Here's a tip for using jelly rolls
04-14-2013, 03:58 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Heart of Colorado's majestic mountains!
Posts: 6,026
The problem with many precuts is that they are not on grain and when you sew them together your have off grain pieces that oppose each other and you get weird edges. I bought and used one jelly roll from a well known manufacturer and it gave me fits-I will stick with yardage that I can cut to my preference and keep it on grain. Precuts are not always time saving and not always well coordinated.
04-14-2013, 04:41 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Georgia
Posts: 220
Awesome tip!! I thought I was the only one that found those pinked edges a bit awkward to work with. I get the job done, but this tip will certainly make working with them easier and even more fun!!! Thanks!! 
04-14-2013, 06:51 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: India
Posts: 519
For those who like to use jelly rolls but have problems getting everything lined up.
Took me a while to figure this out. I've made half a dozen JR quilts but the last one
was giving me fits. Anyway, when you sew the first two strips together, press then
trim each side so that it becomes a perfect 4.5". It's that zig zag edge that throws
everything off. After you've trimmed those edges, everything will go smoothly
(assuming you've made a test for the perfect 1/4" seam with your fabric and
thread). Hope it's clear.
Took me a while to figure this out. I've made half a dozen JR quilts but the last one
was giving me fits. Anyway, when you sew the first two strips together, press then
trim each side so that it becomes a perfect 4.5". It's that zig zag edge that throws
everything off. After you've trimmed those edges, everything will go smoothly
(assuming you've made a test for the perfect 1/4" seam with your fabric and
thread). Hope it's clear.
What if the two you have stitched together only come to 4.25 and not 4.5? I think you will find that most Moda jelly rolls are barely 2.5" width with the zig zag left on. In fact my seam for any two strips can never be a full quarter inch.
04-14-2013, 07:19 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sunny AZ
Posts: 570
If you are making something like the 1600" jelly roll quilt trimming would not be a problem, just very messy to clean up. However, if you are using pinked charm packs or other precuts, cutting off the "points" will result in block that is too small. Lay your strip or charm or layer cake on top of your cutting mat. You will notice that the points on either side reach to the 2.5" or 5" or 10" line. This is why you don't want to trim them. When sewing, just know that the outermost point is actually the edge of the fabric.
04-14-2013, 08:41 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sunny Arizona
Posts: 476
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