How to Embroider a Hexagon Table Topper

A template, or printout, of a design is an excellent tool to help with placement. Print a template of the design using embroidery software. In this example, we printed one each of all designs from the Fruit and Floral Hex Pack.

We recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchased made through this link.)

Use scissors to cut around the templates, getting as close as possible to the edges of the printed design to help with proper spacing later.

Start by layering a piece of fabric over a slightly larger piece of cotton batting and a piece of Soft n’ Sheer stabilizer. Use temporary spray adhesive, such as Odif 505, to adhere the layers all together. 

Use a quilting ruler, your choice of marking tool, and the template to create the crosshairs for positioning the first embroidery design.

Hoop all three layers together, lining up the marks on the hoop with the cross hair drawn on the fabric. 

Attach the hoop to your machine, center the needle over the cross hairs, and follow the color change sheet to embroider the center design. 

Remove the finished design from the hoop. Use a press cloth and iron to press the design. Since we used a heat erase fabric pen, this also removes our markings

After embroidering and pressing the center design, place the second design’s template ½” to the side of the center design. Use the lines in the template to mark the second design’s cross hairs. 

Hoop, embroider, and then press the second design. 

Repeat a third time on the opposite side of the center design to complete the first row of hexagons. 

To set up the top and bottom rows placement guides, begin by taking your quilting ruler and measure a line ½” away from the top edge of your center design using your marking tool.

Do this again on the design to the left. Use the quilting ruler to again draw a line ½” away from the top edge of the design. 

Repeat the previous 2 steps on the bottom edges of the hexagon designs to make the same guidelines under the center row. 

Finally, draw a line that will cross between the “x’s” made above and below. This is going to be the vertical crosshairs for the upper and lower left designs. Doing this helps center and level the upper and lower designs. 

On the top row, place the template on the vertical cross hair, with the bottom two edges against the drawn guidelines. 

Use the quilting ruler, template, and marking tool to draw the horizontal line of the cross hair for the upper left design. 

Just as before, hoop the fabric, batting, and stabilizer, lining up the markings on the hoop with the cross hairs. Follow the color change sheet to embroider the first design on the top row. Press the design once stitching is completed. 

Continue to repeat the above steps for the final three hexagon designs. Press so that the topper lays nicely and follow the package directions on your marking tool to remove your markings.

If you would like to add additional hexagons to make a larger table topper simply add to your center row and follow the steps for centering the designs above and below the center row as before.

To add the backing, use temporary spray adhesive on the wrong side of your backing fabric, then carefully smooth over the back side of the embroidery, making sure the backing fabric and embroidery are flat with no bubbles. 

To begin making the honeycomb shape, start by using the quilters ruler to measure 1 ¼” away from the edge of the design, then use a marking tool to draw a line. 

Follow around the entire design, keeping 1 ¼” away from the designs all the way around. 

Use scissors to carefully follow the outline and cut out the full table topper shape.

To begin preparing the topper for bias tape, carefully clip slightly into the inside corners, clipping under the width of the bias tape so you will not see it later.

Take the end of the double fold bias tape and fold the raw edge inward, use pins or sewing clips to hold it in place along the edge of the table topper. Where you start the bias tape is up to you. In this example we started 1” away from the bottom of an inner corner.

For a nice clean point in the bias tape, do not sew over the edge. Instead, line up the bias tape with the bottom edge of the topper, find the corner of the shape and make a marking in the crease of the bias tape that lines up with that point. Stop sewing here and backstitch.

After you’ve sewn to the first corner, pivot the bias tape to lay against the next edge, and pin or clip it into place. 

Return to the machine and sew up to the second corner, stopping in line with the corner point as before.

For the inner corners, line up the edge of table topper and bias tape. Sew until you reach the slit cut into the inner corner and stop with the needle down. 

With the needle still in place, lift the presser foot and stretch the bias tape and table topper into a straight line, then lower the presser foot once again and sew until you reach the outer corner point. 

Continue the steps above to sew around the entirety of the table topper. 

Fold the bias tape around the raw edges and use your pressing cloth and iron to press the bias tape. 

Use pins to hold the bias tape in place. 

Either hand stitch or top stitch the bias tape to finish the table topper. 

Give your table topper another nice press and you’re all done! Make one to give as a gift or use it to brighten up your own dining room!