Jelly Roll "race" quilt - Horrible
 

I started a Jelly Roll "race" quilt - you know - sew them all end to end, then pick up both ends and sew them lengthwise and continue.

I did this as a "backdrop" for some applique I wanted to do, I thought this was an "easy" way to have a backdrop that had some pizazz to it instead of just a plain cloth.

Easy?

NO WAY!

The technique is easy enough (even if I did purchase yardage and cut the 2.5" strips myself), but sitting at a sewing machine for that amount of time is not my idea of fun!! That first row was a killer!

I remembered there is a reason my ironing board is set up on the opposite side of the room from my sewing machine. I LIKE and apparently NEED the small breaks away from my machine.

I thought I was going to die from boredom!!!

Bless your heart, you could post a pic for us. I don't think I could sit long enough to do one Bargellos are hard enought.

After watching some friends do this "endless jelly roll" one night, I decided never to do it. Seemed like torture to me.

While the technique was a terror for you ... how about the results?

I hope that you are happy as that fabric was just too beautiful for it to not turn out.

If you're not actually racing, can't you just get up and stretch once in a while? Or is it so hypnotic that you feel you have to complete the seam? I know I sometimes get started on something and can't tear myself away, even when I know there are better, more important, and more pleasurable things that I could be doing.

I took breaks when I did mine, and still got it done in an evening. Breaks are important! It isn't a real race.

:D I hear yah!

This past Saturday I participated for the very first time in a jelly roll race. I am with you... I did not enjoy it and am not particularly happy with the way the fabrics come together. I found that I like to sew fast but I also like to take my time and position the fabric pieces so they lay flat and straight. That is hard to do when you are in a race against time and others. The fortunate thing for me was that there were only three of us. I came in dead last on all five heats. The price for 3rd place was quite nice. It was a Baby Lock kit of embroidery scissors, small scissors and a very nice, very sharp slicing type of a seam ripper. Oh, and the people were wonderful.

OMG ... you did five races??
So sorry that you didn't have a better experience ... I'm like you, not one for races, and would sooner be able to take my time.


So will both of you please show us your quilt tops ??

I called it a "race" quilt only because that's the type of quilt I'm doing ... I am NOT racing. Race? No no no no no.

Taking plenty of breaks and each time I came back in to sew I swear the pile of unfinished strips grew!!

Managed to get the second round done ... as expected it was only half as bad as the first :)

Like the results so far. Glad I chose this instead of a plain background.

I knew what you were saying ... I get bored when it's just straight thru sewing!!!

What will be different about yours, is that you don't have near so many different fabrics in the mix. I'll look forward to seeing how it looks when put together.

And another tedious monotonous sewing day tomorrow on the "race" pattern?


(:D*note* I said pattern, instead of quilt to hopefully convey to those following the non-race, just the pattern style that they are camiliar with!!! :D)

I've done three of these Jelly Roll throws, not races, just on my own, and I've found that if I like the way the colors and the designs are lining up, I find the process enjoyable. If I don't , I find it quite tedious and I can't work fast enough to get it finished.

I'm with you I had to do strip sets for my daughters quilt and I to get bored. More power to you guys I love precuts but I haven't seen one of the race quilts that I personally liked its a personal thing I'm to matchy. Good luck hope you finish

I made the jelly roll quilt and would do it again, but then I am not in a race. I do things on my time.

I don't like it when fabrics that are the same end up close to each other...it shouldn't be a big deal, but I guess I'm picky that way. The only way to avoid that is to use only one strip of each fabric, but most jelly rolls come with two of each...

I tried the race the first time I used the technique. Subsequently, I get up after each row of sewing and iron the seam and then, at the end, the whole thing is done. It takes longer but I find the prospect of ironing all the seams in one go daunting and it feels like ironing laundry and not a quilt top. It remains a wonderfully interesting and fast way to prepare a top in a short time. I now cut a strip off each new fabric, cut it in half and save them for the next non-race jelly roll quilt. It is also a nice way of getting something done when inspiration runs low.

