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Sewing with Jelly Rolls | Instructions for a pillowcase

20.05.2017 by Sabine Schmidt

Mit Jelly Rolls nähen | Anleitung für einen Kissenbezug

Sewing with Jelly Rolls: What actually is a Jelly Roll? And how do you sew with them? Along the way, I’ll also show you how you can use them to sew a stunning cushion.

Sewing with Jelly Rolls – Ideas and Materials

Jelly Rolls are sometimes also called "rollmops." A Jelly Roll is a collection of fabric strips from a single collection that are color-coordinated and consistent in quality. The strips are usually between 5 and 8 cm wide and 100 to 140 cm long. Most Jelly Rolls are packaged as a literal roll. This has the advantage that you don’t have to iron them before sewing because they haven’t been creased.

The Jelly Roll gets its name from a pastry, popular in the USA, that is spread with jelly or fruit cream and then rolled up. Naturally, Jelly Rolls are perfect for patchwork and quilting.

While fabric Jelly Rolls aren't exactly a treat for your taste buds, they are genuine "eye candy"—a visual feast from which you can create wonderful things!

Many well-known fabric designers and labels release Jelly Rolls with their new collections. Moda Fabrics, Robert Kaufman, Kaffe Fassett, Free Spirit, Riley Blake, Heather Bailey, and Tilda are just a few examples.

And this is what Jelly Rolls look like:

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In her article "Fabrics and Batting for Patchwork," my colleague Simone also shows what you can make with Jelly Rolls.

And what can you sew with Jelly Rolls?

Basically: Everything. You can do a so-called "Jelly Roll Race." This means you sew the fabric strips together along their short edges. Then you press the seam allowances open and sew the strips together to the length required for your planned project.

You can then cut the prepared fabric piece into smaller sections however you like, mix them up, and piece them back together. It's a game of infinite possibilities. This technique is particularly well-suited for patchwork quilts (you can see an example of this in the photo with the sofa below), cushions, bags—but also for potholders and mobile phone cases.

For the cushion cover, we used Bali Pops from Hoffman Fabrics. Hoffman does not supply their Jelly Rolls in the classic "rollmop" shape, but as an oblong folded package.

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You can use the pre-cut fabric strips for a lasagna quilt, for example:

Patchwork

Or you can use them to assemble individual fabric elements using the receipt patchwork method:

Sewing receipt patchwork

You can then create wonderful things from these fabric strips:

Sewing receipt patchwork

Naturally, you can also use these prepared (and very personal) "designer fabrics" for large sewing projects, for instance to sew a patchwork bag:

Sewing a patchwork bag
Sewing a patchwork bag

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Sew a cushion cover from jelly roll strips

Here's how to turn jelly roll fabric strips into a 50 x 50 cm patchwork cushion cover with an envelope closure. The strips are quilted onto a base fabric using the "quilt as you go" method.

Materials

Front:

  • a few fabric strips from a jelly roll
  • optionally, a centrepiece in a matching colour (e.g. a panel, something you embroidered or printed yourself)
  • 54 x 54 cm light-coloured cotton fabric or Vlieseline H250 as a base

Back (envelope closure):

  • 52 x 32 cm solid-colour cotton fabric
  • 52 x 42 cm solid-colour cotton fabric
  1. Step

    Secure the centre piece on the base fabric

    Choose a centre piece – for example made of embroidered cotton – and secure it in the centre of the base fabric (54 x 54 cm light cotton fabric or Vlieseline H250).

  2. Step

    Place the first fabric strip and stitch it down

    Place the first Jelly Roll strip along the first edge of the centre piece and stitch it down a presser foot's width from the edge. This method is also called "quilt as you go".

    Place the first fabric strip and stitch it down
  3. Step

    Fold the strip open and press the seam

    Fold the stitched strip open and press the seam well.

  4. Step

    Add more strips

    Place the next fabric strip and sew it on in the same way. Repeat the folding open and pressing after each strip.

    Repeat the process until the base is completely covered with Jelly Roll strips.

  5. Step

    Press the front and trim it to 52 x 52 cm

    Once the base fabric is completely covered with strips, press the front piece nice and flat.

    Straighten the fabric edges and trim the square down to 52 x 52 cm.

  6. Step

    Prepare the back pieces for the envelope closure

    Finish the longer sides of the two pieces for the envelope closure (52 x 32 cm and 52 x 42 cm) with the overlock, press the edges under and topstitch them.

  7. Step

    Sew the front and back pieces together

    Place the front piece on the table right side up. Pin both back pieces on top right side down so that their finished edges overlap in the middle – this is the envelope closure.

    Sew all four outer edges together with the overlock. Alternatively, you can use a straight stitch on your sewing machine and finish the seam allowances with a zigzag or overlock stitch.

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.