Problem/Question - Jelly Roll Race Quilt

Hi folks,

I just completed my first Jelly Roll Race quilt top (which is actually my very first quilt top ever! ;) ). The roll is Through the Winter Woods. While I think it's very pretty, it's not as striking as I thought it would be -- it doesn't have as many jags of color changes. I thought I followed the directions correctly. I sewed the strips together in the sequence that they came off the roll and I cut off an 18" piece before starting to sew the first completed strips together. Did I do something wrong or is it just this particular color sequence that just doesn't stand out?

Attachment 82272

Thanks for your kind feedback!

I never made one before, but I really like yours! It looks like you did it on purpose.

I haven't made one either, but I do like yours are you going to border it?

By the way Welcome to the forum from Joan in Massachusetts.

Oh yah my manners. Welcome!

I don't know what went "wrong" but it sure looks nice.

I don't know enough about the Jelly Roll Race and it's quirky ways to tell you one way or the other. But I do think it looks lovely just the way it is. It could very well be just be the way it came off the roll that ended with the colors grouping a bit.

I vote sash it in something that makes you happy! And call it Done! \o/

Also: Welcome! =D

Looks like Christmas colors to me - very soothing :-)

Welcome to the forum!

I also think it looks lovely the way it is.

If you are not happy with it, how about cutting it in equal thirds or fourths and rotate the center strip then sash it between columns and make it a coin quilt.

First of all, welcome to the forum. Your JRR looks really good. It is a jellyroll without a lot of print/color changes. I don't use my strips as they come off the roll....I mix them up and that creates that 'fractured' look.

Yes, I agree with Bubby, mixing them up creates more color variation. But many folks love them when they turn out like yours.

Welcome to the forum!

I may not be the person to give an idea because I am so new to quilting but, do you think by adding a border would change your mind about the look? I have learned borders can make a quilt "pop". I have made 2 jelly roll quilts and a lovely lady at my local quilt shop help me select a border fabric that made everything "pop" and it made a difference. Take your finished top to the shop a "play with different fabrics". Ask others for their thoughts (I have found strangers are good for this).

Welcome to quilting. I think each one of us develops a "look" that is totally us as we go along. You are in the stage of developing your "look". That's what makes quilting so individual and fun. I love the quilt that you have pieced. With your next quilt you will know what makes you happy with how the colors flow together. I think of quilting fabric as a huge box of crayons that I can color a quilt with. Last night I was studying a quilt book, really looking at the colors that the author had used to get her "look". I encourage you to do that. You might be surprised as you look at the individual fabrics that make up a quilt. Congratulations on your first quilt.

It is a lovely quilt. I really like the way the colors flow.

As someone already mentioned, to get the big difference between strips, you have to mix them up instead of using them in order. And even with mixing them up - you never really know how a jelly roll quilt will turn out. That is part of the process.

Congratulations on making your first quilt top, and welcome to the forum.

Holy Cats! Post a message in the middle of the night and wake up to a boatload of replies! Thank you so much for the warm welcome and all of the encouragement and help. You guys are da bomb!!

I think I will take it into the local shop and get some suggestions for a border. I've never been very good at pulling colors together, so having another set of eyes on it will help. And, it's funny, Vonnie, but I'd done some Internet searching for some other photos of quilts and found one where someone also didn't like the way theirs turned out and cut it into a coin quilt. I also saw one cut into a fence rail. So, I'm going to mull those over. After looking at it in the morning light, it does make me happy and I'm proud of it. It just might need a little tweaking. :lol: Getting it finished is at the top of my list and that's always my biggest hurdle to anything. ;) I'll post a pic when it's done.

Thank you again for such a wonderful welcome and all of your positive reinforcement. It's huge!

It's just the way it comes out. It's a lovely quilt.

Welcome. It looks good to me. I've made about 5 of these and they all look different. You did it the correct way. :icon_wave:

It's a great quilt! I agree with the suggestions to mix up the JR strips before sewing. Welcome to the forum.

Just wondering... did you cut 18" off of EACH strip or just the FIRST one.. that could account for color balance.. but perhaps the way it was packaged may have been different from others... I have never used them as they come off the roll.. I place them in color piles and then take from each pile as it pleases me... makes more sense to me if I want a "mix" of color.. that's not always a perfect mix either, just a suggestion... If it bothers you a lot,, Jenny has a way of cutting it and placing a solid between as an applique that's pretty stunning.. or if you cut into blocks and do a "rail fence" assembly that would spice it up as well,,, I like it just as it is as well,, but wanted to share a few options... :)B

Your right,, finish this up,,, and on to another one... Didn't notice your that new.. Welcome aboard...you will not be wanting for help or positive feedback and help on this site.. I am an MA gal as well... Only Wish we had a M* and retreat around here!!! Barbara

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Originally Posted by tamdotcom

Holy Cats! Post a message in the middle of the night and wake up to a boatload of replies! Thank you so much for the warm welcome and all of the encouragement and help. You guys are da bomb!!