Now I'm scared to try the jelly roll quilt. Not the race part, just the sewing all the roll together. Sounds daunting.

I'm just not a fan of the look. If I'm going to sew a mile of strips together, it'll be a rail fence or something similar.

the execution is beyond easy. It's the same thing for hours on end without really seeing any (what I consider) completion until the whole thing is done that I'd consider boring.

I have to agree with you. I've never done it, because it didn't look like any fun at all. However, some of the ladies at our guild have made them and then decorated them with appliqued flowers. It was very cute.

It's not an exciting quilt but I do like the end result. The first few seams are long, long seams!

I've made one and actually found the process enjoyable. I love sewing. I get kind of tired and bored if there's too much prep work (tracing, pressing, folding, etc.). I want to get to the good part and see what it looks like! I didn't care much for how the top itself turned out, so I cut the strips again in the opposite direction and made a postage stamp quilt. It looks MUCH better, lol.

I have some posted , and not a fan ! If I am going to spend time and $$$ I want a different final result.

I made one with Christmas fabric and I enjoyed it. I cut my own strips from my Christmas fabrics. I gave it as a gift and it was well recieved. Its a great way to use up fabric from your stash!

I've made one (not racing, though) and I really enjoyed the process. My poor quilt is still hanging in the closet, awaiting backing, quilting and binding...gotta get that back out again! And Peckish, I love your idea about recutting the strips...

I have made a couple and though that first seam is a bear, I didn't mind them. BUT, I do them when I am working nights. There is no turning anything the wrong way or cutting it wrong and that is best when I sleep deprived. I just sew until I want to stop and leave it. I go right back to the same spot when I restart.

I am sorry you didn't enjoy it. It is good that we are all different, isn't it? Right now I should be in my sewing room finishing up stuff for my BOM meeting in 4 hours. But, I feel like if I even see another HST right now I will toss a sewing machine through the upstairs window. What was I thinking signing up for this????

I took a class for one, then did another one. It can be tedious, but then again it can be kind of mindless. I just turned the TV on a good show and went to work. After the first round it goes together pretty fast and I like the randomness of it. In the class I did batiks in blues and it turned out great.

That's too bad that you didn't enjoy making this quilt. I only made one but liked the fact that it was done in one afternoon.

I make the jelly roll race quilts when I go to a sew day as it's mindless sewing and I can talk and socialize without concentrating on a quilt pattern. I can do up to three in one sew day. I make a lot of them in baby colors to keep on hand for baby gifts and to give to the church nursery where our guild meeting is held. I keep a supply of jelly rolls in my sew day bag and nothing to take but machine, scissors, and jelly rolls. I press all the seams to one side after the top is done. I don't press each seam separate.

sure wish I could see a picture of the finished top

I enjoyed mine (made two in one week) but I didn't race either. That first row took more than one bobbin of thread. Yikes. But it goes together quickly. Not something that takes much creativity - just done!

Lilrain - here are a couple - the purple one is mine, the brown/neutral one is a friend's.

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and here is a progress of mine after I decided to cut it up into "stamps":
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I have some jelly rolls and have been anxious to try one of these. After hearing your opinions, I'm not sure I want to try it now.

I have Hulu on a PC near the "piecing" sewing machine. Makes it REALLY FUN to make this quilt. I enjoy mindless piecing, I guess. :-)

Peckish...I LOVE the purple one that you cut into postage stamps. I've thought about trying a Jelly Roll quilt. Now that I see what you did I think I will attempt one. And I'll do it just like your purple one.

nope...these are not for me...

but I do like the purple one all cut up :-)

I made a jelly-rollish kind of quilt but used scraps from the 2 1/2" box. I added friendship stars willy nilly to add something to it.

Great idea, Chester bunny. The stars make it much more interesting.

I did mine on a Sunday afternoon, no race, and still enjoyed having a quilt top done in such a short time.

Just watching it on YouTube was enough for me. I also like a more balanced result as well.

I'd love to see photos of the finished top. Haven't tried this technique yet but do remember seeing some info on it somewhere.