No-don't cut them off. The 2.5" measurement is to the OUTSIDE of the zig zags. I actually am not a fan of the pinked edges. The first JR I bought had straight edges-this was a long time ago when they first came out and I liked it better. Another thing-you might want to whack the jelly roll on something outside for a while-there is a lot of lint and crumbs from those pinked edges. And while you're sewing, clean out your bobbin case often. I clean it with each new bobbin if I'm working with precuts.