Can You Make a Jelly Roll Quilt Using Different Length Strips?
 

I have seen the JR Race quilts using 40" strips. I have lots of fabrics, but not all are 40". Is it possible to use different lengths of fabric to get the same effect as a JR quilt? TIA.

Sure you can. I would think, though, that if a lot of them were quite short, it wouldn't look like a JR. Not that it would look bad, just a different design :)

I think that a quilt top with different length strips would be fun. You can do watever you want. Your quilt, your rules. I added 2.5" squares of a gray fabric in between all my strips to break up the strips a little bit. I like the way mine turned out. Go for it and have fun.

I would think if you spread the shorter ones out, it would look good.

All of my "jelly roll" quilts have been made using odd lengths of 2 1/2" strips and squares in coordinating colors. I love the look of them. I do them in the exact same way as a JR quilt. Just a tip, I use a smaller stitch so that you don't have things coming apart at all those seams.
The other thing is that you don't know how big the quilt will be until you're done. We have made many donation quilts and sometimes it becomes a quilt with vertical stripes depending on the size it ends up.

I saw a really nice strip quilt on Pinterest that was made with random sized strips. I really liked the look of it.

You could float all your strips by using the same color or pattern on each end to make all of them the same length. Then sort them into a pretty pattern and sew them. It won't be a jelly roll race but will make sure you like it. This is similar to what I am talking about, but this uses smaller strips and floats them with white. http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com...elly-roll.html

And these are from EQ7. These are fun. I would make them.

I wanted to try a JR and I wanted to use what I had and here what helped me with the calculation
http://quiltkisses.blogspot.com/2015...ariations.html

It looks different but I like it
https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...45-609273.html

I cut my strips in half so they are 20" and seam them with an angle seam. Breaks up the long strips of color. Adding little blocks of a contrast adds a different look too. That's what's so fun about quilting, we can use our artistry any way we want.

helou I love the cats. The background you made is good, but they totally set off the whole quilt. Good job!

It's your quilt do what you want! I modify patterns all the time to accommodate the amount of the particular fabric I have decided to use for a quilt. I try to use my stash fabric, so I can't buy more that matches in most cases.

Thanks again. I thought I could vary the length of strips as long as I kept to the 1600" overall length. This will involve keeping track of and adding each strip (example: 7"+4"+10"+....). I think is doable if I add them in "sections". (I know what I am thinking in my mind, and not sure if I am explaining it well).

I have 3 QOV to finish before I can start on my JR quilt (which will also be a QOV). One quilt has all the blocks made, just need to finish making the top (half done). #2 quilt is a string quilt (10" blocks - 6 made, need 30 - then piece top): #3 is bargello "Standing Strong" (Pat Sloane) - fabrics chosen, nothing else done. Then and only then can I start on my jelly roll QOV. I am lucky in that my guild takes the quilt tops, someone else sandwiches it, someone quilts it and then a final person binds it. Four people - 1 quilt.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

I've done this also and was pleased with the results.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I've always thought that the only definition of a jelly roll quilt is one made from a jelly roll. Technically, a coordinated pack of 2.5" strips that you are free to do whatever you want with? Now, a jelly roll "race" quilt definitely has long strips, which--to my mind -- means something like 18-20" minimun to give that very vertical -or horizontal --ook to the design.

One of my current WIPS is a JR quilt I think called "Amazing Jelly Roll" or something like that , from MSQC tute. I'm really liking the look of it. Hope you enjoy the process, whatever you decide on.

I was thinking about doing one of these but I don't like the look of just the jelly roll. Have people made a simple one that's been cut and made into, I dunno... blocks? Not blocks but some sort of organized chaos?

You could do something like this
Thimbleberries Strip and Flip. Not technically a Jelly Roll quilt but it gives you an idea on a direction you could take.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=thimb...w=1455&bih=686

I use whatever length of 2.5" strips I have on hand. They all turn out just fine.

This is a terrific suggestion.