Question about Jelly Roll quilts

I'm about to start a jelly roll quilt and have watched Jenny's tutorial. I was wondering if everyone does like Jenny and just takes the fabrics off the roll as they are stacked or do you mix them up. I have a Christmas jelly roll that I've had for a while and all the reds are together and the greens and so on. This is my first jelly roll quilt and I don't want to mess it up. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

That's a really good question. I'm to a*al to do that. I fuss and never get anything done. lol

I sure hope someone answers my question soon.

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules.....do what speaks to you and you can't go wrong!

Debra, I have only made a couple jelly roll quilts...I usually arrange the colors in the order that I like them...I think it is what you would prefer...good luck with your quilt...

I've never made one, but would imagine either way would be pretty. You'd have a striking look leaving all the colors clumped together. If you want the regular look of a jelly roll quilt, I'd think you need to mix up the colors.

I like to mix mine up BUT there is no real rhyme or reason as to how they will line up in the end. It's supposed to be a fast project and if you spend a lot of time "planning" placement, it won't be fast.

Thank you everyone for responding. I think I will try to mix them up a little.

If you are talking about the Jelly Roll Race Quilt, I know you need to cut off the first 16" of the first strip.

I don't think I would sew the same color strip one right after another.

Spyder

I recommend you mix your colors up and remember to cut off the first 18" of your long sewn together strip so your seams will stagger. Good Luck!

I think the only way is to try to lay out the fabrics together and take a photo and then re-arrange to separate the various fabrics and see what that looks like. By doing this, you have just spent a small amount of time and there's no harm done. Just sew the one that appeals to you.

Hope this helps. It's always neat to see what others think.

Barb. from Toronto, Canada

I've only made one JRR quilt and I mixed up the colors. It's personal preference. :)

Thanks for the advice. I probably would have forgotten about cutting off the first 16".

IFirst, I don't think you can mess up a jelly roll quilt (the 1600 version). I personally mix mine up first, because I don't want two fabrics that he same together, but sometimes they end up that way anyway once you start sewing them together after you have them sewn end to end. Someone told me to unroll my jelly roll and throw them in a large bag that you have beside you then pull them out randomly when you are sewing them together. This method has worked great for me. But whatever you decide, I'm sure your quilt will look great. That is the beauty of the Blueridge 1600 quilt!

I use mine straight from the bundle unless there are duplicates - I take these out and add them to the bottom of the pile. Life's too short to sort and the idea of a jelly Roll RACE is to make it quickly and enjoy the surprise so sorting and mixing defeats the object!

These were unsorted

http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/mem...7770624-n.html
http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/mem...86-morris.html

I have not done a jelly roll quilt yet. But, my question is, how do you keep it from going wonky?

I know you have to be careful not to stretch the fabric but it's bound to happen anyway.

So - what's the secret?

I tape the end of the first strip to my work table (after cutting off 16" - 18") then, when I get to the end of sewing all the strips together, I place the final piece face to face with the taped piece and start the next long row - never had any twists in it yet - just make sure you sew each diagonal strip in the same direction - you don't need to pin either.

If you join with a diagonal seam and cut the dog ears off - keep sliding the strip through your fingers keeping it flat - that should remove any twists too before you turn one strip into two.
Attachment 63467
Ingredients
1 Jelly Roll
Sewing Machine with ¼” foot
Thread & 3 fully wound bobbins


Method

1. Unwrap Jelly Roll carefully
2. Lay out flat - do not mix up
3. Take the first strip carefully off the pile
4. Take a second strip & join it to the end of the first strip with right sides together (see diagram above using a mitred corner (no need to cut off selvedge)
5. Now sew all the strips together in the same way – no need to pin – you can’t pin jelly!
6. When you reach the end your strip will be over 1600 inches!
7. Cut off 18 inches at the start and discard - this will ensure the joins are staggered
8. Trim all mitred joins leaving ¼” seam – jelly wobbles so cut them quick with sharp scissors
9. Take the start of your roll & place right sides to right sides with the end of the Jelly Roll
10. Sew all the way down & when you get to the end, cut it across the folded edge with your scissors – you now have 2 long strips each made of 2 strips sewn together.
11. Place the right sides together again and sew all down the strip.
12. Cut and sew strips together again
13. Keep sewing in this way, trying not to twist your strips.
14. Your finished quilt will have 32 joined together strips and measure approximately 50” x 60”
15. Press seams then trim the sides to make them even.
16. You can then add 1 or more borders before quilting and binding.

I made my first 1600 jelly roll quilt top today - I mixed them all up and them cut about 1/4 of the strips into shorter length. I don't have anyone to race against so I took my time!

Attachment 63597