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Jelly Roll Race 1600 experts? I need your help!
I looked around on the web to see if I could find answers to these questions & couldn't find any so I'm turning to y'all. There is so much knowledge here on the board & everyone is so eager to help so I have high hopes.
OK... my questions. I want to make (another) Jelly Roll Race quilt. I just made one but want this one to be "better". The 1st JRR I made was with a roll of 40 strips (2 sets of 20 each in the roll) that I seamed on the diagonal. I also cut about 18" off one of the strips (I read someplace that doing that would make the seams stagger). The first question... how do I make sure identical strips don't show up next to each other? I thought I staggered the duplicates throughout the piecing but several duplicates ended up being next to each other. Do you group the duplicates closer or further from each other? I added a 2" inner border to the quilt (I was waiting to get the outer border fabric until I looked at the top & saw what I thought would be best with it -- the narrow border is another batik altogether that really is a good accent). Now the top measures 56 X 61. That's not a good size (to me). I like my quilts more rectangular (to use as a blanket). When I sew on the outer borders, should I use different widths for the top/bottom side pieces (does that make sense?)? Or just use equal widths & hope for the best? And how wide would you make those outer borders? I'd thought about 4". OK, now to the new JRR. I have 2 identical jelly rolls to use, 40 strips. But 2 of the strips in each roll (4 in total) don't exactly float my boat so I don't want to include them. Do I just go with the 36 strips or do I add in more? I have extra fabric so I could cut more strips (granted, then I'd have even more repeats, but...). I want this top to be more rectangular (it's a gift & I'd like the recipient to be able to use it as a blanket). I don't care what directions the strips/seams go in. I just want a rectangular quilt & evidently am too dense to figure out how to do that (I'll bet math is involved & me & math don't like each other so good... LOL!). Also, the fabric I have for the inner border is really bright (tho it looks good with the other fabrics) so would it be OK to just do a flange of it instead of a 2" inner border? I really do like these quilts & since I need to make several lap-sized quilts rather quickly, they seem perfect for that (tho it's taking me longer than an hour or two to make mine). On that note, if you weren't aware of it, cat-on-a-mac just added a JRR page to the gallery... yay! THANK YOU in advance for your help with this. I know I'm anal & weird when it comes to my sewing (& you'd think as long as I've been quilting that I could figure this business out on my own). I just like my stuff to be the best I can do (especially when these are for other people -- even if those people are strangers to me). <!-- end of AOLMsgPart_1_b5fc2dc7-60ba-4c36-8f77-93db3a4b0bb1 --> |
I just studied this pattern recently and made one becuse I didn't have anything for the program for Quilt Guild in May-- so I did this for the program and I made one. When I researched this on the internet, someone wrote that if you want your quilt longer--you need to add more strips. You said you have 4 strips you are planning to take out of your jelly rolls. I definitely would replace those 4 strips that you are taking out so you have as much length as possible.
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Ok, the Jelly Roll Race is about LETTING GO of planning and just enjoying the sewing process. If you don't like 4 strips form your roll, toss them out. Piece everything else randomly. If you have extra unwashed FQ hanging out, you can make some shorter strips and toss them in for fun. Or add any unwashed scraps, cut into 2.5" strips.
I am OK with 2 identical strips being next to each other. Though if they lined up exactly start to finish, I might grab the scissors and fix that problem :-) Getting the size you want: Take your strip pile and sew, sew, sew until you have a long piece 4 strips or 8 strips wide. At that point, it is much easier to measure the length of the long strip and decide on a final outcome. example: 8 strips by 400 inches = 16 strips by 200 inches =32 strips by 100 inches (final 64x100") if you don't like the final size, you can modify that now. Want the quilt 64" wide by 84" long? just chop all strips to 64" and stop sewing when you reach the target length. You can also choose to fold 3 ways instead of 2, to get the right final size. (Do this with 4 or 8 strips combined, not at the initial stage of 1 strip by 1600") |
Since there are no quilt police...just do what you like in terms of adding fabrics.
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Other than ripping and moving strips there isn't any way to prevent like strips from being togethrt. Just let go and enjoy.
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Originally Posted by 1000projects
(Post 5267723)
Ok, the Jelly Roll Race is about LETTING GO of planning and just enjoying the sewing process. If you don't like 4 strips form your roll, toss them out. Piece everything else randomly. If you have extra unwashed FQ hanging out, you can make some shorter strips and toss them in for fun. Or add any unwashed scraps, cut into 2.5" strips.
I am OK with 2 identical strips being next to each other. Though if they lined up exactly start to finish, I might grab the scissors and fix that problem :-) Getting the size you want: Take your strip pile and sew, sew, sew until you have a long piece 4 strips or 8 strips wide. At that point, it is much easier to measure the length of the long strip and decide on a final outcome. example: 8 strips by 400 inches = 16 strips by 200 inches =32 strips by 100 inches (final 64x100") if you don't like the final size, you can modify that now. Want the quilt 64" wide by 84" long? just chop all strips to 64" and stop sewing when you reach the target length. You can also choose to fold 3 ways instead of 2, to get the right final size. (Do this with 4 or 8 strips combined, not at the initial stage of 1 strip by 1600") As it stands now, I may just hack some of the width off top #1. I just think it's gonna end up being too wide so part of it may have to go. Then I'll just sew a new inner border on & go from there. Once again... THANKS!!! |
I have to confess, the one thing that's bothered me about this pattern is same strips showing up next to each other. I know I should let it go, but it bugs me. The only way around it I can see is to have no duplicates.
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I'm impressed that you took the time to sew the seams on the diagonal. That took a bit of extra time. And I know that it hardly ever takes an hour to do one of these quilts. I know you start your time after you sew all your 2 1/2" together end to end, but still...an hour is cutting it pretty short. Took me way longer, but I took breaks...couldn't stand sitting at my machine and staring at my foot for that long.
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Yes, you can add wider borders to the ends to make it longer. I saw one of these quilts with scattered appliques and I like that look much better. I'm sure they will be loved however you make them.
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JRR math and pic tutorial available finally!
I was wanting to alter the size too, and did some math (assisted by my next door neighbour) and we worked out how to make a quilt that is 43.36" wide x 72" long as I sew for Aussie hero Quilts and their specifications are 42" x 72". I've popped a tutorial on my blog if anyone is interested in seeing how we calculated it out.
http://beeshebags.blogspot.com.au/20...elly-roll.html Hugs and hope my tutorial helps you with your measurement dilemma a bit. Naomi in Oz |
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