mamy color possibilities so you can make every fabric star ornament to fit the taste of the receiver.

Soooo let's get started!

Fabric Star Ornament Supplies

Three different fabrics
2.8" Styrofoam ball
Dressmaker pins (200 pins per ornament)
Small screw eyes
Ribbon
Hot glue gun

Step 1: Cutting the fabric

Cut the following for each fabric star ornament:

Center of Star Fabric 8 pieces of 2 1/2" square
Middle of Star Fabric 16 pieces of 2 1/2" square
Outside of Star Fabric 16 pieces of 2 1/2" square

Step 2: Folding the Squares

The next step is to fold the squares. Take each fabric square and fold it in half wrong sides together, press to make a crease. Then fold the square in half in the other direction and finger press again. Your square should be divided into four sections as seen in the images above. Repeat this for all squares.

Step 3: Making the Center Star

Take one square of your center star fabric and hold it in your hand, wrong side facing up. Take a pin and push it through the fabric just a little below the center of the square.

Push the pin into the styrofoam ball.

Fold the fabric down, matching it to the bottom edge of the fabric. The right side of the fabric should be seen and then the fabric will be folded in half.

Next, fold the upper left-hand corner down, aligning it with the center crease. Place a pin to hold it against the ball.

Flatten the other corner of the triangle against the ball and place a pin in the corner.

Repeat the folding and pinning process for the opposite side.

Get another center of the star fabric square and repeat as above, placing the pin as close to the first pin as possible.

Repaet this step to fill in the gaps between the triangles. The ornament now should look like this.

Try not to leave gaps between triangles as much as possible.

Step 4: Pinning and Folding the Middle Star

Grab a square of the middle star fabric and place a pin through the center on the wrong side.

Mesure about 1/2" from the center, and place the pin into the center crease of one of the triangles.

Fold and pin the square into a triangle as you have done in Step 3. Repeat for the opposite side and then for the remaining two sides.

We also create triangles in the diagonals. Place a pin into the wrong side of the middle star fabric and repeat the folding and pinning on the four diagonals. This will create the star shape as you can see at the image above.

Step 5: Pinnig and Folding the Outer Star

Here we add the outer star layer. Take a square of the outer star fabric and place a pin through the center on the fabric.

Mesure about 1/2" from the center of the middle layer and place the pin into the center crease of one of the triangles. Fold and pin in order to create a triangle, next repeat for the opposite and adjacent sides. Repeat this for the diagonals also.

Step 6: The Other Side

It is halfway finished. This time the other side will come together faster.

Find the center of the opposite side of the styrofoam ball. Repeat Steps 2-5 to create side two of the fabric star ornament.

Step 7: Adding the Screw Eye

Push the screw eye into the center of the top of your ornament. It will keep in plave tightly. Here I didn't have a screw eye, instead I used a small screw which worked well also.

Step 8: Adding the Ribbon

Before you glue the ribbon, make sure that it is wide enough to cover all the pins around. If it doesn't, find a wider one.

Cut a piece of ribbon 3/4" longer than the circumference of the fabric star ornament. Begin gluing the ribbon down around the ornament, finishing where you have started.

Tie a loop of fishing wire or a thinner ribbon through the secrew eye.

And you have finished!

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