Hi Everyone!

I have a question that I hope some of you may help me find the answer to. After some research, I recently decided to make a jellyroll quilt. I bought the book Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott, and bought a jelly roll on ebay.

My question is: Is there a definition for what a jelly roll is? I have thought it has to be either:
a) an assortment of 40 2.5-inch fabrics
b) 2.5-inch strips of each fabric from an entire fabric line.

I found these definitions through the internet. Is this correct?

The reason I would like to know whether there is a standard definition for what a jelly roll is and what it consists of, is because after I received my ebay purchase I started my project immediately. Halfway through, to my disappointment, I realized I only had 25 strips in my jelly roll, not the 40. I went back to my ebay page and re-read the item description carefully, and under details it did mention it has 25 strips. I think I should also mention that the jelly roll was a very low price at $15. When I bought it, I had read "Moda Jelly Roll" in the title and in the description, so I have automatically assumed it would have the standard 40 strips...
I emailed the seller about my disappointment - I don't think I overpaid (since it was only $15), but I asked them if calling it a "Jelly Roll" might be misleading, and their response is "there is no definition for a jelly roll" except that it is "an assortment of 2.5-inch, coordinating fabrics".

I feel a little mislead and upset, because I now have a partially finished project and (after researching the internet) know that I do not have each of every fabric in this particular Moda line (I am missing many of the other designs since I only have 25 strips).

The seller recommended me to just buy another jelly roll of the same line from them to finish my project...but I am in a dilemma. Should I feel upset about this? Or am I misinformed and it is unreasonable for me to feel this way?

Please help me!
And thank you all in advance for your help!

Sincerely,
kcat114

p.s. The book I bought assumes all "jelly rolls" have 40 strips. It mentions 40 in the introduction, and for each project it lists the supplies needed as "one jelly roll, or 40 2.5-inch wide strips." - this was also partly why I had assumed a jelly roll has 40 strips...

I always read the descriptions carefully on eBay. Even if there is a standard for how many strips should be in a jelly roll, the seller might not go by that standard. I'd just buy another from the seller and complete the quilt.

Anytime I bid on E-bay, I read everything, and ask questions about anything not covered there.

With E-bay you have to be very careful to read the fine print. But like you said it wasn't a bad price . Another way they get you is shipping :twisted:

Have you looked at your Local Quilt Store to maybe but some more fabric from the same line and make your own Jelly strips to finish the quilt ?

Although you may be disappointed, it is up to you to read the description. If you really like them, get some more! I did something similar with Steam-a-Seam. I thought I was bidding on the one with paper on both sides, what a shock when I opened that package. I also wrote to the seller, who pointed out a small blurb referring to only paper on one side. So it was my fault. No big deal except I had to go on a quest to find what I wanted.

Lately I've been looking into charm packs. Now those vary greatly! I found anywhere from 21-64 in a pack at various prices which don't necessarily correspond to the quantity of squares in the pack. I saw larger packs cheaper than smaller packs. Maybe it goes by what's popular.

Now I look for the fine print to be sure I know what I'm getting for the price. :) Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions. The only problem is if the auction is almost over, sometimes you don't get an answer in time. But many of those sellers have the same items back out there again.

I'm glad you brought this up. I have only bought one jelly roll and just checked mine and it has 17. I checked where I bought it and their rolls range from 17-33. After checking a few sites, the number it not set. It looks like it has to do with how many fabrics are in a particular collection.
Mary Ellen

Yes, ALWAYS read the description and contact the seller if you have ANY questions, not just on EBay but if you buy from an online QS too.

The amounts do vary by collection size and some jelly rolls duplicate prints too. The name "jelly roll" is more about how the shape of the 2 1/2" strips roll up and resemble the food product, not by any number contained.

I feel your disappointment and this is just one of those things that we (and our wallets) learn a lot from. I too have bought off EBay and not gotten what I thought. As to be expected, I didn't read the description thoroughly enough. Up side, it was still beautiful fabric that was a welcomed addition to my stash.

