I know that Block magazine has a beautiful 9 patch with less than one jelly roll. Cut your jelly roll into 2.5" squares and use your background. I had a jelly roll from Kaffe Fasset fabric that was ugly to me, and I made the prettiest lap quilt using Kona Snow with it. Added a small purple border and a larger off beat lavender polka dot. I just alternated the Kona Snow with the Kaffe fabric squares, but a 16 patch works great too. I made some charity quilts using 2.5 squares in 4 patches and alternated them on point with solid fabrics. They looked so good, I kept one.