I recently purchased a jelly roll, and the edges of each fabric strip are pinked. How do I begin to use the strips-do I cut off the pinked edges to make them straight for sewing? If I have to do that, it seems more cumbersome than just cutting strips from yardage in the first place. But if I don't cut them, how do I sew without a straight edge?
Thanks in advance

Welcome to the board from Southern California!
I think you just line the tips of the pinked edges up with the same of your second fabric and sew the 1/4" seam.

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.

Yeah what she said. I learned this the hard way with a layer cake instead of a jelly roll. Those pinked edges really screwed me up one time. I still have yet to rip the pieces apart and start over. I need to though.

I'm not a fan of the pinked edges either. Not fun at all. But, don't cut them off.

Hello and Welcome from Northern Indiana ! Glad you joined us :lol:

I am so... not a fan of pinked edges ... Who ever thought it was a good idea?! I will not purchase Jelly Rolls with a pinked edge. it just agrivates me the whole time I am working with them.

Always thought the manufacturer pinked the edges so they wouldn't unravel as much with all the handling to get the product to us. Just a thought...

I always wondered about the measurements too for all those things that came with pinked edges.

So - the measurement is from tip to tip of the zigzags?

I don't like the mess either but it does cut down on the bulk in the seams

Garment makers used pinking shears to cut out their pattern pieces in order to minimze unraveling since all the edges are not cut on the straight grains of the fabric (think A-line skirt). Instead of whacking them as Gale suggested, take the jelly roll outside and unroll it and gently shake the strips. Don't brush the edges while it is still rolled up, as this will loosen the small pieces of thread. They will come out of the pinked cuts and you will lose that fabric, throwing your measurements off.

Of course there's a reason for the pinked edges. I still don't have to like them.

Gale is right.......take them outside and shake the bag before you open it! I had allergic in my eyes from these "bunny dusts"
Just line the pinked edgs up with each other.

okay.......I'm lost, if I don't cut the pinked edges off and I'm matching up to a 2nd piece of fabric my question is......does the pinked tips line up perfectly with the straight edge of 2nd fabric or is it the base of the pinked edge lining up with my 2nd fabric. Wow.....is that clear as mud of what? LOL

No, they don't line up a lot of the time and that can be a pain. the tips should line up with the straight edge. It can be a struggle to get that scant seam. I'm mainly using my jelly rolls in easier type patterns.

Looks like I found just the right forum! Thanks for the welcome, and all of the really useful information. It's exactly what I was looking for. :)

I agree. Do not cut off the tips. The measurement is from the tips to the tips.

Don't laugh at me but I have been known to vacuum my jelly rolls to get all those little bits off :oops:

welcome sarge1. I'm new to the group too. I mostly read what everyone has to say and when I'm done, it seems like I've has a wonderful 'group hug' from all around the world. Quilters are the best there is!!! :thumbup:

hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here.

Welcome! Glad you're here!

In a perfect world, yes they would measure exactly 2.5" from tip to tip across the middle of the strip. But my experience with them (at least with Moda ones) has been that they are not. They are actually about 2 and 9/16" from tip to tip, which is about 1/16" more than 2.5". That doesn't sound like much, but compounded over say 4 squares that adds up to about a 1/4" difference. So if you try to sew it to an 8.5" unfinished square, you'll have an issue. It's the one thing that makes me go "Grrr" about jelly rolls, otherwise I love them. Every one that I have measured has been like this and I'm using metal rulers, so it's not like my ruler has "shrunk".

I first noticed it when trying to join large squares to pieced squares from the jelly rolls, which is what made me take a ruler to them. And then I measured another, and another, etc. So beware!

I have used the jelly rolls a few times now, first I vacuum them while they are still rolled and tied, then I take them apart and choose the ones for my project and proceed to spray starch them. I don't get much lint at all that way. I had to starch 2 jelly rolls for my last quilt which was a queen size but I wouldn't for go the starch. Haven't had a problem keeping a scant quarter inch with the points either. Good luck they are fun to work with.

Suzy

Hi and Welcome from outside St. louis, Missouri, glad you joined us, you will love it here.

I have a jelly roll, haven't worked with it yet. I will someday and will just use a simple design.

OK, I've been wondering about the pinked edges for awhile and haven't bought jelly rolls or cake layers as a result. Now I've even more convinced I don't want to buy them. I LOVE to rotary cut, so I'd rather just buy the yardage and cut my own. Glad you asked the question, Sarge1. I got my own question answered here.

Here's my thought on the pinked edge. I saw them as manufacturers samples of new lines before they showed up in the market as " charm" squares. I think the manufacturers just didn't alter the process, and let us quilters make the adjustment in OUR sewing. Because if the fabrics are handled much, the whole tip of the 'pinking point' disappears, and you're left with only the little threads that go the other way.

I agree! I don't cut them off, but don't particularly like them either. Go figure! But you're right, it does cut down on the bulk at the seam. Maybe we should invent a rotary cutter that pinks??!

Hello from another N. Indiana quilter.

I have never bought a jelly roll but have wondered about the pinked edges. If we can extrapolate from the opinions on this thread, it would seem that the manufacturers don't listen to users' opinions on whether they prefer pinked edges. Ugh!

There are pinked blades available for purchase on rotary cutters. I have one. And I've never used it.

There are pinking blades available for rotary cutters. Check the notions aisle at the fabric stores.

Might be a good place/time to do a "test sew and measure" with three strips before sewing all of the strips together to see if one ends up with the expected size/width.

Then, if necessary, one could compensate by moving the needle over one way or another or by "eyeballing" where the pinked edges should be relative to the presser foot edge.

At least, if all the strips are cut the same width, one would only need to make one adjustment for that batch.

I saw a tutorial on Missouri Star Quilting video where the instructor was using JRs joining them in strips. One was pinked and the other was not. She claimed that the pinked edges were "wonderful" because it was easy to put the pinked strip on the top and line it up perfectly to the "unpinked" strip because you can easily see that the points of the "Vs" meet the edge of the straight strip.

Sounds perfectly logical to me but I've never used them before, didn't know about the fuzz problem or that the measurement is off.

Also, Missouri Star Quilt Company sells Moda JRs so of course they would promote them.

It's not too bad until your top layer has pinked on the right side and your bottom layer has pinked on the top side. Then you have to be really conscious to match up both (without being able to see the bottom one unless you flip it over).

Thanks everyone, I am taking notes about the pinked edges. I have not come across any, but if I do I will be prepared and want panic :shock: I can't tell you how many times I have learned something new here. You guys rock making this the best board around.

Yup you're exactly right. I don't mind pinked edges. Either way, as long as I have more fabric! :)

Fiskars and Olfa have them!! You can buy a cutter with that blade, or buy a pinking blade. Got to be easier than those shears!

I like the pinked edges. If you line them up to match, then you know you have the two pieces perfectly matched...plus the fabric doesn't ravel as much as a straight cut.

[There are pinking blades available for rotary cutters. Check the notions aisle at the fabric stores.]

I've seen the wavy edged blades, but never a pinking blade. I'll have to look for it = Thanks~

I hate those pinked edges! What a mess-fuzz all over me, my machine, carpet....I never could get them to be 2 1/2 inches either because they didn't always measure that. I thought it was just me and my bifocals. Thank you all for making me feel better. I just end up using them in something and then measuring carefully to square up and resew if needed. A pain-I know. Heidi

Does anyone know why they "pink" the edges vs. a straight cut? Maybe it is faster? or doesn't ravel as much. They can be annoying.