Hope you'll hunt down exactly what you need to finish your project. I know we all want to see it!

As others have said, jelly rolls do vary in the number of strips they contain. However, generally, they contain 40 strips, but that's not always they case. I've seen some 2.5" rolls which are less than 40 in count also referred to as "desert rolls" to avoid the confusion you had.

Charm packs (5"(usually) squares) fall into the same definition - they're usually packs of 40, but can be anywhere from 20 or so to more than 40.

Layer cakes (10" squares) seem to always contain 40 pieces, at last all the ones I have (about 30 so far) do.

Honey buns (1.5" strips) usually contain 40 strips as well.

BTW, that book you got is an excellent one, I have it as well, and have made several quilts from it. Those 2 authors have another similar book out called something like Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, and Charm Quilts, which has more great patterns using these packaged fabrics.

I bought some jelly rolls on sale at my fabric store and they had 40 strips, but there were some there that only had 25. You had to read the label carefully.

kcat -

Not trying to beat you up, but you do have to read the entire description on anything you buy on ebay. I think you have a right to expect 40 strips in a jelly roll, since that is the "standard." However, everyone doesn't follow the same rule. On the plus side, you only paid $15. I'd just look for the completer set and move on.

Darren

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for all your replies - they all helped very much. I am a new quilter so it was great to see a forum with so many positive, supportive members.

I think I will try and visit a few local quilt shops and see if they have the fabric I am missing. I may also just buy the complete 40-strip jelly roll from Moda distributors and keep the extra strips for collection or swap. I can always have more pretty fabric!
The particular line I bought is called Gypsy Rose...there were 2 strips of each fabric so, after some research, I found that I am missing many of the kinds of fabrics in this line. The ebay seller I bought my jelly roll can only offer to sell me another roll of the same fabrics, so I am not interested.

Hi Eddie!

Yes! I really enjoy flipping through Pam and Nicky Lintott's Jelly Roll Quilts, it has been tempting me for a few months before I finally decided to buy it and take the plunge of making my first quilt. It was tough to decide between Jelly Roll Quilts and, their other book, Layer Cake, Jelly Roll, and Charm quilts.

I have come to love jelly rolls. And the MODA JELLY ROLLS have 40. This is if they are MODA precuts and not someone else cutting them. There are many pop shops on ebay that cut and sell their own jelly rolls, but technically, I believe Jelly Roll is a term that is owned by Moda, but used generally for the rolls of 2.5 strips, often like the KLEENEX situtation. Kleenex (uppercase K) only comes in Kleenex boxes, but tissue comes in all sorts of different brands. Many times all generally referred to as kleenex (lowercase).

While the buyer is responsible for reading the terms of the agreement, you might be able to push the envelope as far the seller listing a trademark item, and selling a non trademarked item as Moda owns the term (referring to fabric). Hence the reason, in the indroduction to your Lintott book that they thank Moda for allowing them to use the Jelly Roll Title. This would possibly fall under the listing agreement rules for the seller, or for non performing seller rules.

Charm packs also vary the number of charms. I always check for the number in a pack.

Wow! Very informative post. Thanks ladies. I have been interested in Jelly Rolls for some time and now I know to be very careful in my purchase.

This is very useful. Thank you all for this wonderful information.

I may be wrong but I think 'jelly roll' may be proprietary to Moda fabric lines. I don't see that term used by other manufacturers. Figtreequilts.com has a beautiful Jelly Roll star that is quite different from the usual jelly roll patterns. I am making it and it is mildly challenging and FUN.

Older thread, I know, but wanted to chime in...

Jelly roll just refers to the look of the roll, i.e., the rolled up fabric. Jelly rolls aren't proprietary to Moda and they can be 2.5", 2", 1.5", 1", and I've even seen 4" jelly rolls. 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 strips and odd numbers are also not uncommon.

Just make sure you read the description on the product, especially on eBay. Sellers there take a lot of liberty on what they'll call a jelly roll - also check the pictures there closely, since a lot of eBay sellers hand or rotary cut their own rolls and may not have the most accurate cuts.