Yardage differences
 

I am new at this game, but having a ball creating quilts! My question is what is the yardage difference between a cake layer and a jelly roll? I have a couple of cake layers that I would like to use for a quilt, who's directions call for one jelly roll. Will I need additional fabric or will two cake layers suffice?

Your problem is the way they are cut. A layer cake is a grouping of 10in squares and your pattern will call for the use of those squares maybe other squares cut from them. A jelly roll is a grouping of strips usually 40 of them only 2.5inch x the width of fabric 41-44 inches long. your pattern will call for strips of varying lengths not a squares.

You will either have to turn your layer cakes into strips by cutting them into 2.5" strips then sewing them end to end or. The opposite and sew your strips into sets and cut them into the proper save squares. Either will create a lot extra work and waste.

To make your life easier,I would find a pattern that called for what you have instead of trying to make what you have fit the pattern. There are lots of patterns that call for layer cakes. Just do a search. Good luck.

if your pattern calls for a jelly roll it probably uses 40" strips of fabric--- a layer cake is 10" squares so will not work for a jelly roll pattern- unless the jelly rolls are cut into strips 10" or less ... yardage ... 4 layer cake squares X 3 layer cake squares = 12 squares (40" x 30") jelly rolls are 40" long (or width of fabric-sometimes 42"- 44") by 2 1/2" so, 14 strips = width of fabric x 35"

Unfortunately, you have to read the fine print on precuts. They usually contain 2 cuts from every fabric in a particular 'line'. The up side is that all the fabrics coordinate. The down side is that there's not a standard number of fabric patterns in a fabric line, so you might come up with a jelly roll that is 20 strips or one that's over 40. Same thing with layer cakes. That (doesn't) answer the question if the amount of fabric in the 2 precuts constitute the same yardage. The issue is the shape of the cuts. It really depends on the particular pattern. Often (but not always) a pattern calling for a jelly roll will use a strip piecing method, which won't work with a layer cake.
I would suggest looking at the Moda bake shop for layer cake patterns:
http://www.modabakeshop.com/p/recipes.html

I just finished making a basket weave quilt, using a jelly roll - 40 - 2-1/2" strips. I used fabric from my stash to add borders to it. Will be a perfect size for one person to snuggle up with.

If you want to know the comparison of the yardage of jelly roll to layer cake--they are about the same if it is a moda product. Forty-two strips or 42 ten inch squares is equivalent to about 3 yds. More expensive than buying yardage but more variety. Other brands of strips or 10 in squares may contain a different number of pieces so the yardage would vary.

I agree whole-heartedly, find a pattern that fits your pre-cuts, otherwise, you'll make yourself nuts...

A 10" square gives you four 2 1/2" x 10" strips. A Jelly roll strip is 2 1/2" x 42" (with selvedges). You could use a layer cake if your pattern calls for your jelly roll strip to be sub cut into different lengths; HOWEVER you will have to figure out if you can get the same amount of pieces from the four 10" strips you will get from the layer cake piece. Sounds like a lot of work but if you are determined to use your layer cake, it could be worth it for you.

Go to Missouri Star Quilt Co. Jenny Doan has a lot of tutorials out there using both Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes.