How to Make the Hexagon Garden Quilt from Just One Jelly Roll
Hexagons look intricate, but they do not have to be complicated. Hexagon Garden is a quilt pattern designed by Pam & Nicky Lintott that builds a traditional hexagon design from a single jelly roll. The finished quilt measures 51 inches by 53 inches and features a charming blend of red, white, and blue hexagons — a classic combination that brings traditional elegance to any room. Because the pattern works from pre-cut strips, it offers an easy, efficient way to piece a design that looks far more complex than it is.
What Is the Hexagon Garden Pattern?
Hexagon Garden is a printed quilt pattern, not a finished quilt or a kit. It gives you the instructions to create a 51 by 53 inch quilt top built from hexagon shapes arranged in a garden-like layout. The pattern uses a jelly roll — a bundle of pre-cut fabric strips — so much of the cutting quilters normally do from yardage is already handled before you begin. It recommends the Creative Grids 60-degree Triangle 8 1/2 inch ruler (CGRT60) as an accessory for precise cuts, since hexagon construction depends on accurate 60-degree angles.
Why Quilters Choose It
Quilters reach for this pattern when they want the classic look of a hexagon quilt without an overwhelming cutting list. Working from one jelly roll keeps fabric selection simple: the strips in a coordinated roll already harmonize, and the red, white, and blue scheme shows how a limited palette can still produce plenty of contrast. The finished size is practical, too — large enough for a lap quilt or throw, yet manageable on a home machine. It is described as ideal for both beginners and seasoned quilters.
How to Make It, Step by Step
- Read the pattern first. Note the finished size, the jelly roll requirement, and the recommended 60-degree triangle ruler so you can plan your layout and cutting order.
- Sort your jelly roll strips. Separate the strips by color and value. In the red, white, and blue scheme, sorting lights, mediums, and darks first helps you control how the hexagons sit next to each other.
- Cut with the 60-degree ruler. Use the recommended Creative Grids 60-degree Triangle 8 1/2 inch ruler to cut precisely. Hexagons are built from 60-degree angles, so consistent cutting is what lets the shapes fit together without gaps or puckers.
- Piece the hexagons. Follow the pattern layout to join the pieces into hexagons and then into the full top, pressing as you go. Check each unit as it comes together — small accuracy differences are easy to fix at this stage, but they multiply across a whole top.
- Finish the quilt. Layer the completed 51 by 53 inch top with batting and backing, quilt as desired, and bind the edges.
Practical Tips
Angled pieces include bias edges, which can stretch if pulled or handled roughly. Let the feed dogs move the fabric, press with an up-and-down motion instead of sliding the iron, and keep a consistent seam allowance. Lay out several hexagons before sewing rows together so you can balance the reds, whites, and blues across the quilt. If this is your first hexagon project, sew one test hexagon from scraps first to confirm your cutting and seam allowance.
Care and Storage
Store the pattern flat in an envelope or folder, away from moisture, and keep it with your 60-degree ruler so everything for the project stays together. Care for the finished quilt like other cotton quilts: wash gently in cool water and dry on low or lay flat to preserve the fabrics and crisp hexagon points.
Project Ideas
Make Hexagon Garden in red, white, and blue for a patriotic throw or summer picnic quilt, or reinterpret it with a jelly roll in an entirely different palette — the hexagon structure carries the design while the fabric sets the mood. At 51 by 53 inches it also works as a wall hanging with traditional character, or as a thoughtful gift in the recipient's favorite colors.
Shop the Hexagon Garden - Just One Jelly Roll at Linda's Electric Quilters.
