How to Create a Freezer Paper Hexagon

I have enjoyed making the hexagon table topper so much and LuAnn's directions are great for doing this.  She uses a plastic hexagon template for creating a freezer paper pattern that is needed to create the center of the table topper.  I don't own a hexagon shaped plastic ruler, so I got out my protractor and drew a hexagon on freezer paper that way.  Here is how you do it:

First here are the supplies you need.

1.  Freezer paper
2.  Scissors
3.  Protractor
4.  Pencil
5.  Long ruler

Pull off a long sheet of freezer paper about 20".  I have marked the edge of the paper with a pink marker to make it easier for you to see what I am doing.  This is the long edge of the paper that is cut by the manufacturer.  When you rip the paper across the width or cut it with scissors it is never straight.

Line up the narrow edge of your ruler with the straight (pink) edge of the paper to the left of center.

Put a pencil mark at 14" on both sides of the ruler.

Slide the ruler to the right of center and line up the narrow edge of the ruler with the straight (pink) edge of the paper again.

Put a pencil mark at 14" on both sides of the ruler.

Now draw a line using your ruler that connects all 4 dots you just made.  You should now have a line running the length of your paper that is 14" away from the pink edge.

 I have colored it green to make it easier to see.

Fold the paper so the pink edge meets the green line and make a crease or fold line.

Open it up so you can see the fold.

Now fold it again in the opposite direction so the straight edges are aligned on the side and make another crease.

When you open it up you will have two folds at 90 degrees.  Make a pencil mark where the two folds meet in the center.

Keeping the pink edge closest to you, lay your protractor on the center point.  The hole or bubble in the center bottom of the protractor is on the center mark.

 The black line on the protractor (under the words "MADE IN CHINA") lines up with the crease going left to right.  

Find the 60 degree mark on the left side of the protractor and make a mark.

Do it again on the right side.

Turn the protractor upside down and line up the bubble or hole with the center mark and the black line with the crease going left to right.

Find the 60 degree mark on the left side of the protractor and make a pencil mark.

 Repeat on the right side.

Take the long ruler and line up the 3 dots going in a diagonal -- 60 degree mark, centerpoint, 60 degree mark.

Now make another pencil mark where the ruler crosses the green line and one where it crosses the 

pink edge. 

Now align the long ruler with the other 3 dots -- 60 degree mark, centerpoint, 60 degree mark.

Make a pencil mark where the ruler crosses the green line and where it crosses the pink edge.

You have now found the 4 corners of the hexagon.  All that's left is to find the two points that are on the center crease going left to right.

Here's a little math magic.  The distance between those two points on the center crease is 2 times the length of one side of the hexagon.  So lay your ruler on the green line placing the zero point at the left corner mark.

Look to see where the right corner mark on the green line measures on the ruler.  In this case it is 8- 1/8".

Move the ruler to line up with the center crease placing the 8 - 1/8" mark on the center point.

Now make a mark at the left end of the ruler on the center crease.  (Ooh, my fingernails look pretty good in this photo!)

Slide the ruler along the center crease until the zero edge is at the center point of the hexagon. 

 Now make a pencil mark at 8- 1/8" on the center crease.  This is your right edge of the hexagon.

Finally, draw lines from each of the corner marks to the new marks on the center crease and this will complete your hexagon.

Cut it out with your scissors and you now have a finished hexagon pattern.  Just iron it on and you are ready to go.

PLEASE NOTE:  I have not included the seam allowance in this pattern.  You will need to add 1/4" all the way around when cutting with this pattern.  I usually write the size of the hexagon on the paper and a note to add the seam allowance as I usually use them more than once ( and I'll probably forget before I get around to using it again.

This technique will work with any size hexagon.   If you want a 10" hexagon, just measure the green line 10" up from the pink edge and continue.

Hopefully this will help someone in the future.

I am linking this to LeeAnne's Podunk Pickins'.