Quilting is a wonderful hobby that allows you to combine creativity with craftsmanship, and one of the most exciting aspects of quilting is fabric selection. If you’re a new quilter, you might have already encountered jelly rolls – pre-cut fabric strips that make quilting easier and more efficient. But what if you want to expand your jelly roll project and incorporate fabrics you already have in your stash? In this post, I’ll show you how to use your fabric stash to complement and expand a pre-purchased jelly roll, creating a unique and beautiful quilt without needing to buy extra fabric!
Whether you’re a beginner quilter or an experienced seamstress, this technique is perfect for mixing both new and old fabrics, allowing you to get more out of your stash while adding a personal touch to your quilt.
Why Expand a Jelly Roll with Your Fabric Stash?
Jelly rolls are a fantastic quilting shortcut. They come in neatly packaged rolls of fabric strips, typically 2.5 inches wide, which save you time and effort when cutting your fabric. They’re especially popular for beginner quilters because they simplify the process of choosing fabric and cutting it to size.
However, using only a jelly roll can sometimes limit your creative freedom. You may find that you want more variety in color, texture, or design, and this is where your fabric stash comes in. By using fabric from your stash, you can add extra dimension, variety, and personality to your quilt project. It’s also an excellent way to use up leftover fabric, fat quarters, or scraps that have been sitting in your sewing space.
Step 1: Assessing Your Fabric Stash
The first step is to take a good look at your fabric stash and assess what you have on hand. If you’re new to quilting, you might not have a huge stash yet, but even a small collection of fabric can work wonders. Start by sorting through your stash and pulling out fabrics that you love and that complement the jelly roll you’ve chosen. The jelly roll I am featuring in this post is the Kimberbell Basics by Maywood Studios Fall Basics Jelly Roll.
When selecting fabrics from your stash, look for:
- Color Match: Choose fabrics that complement or contrast with the colors in your jelly roll. If your jelly roll is primarily in cool blues, you might want to pull fabrics in lighter shades of blue or even some soft neutrals like white or gray.
- Texture and Patterns: Mixing different textures and patterns can give your quilt more visual interest. If your jelly roll is made of solids, you might want to add prints, or if it’s full of floral prints, adding a few solid or basic geometric prints, such as strips or dots, can balance things out.
- Scale: Consider the scale of the prints in your stash. For example, a small floral print may not work well with large geometric shapes. Mixing print scales can add variety and make your quilt more dynamic.
For more examples of how I mix fabrics check out my recent post “Create a Unique Curated Fabric Bundle for Your Next Baby Quilt.” Even though that article is focused on fabrics for a baby quilt, the same rules and thought processes apply.
Step 2: Cutting and Preparing Your Stash Fabrics
Once you’ve selected fabrics from your stash, the next step is to cut them into the right size. Jelly rolls typically contain strips that are 2.5 inches wide, so you’ll want to match that size for easy integration.
If you’re using fat quarters, you can easily cut them into 2.5-inch strips. If you’re working with leftover fabric or scraps, measure and cut them into strips of the same width.
At this point, it’s also helpful to organize the fabrics into different groups or piles based on color or pattern. This will make it easier to pair them with the jelly roll strips later on, helping you achieve a cohesive look.
Step 3: Combining Your Jelly Roll and Stash Fabrics
Now that you have your jelly roll and stash fabrics ready, it’s time to start combining them. This step requires some planning to ensure that your quilt is balanced and visually appealing.
One of the easiest ways to mix fabrics is to alternate between jelly roll strips and your stash fabrics. This creates a beautiful and varied pattern that still maintains a sense of harmony. Here are a few tips for blending your jelly roll and stash fabrics:
- Alternating Strips: For a simple and balanced quilt, alternate between your jelly roll strips and the strips you’ve cut from your stash. You can create a repeating pattern of jelly roll strips, fabric from your stash, jelly roll strip, fabric from your stash, etc.
- Strategic Placement: You can also place your stash fabrics in specific places for emphasis. For example, you could use your stash fabrics as accent pieces or in the borders of the quilt to frame the jelly roll strips. This creates a more structured look while still allowing for creativity.
- Play with Color: One way to expand your jelly roll without overwhelming it is by choosing fabrics from your stash that complement but don’t compete with the colors in your jelly roll. For example, if your jelly roll is made of warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows, adding a few fabrics from your stash in cooler tones like greens or blues can help to balance the overall quilt.
Why This Method Works for Beginners
Expanding a jelly roll quilt with fabrics from your stash is a great technique for beginners because it allows you to experiment with fabric combinations while still using pre-cut strips that make piecing together the quilt easier. You’ll also feel more confident knowing that you’re making the most of your fabric stash, creating a quilt that reflects your personal style.
If you’re new to quilting and want to learn more about mixing new and old fabrics, check out my latest YouTube video, where I walk you through this process step by step.
Watch on YouTube HERE: https://youtu.be/1vsxNtSN5co
Conclusion
Using your fabric stash to expand a pre-purchased jelly roll is a fantastic way to get creative with your quilting projects, even as a beginner. By following the simple steps of fabric selection, cutting, and sewing, you can create a stunning quilt that’s uniquely yours. Plus, it’s an excellent way to use up scraps and leftover fabric, making your quilting experience both budget-friendly and sustainable.
Want to dive deeper into quilting techniques? Be sure to visit my blog regularly for more in-depth tips, tutorials, and inspiration to help you on your quilting journey.
And don’t forget to share your mushroom appliqué blocks with me—I’d love to see what you create! Join in all the fun and stay up to date on the latest by following me on your socials!:
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Keep quilting and keep creating! Janice
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