I think I will take it into the local shop and get some suggestions for a border. I've never been very good at pulling colors together, so having another set of eyes on it will help. And, it's funny, Vonnie, but I'd done some Internet searching for some other photos of quilts and found one where someone also didn't like the way theirs turned out and cut it into a coin quilt. I also saw one cut into a fence rail. So, I'm going to mull those over. After looking at it in the morning light, it does make me happy and I'm proud of it. It just might need a little tweaking. :lol: Getting it finished is at the top of my list and that's always my biggest hurdle to anything. ;) I'll post a pic when it's done.

Thank you again for such a wonderful welcome and all of your positive reinforcement. It's huge!

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Welcome to the forum:icon_wave:
Yup, you did it correctly. I am not a JRR fan, but, I absolutely love yours. I like that it doesn't have the jarring color switches like a lot do. I'm going to put your fabric pic in my to do file! Border and enjoy-it's beautiful!!

Gotta' tell you-I love it even more after getting a close up of the fabric!

Welcome aboard. I haven't made one, but I like your quilt as it is. It is soothing & woodsy. And those lighter, lower volume strips remind me of strips of birch bark. I wouldn't mess with it if it was mine, but accept that it came out a little differently to what I expected & love it for what it is! Stripes are so classic, & your color scheme is too. I say finish this one & have fun with your next project.

GrammaBabs - I cut the 18" off just the first strip. I followed Jenny's tutorial to the letter, and she did not mix up the strips. I just think it was that this particular color palette didn't have as much contrast as others. But, that's okay, I'm going to mix up the next one -- which coincidentally just showed up in my mailbox this morning! :icon_heh: I have seen the Jelly Roll Race II with the square blocks and loved how it makes the strips really pop out.

I know that once the top is quilted it's going to make a difference, too.

Thanks for your help!

Welcome. I think your quilt is beautiful and I think since it is your first, you should finish it the way it is. It is a perfect first quilt. I think you chose a great quilt for your first one. Border it, quilt it and bind it the way it is (I really like it!).

Thank you, Susann and Claire. You've made me feel so much better and convinced me to just keep it as is. Going to pick out backing and binding tomorrow and maybe I can get it finished up this weekend.

Looks great - and welcome!!!

It sounds like you did exact instructions, so it may just be the roll. But, I have to say I LOVE it!

I like it a lot! I have not done one yet but its on my list. I have a jelly roll that is black, silver and purple, gonna do the JRR II with it. Welcome to the forum!

I think the colors in the jelly roll just blend really well together. I'm not sure if you had mixed them up rather than sewing in order how it would have turned out. Yours looks more "striped" which I like. Sometimes doing it the other way you end up with big blobs of color in certain areas.

With Jelly Roll Race quilts I sort of think it is just the luck of the draw, but I do like your top.

Welcome from Ohio!

I don 't see anything wrong with your quilt.....I like it just as it is.

Great job.... Remember.... Your quilt is your creation, so you really can 't go wrong.... There are no quilt police... It's a great quilt.

I think it looks fine, but I know what you mean. I made one and was disappointed with the outcome. I put an appliqué on it and it turned out great.

I think Jenny even mentions that she mixed up on roll and did the race and it came out with sections of color instead of the scattered look.
Even the tutorial fabric didn't have many jagged sections. If you're adventurous in the future and want to try it again, maybe find a roll that has more fabric patterns in the line. While your quilt is very pretty it has few patterns to mix up.
I'd also add a couple of borders to it. maybe a darker inner with the lighter outer.
Just a thought. :)
p.s.-Welcome to fabricaholics quilters anonymous. no quilt police here! :)

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Originally Posted by tamdotcom

I have seen the Jelly Roll Race II with the square blocks and loved how it makes the strips really pop out.
Thanks for your help!

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Here's an idea to incorporate with your JRR2. I found this picture on facebook where they put 4 patches in between. This isn't a real JRR but it's close enough for me :) Attachment 82311

I think it looks great just the way it is!

Did you sew them all end to end first? I don't see any seams.