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What Is A Jelly Roll® and How Do You Use It?
These are questions we hear often. What is a jelly roll®? How do I use it to make a quilt? We will answer both of those questions for you today!
The term Jelly Roll® is actually a trademarked name for Moda's 2½" strips. However, most quilt fabric manufacturers these days, offer at least some of their fabric lines in these handy little rolls of 2½" precut fabric strips!
Btw, the term precut refers to 2½" strips, 5" squares, and 10" squares that come 'pre-cut' and can be used to make a quilt without cutting yardage.
What's in a Jelly Roll
So what exactly are you getting when you buy a Jelly Roll® or 2½" precuts anyway?
Most 2½" precuts include between 40 to 42 strips that are 2½" x WOF. Sometimes, you can get smaller rolls that are just 20 to 24 strips. It depends on the collection and the manufacturer.
Most 2½" precuts only have 1 or 2 of any particular print in them. That's half the fun. You get a big collection like Paula's Companions and a roll of 2½" strips will include a little of every print in the collection. This allows you to have access to the entire collection without buying yardage. This is especially great for achieving a scrappy look.
You can also get jelly rolls that consist of many strips of just a single print or colour like these KONA Ash 2½" strips you see below. These are great for backgrounds.
This jelly roll is from a large blender line so it only features one of each colour in the collection.
Robert Kaufman KONA roll-up in Ash
How To Use A Jelly Roll
Some patterns are written specifically with Jelly Rolls in mind. Granny Cabin by Then Came June is one pattern that was written for 2½" strips. The sample you are seeing below uses a roll of 2½" strips for the blocks and black KONA yardage for the background.
A Granny Cabin made using a colourful set of 2½" precuts with KONA Black yardage for the background.
Jelly rolls are a quick way to make a strip pieced quilt look scrappy.
Many other patterns call for 2½" strips. Check the fabric requirements when you are purchasing patterns, and you'll notice some patterns list 2½" strips. Additionally, if you have a pattern that instructs you to cut your fabrics into 2½" strips, you can replace the yardage in that pattern with the appropriate amount of 2½" precut strips.
You can also use 2½" strips for things like a Jelly Roll rug. I've heard that some people use them to make braided rugs too!
❓❓❓ A question for you! Now that you know what a jelly roll is and how it can be used, what will you be making? Let me know in the comments below!
Shop Jelly Rolls (2½" Strips)
About The Author
Hi, I'm Abigail! I've been quilting on and off since the age of 8! I have always loved quilts and quilting. I also love teaching about quilting and helping others to get started in this wonderful craft! My non-quilting hobbies include sewing, baking, and hand embroidery
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