How to Use the Slide & Trim Hexagon Log Cabin Template: Fast, Accurate Hexie Blocks for Quilters
Log cabin blocks are a quilting classic — give that familiar spiral of strips a six-sided twist and you get a hexagon log cabin, a striking block that builds in an orderly, round-by-round way. The Slide & Trim Hexagon Log Cabin Template set from Almost Heaven Woodcraft makes that process fast and easy, guiding both the starting shape and the trimming so blocks come out consistent.
What This Template Set Is
The set includes a Hexagon Template, a Slide & Trim Template, and instructions. Together, they walk you through building a hexagon log cabin block in rounds, adding strips around a central hexagon instead of the square center used in a traditional log cabin.
The sizing is worked out for you. Three rounds make a 9 1/2-inch block, with a quarter-inch seam allowance included. For a larger block, keep going — each additional round adds 2 inches. That predictable math makes planning a quilt top much easier.
The set also pairs great with 1 1/2-inch strips, including pre-cuts sold as Honey Buns. If you already have those narrow pre-cuts in your stash, you have a ready supply of strips without a lot of extra cutting.
Why Quilters Use It
Hexagons can be intimidating because small errors compound — a strip slightly off in one round can throw off every side that follows. This set reduces that guesswork. The hexagon template gives every block the same starting shape, and the slide-and-trim approach helps you true up each stage before the next round. The result looks intricate and modern, yet builds with a calm, repeatable rhythm.
How to Use It: Step by Step
- Read the instructions first. Work through the whole sequence before cutting, so you understand how the two templates are used together.
- Prepare your strips. Gather 1 1/2-inch strips — a Honey Bun is ideal — and sort them by value or color if you want the light-to-dark spiral effect log cabin blocks are known for. Press strips flat before you start.
- Create the center. Use the Hexagon Template to make the center hexagon for your block, following the instructions in the set.
- Add the first round. Sew strips around the center in the order the instructions direct, using a consistent quarter-inch seam allowance, and press after the round.
- Slide and trim. Use the Slide & Trim Template to trim the round back to the correct hexagon shape before adding the next round. This step corrects small variations early, instead of letting them grow.
- Repeat to three rounds. Continue adding and trimming rounds until you reach three rounds and a 9 1/2-inch block. For larger blocks, add more rounds — each adds 2 inches.
- Check your block. Measure the finished block before setting it aside, then repeat for as many blocks as your project needs.
Practical Tips
Consistency matters more than speed. Use the same seam allowance for every round, press the same way each time, and trim after every round rather than saving trimming for the end. Plan color placement before you sew — log cabin designs reward a deliberate arrangement of lights and darks, and the spiral effect is especially eye-catching in a hexagon. Complete one test block first; once your first block measures 9 1/2 inches correctly, the rest will follow much more confidently.
Care and Storage
Store both templates flat, together with the instructions, so the set stays complete. Keep them in a dry sewing area away from direct heat, avoid stacking heavy objects on top, and wipe with a soft, dry cloth after use to remove fabric dust. A labeled envelope or pouch protects the edges and keeps the pieces together.
Project Ideas
A set of 9 1/2-inch blocks makes a lively quilt top, especially alternating light and dark spirals or going scrappy with leftover strips. Build larger blocks with extra rounds for a bold centerpiece, or use single blocks for table toppers, wall hangings, and pillows. Hexagon blocks fit together beautifully across a whole quilt, creating movement without sashing.
Shop the Slide & Trim Hexagon Log Cabin Template at Linda's Electric Quilters.
