Q&A for How to Make a Jelly Roll Quilt

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Should I start with a 40-piece Jelly Roll? What is the finished size of the quilt?

Kellie Watkins

Community Answer

This is what I've found: you don't really get "standard" sizes with the Jelly Roll method, but you'll be close enough. I'll include my approximate finished sizes. Baby with 20 strips (1 Roll) was 32.5" x 50"; lap with 40 strips (1 Roll) was 50" x 64.5"'; twin with 70 strips (2 Rolls) was 87.5" x 64.5"; full/queen with 105 strips (3 Rolls) was 87.5" x 96.5"; king with 120 strips (3 Rolls) was 100" x 96.5". Remember, twin and larger need to be sewn in sections to get the correct dimensions. If you just kept flipping and sewing all the strips together, you'd end up with a quilt too long and skinny for your bed size.

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Question

Should I separate colors of fabric?

Community Answer

It's entirely up to you!

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Question

How do I pair up the strips from a jelly roll, to then cut them up into squares?

Eileen Hughes

Community Answer

Cut them into squares by measuring how wide the jelly roll strips measure (allowing extra for seams) and cut to the same measurement. This allows you to turn the squares so that lines go up and down and turn to go opposite way. Then add another square going up and down and so on.

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Question

Why isn't my quilt squared?

Community Answer

You could be pulling the fabric slightly as you feed it through, causing it to stretch slightly and become uneven.

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Question

How many jelly roll strips do I need to make a queen size quilt?

Community Answer

Queen = 60" × 80" = 4800" sq. Strip = 42" × 2.5" = 105" sq. 4800 ÷ 105 = 46 strips (rounded up).

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Question

How do I press the seams?

Community Answer

Normally, when working with small pieces, say, 4” x 4” squares, I alternate light and dark and always press toward the dark piece. For the jelly roll quilt, I press the seams in one direction. Or, if you’re handy with the iron, you could press them open. But that’s a lot of work.

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Question

If I am making a jelly roll quilt with only ten different fabrics, will the quilt still look nice?

Community Answer

Absolutely! Are they colors you like? Arrange them in a way that you enjoy.

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Question

How many jelly strips do I need for a lap quilt?

Community Answer

If using 2 1/2 inch strip by 42-44 inches long. One 40 strip jelly roll for a lap size of approx 56"x68".

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