A beautiful Jelly Roll saves you from cutting every print into long strips, but choosing the right quilt still matters. Some patterns use less than half a bundle, others need two rolls, and many require background fabric as well. This collection of 15 free Jelly Roll quilt patterns for beginners helps you compare those differences before buying or cutting.
You will find small quilts, larger throws, simple strip-pieced designs, and a few projects for confident beginners. Each entry links to the original designer or publisher, with size and fabric notes to help you choose. The original instructions remain your reference for cutting and assembly.
What Is a Jelly Roll?
A Jelly Roll is a bundle of precut strips measuring 2½ inches wide by the width of the fabric. Many rolls contain 40 strips, but smaller bundles and other strip counts are also sold. Similar precuts appear under names such as Rolie Polies and Roll Ups. Always check the label, strip count, and usable length rather than relying on the bundle’s name.
WOF means width of fabric. Selvages and the usable strip length matter: a pattern expecting 42 usable inches may not fit the same cuts onto a shorter strip. With a ¼-inch seam on each long edge, a 2½-inch strip normally contributes 2 inches of finished width inside the piecing.
15 Free Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns at a Glance
The table refers to the specific size named in each row. Extra top fabric excludes binding, backing, and batting. All strip counts refer to 2½-inch-wide strips unless noted. Dimensions follow the designers’ published figures; check the original pattern for its measurement conventions.
| Pattern / original source | Size compared | Strip requirement | Extra fabric for the top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jelly Roll Jam Fat Quarter Shop |
36½ × 36½ in | 18 print strips | No separate background fabric for this top |
| Jelly Roll Jam II Fat Quarter Shop |
36½ × 38½ in — crib version | 20 print strips | No separate background fabric for this top |
| Jelly Roll Twist Fat Quarter Shop |
51½ × 60 in | 34 print strips | 42 background squares, each 5 in |
| Jelly Roll Slice Fat Quarter Shop |
40½ × 40½ in — original small version | 17 print strips | ⅞ yd background |
| Jelly Roll Jog Megan, Tiny Orchard Quilts |
Confirm dimensions in the video/reference sheet | 40 print strips | No separate top fabric listed on the product page |
| Jelly Roll Sizzle Fat Quarter Shop |
48½ × 48½ in — lap version | 32 print strips | ⅔ yd background |
| Jelly Roll Twirl Fat Quarter Shop |
48½ × 48½ in — throw version | 33 print strips | ⅝ yd background |
| Jelly Roll Gems Fat Quarter Shop |
60½ × 60½ in — lap version | 40 print strips | 2⅛ yd background |
| Jelly Roll Cabin Fat Quarter Shop |
66½ × 66½ in — lap version | 36 print strips | 2⅛ yd background/border + ⅞ yd accent |
| Jelly Roll Railway Fat Quarter Shop |
61½ × 78½ in — original lap version | 24 print strips | 1⅔ yd background + 1⅞ yd accent/border |
| Jelly Roll Ripples Fat Quarter Shop |
62½ × 82½ in | 35 print strips + 18 background strips | 1⅝ yd border, in addition to the background strips |
| Jelly Roll Check Fat Quarter Shop |
60½ × 72½ in | 75 strips: 45 dark + 30 light | 1⅛ yd background + 1⅛ yd accent |
| Jelly Roll Relish Fat Quarter Shop |
58½ × 70½ in — throw version | 32 print strips + 39 solid strips | Solid strips supply the background, sashing, and border roles |
| Confetti Quilt Caroline Fairbanks, SewCanShe |
Approximately 61 × 68 in | 40 print strips | 3 yd background — amount in the supplies list |
| Standing Tall Cedar Quilt Co. |
Check the free pattern for the size you want | 2½-inch strips; confirm count in pattern | Check the chosen size’s material list |
Skill suggestions below are editorial guidance unless identified as the designer’s description. “Beginner” assumes basic rotary cutting and an accurate seam allowance; “confident beginner” may involve diagonal stitching, more pieces, or careful block orientation.
Explore the 15 Patterns
1. Jelly Roll Jam
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 36½ × 36½ in
Suggested experience: Beginner
A small square quilt is a comfortable way to begin strip piecing without buying separate background yardage for the top. Repeated striped units give coordinated fabrics plenty of room to work together.
The original instructions divide a roll into two groups of 18 strips, one group per quilt top. This is a useful option for a pair of small gifts, but binding, backing, and batting must be planned for each quilt separately.
Helpful tip: Sort your strips into balanced groups before sewing, and check the width of a completed strip set before cutting it into units.
View Jelly Roll Jam at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
Read our Jelly Roll Jam guide for additional planning tips.
2. Jelly Roll Jam II
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 36½ × 38½ in — crib version
Suggested experience: Beginner
Jam II combines wider and narrower striped units for a different rhythm from the original Jam. The rectangular crib version is small enough to organize on a modest design surface.
Use 20 strips for the crib top listed here. The publisher includes a separate sizing guide for larger quilts; those sizes need different amounts of fabric. A 40-strip roll can supply two crib tops, with finishing materials counted separately.
Helpful tip: Keep wide and narrow units in labeled stacks so you can follow the arrangement without mixing the pieces.
View Jelly Roll Jam II at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
3. Jelly Roll Twist
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 51½ × 60 in
Suggested experience: Beginner
This is a good next project when you want the prints separated by quiet background areas. Its blocks combine strip-pieced sections with plain squares, so you get a more open layout while working mainly with straight seams.
The pattern calls for 34 print strips and 42 five-inch background squares. A suitable charm pack can provide those squares; check its actual piece count and color before buying.
Helpful tip: Choose a background that contrasts with both the lightest and darkest prints in your roll, rather than judging it beside just one favorite strip.
View Jelly Roll Twist at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
Read our Jelly Roll Twist guide for additional planning tips.
4. Jelly Roll Slice
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 40½ × 40½ in — original small version
Suggested experience: Beginner / confident beginner
Slice is useful when you have fewer than a full roll of prints and want background fabric to give the design breathing room. It combines striped blocks with smaller pieced sections for a compact square quilt.
The small version uses 17 print strips plus background fabric. The PDF also contains a sizing guide, so make sure you are reading the requirements for the same size throughout.
Helpful tip: Check the orientation of the smaller pieced sections before joining a row. Making one complete sample block can prevent a whole batch of reversed units.
View Jelly Roll Slice at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
5. Jelly Roll Jog
Designer/publisher: Megan, Tiny Orchard Quilts
Size compared: Confirm dimensions in the video/reference sheet
Suggested experience: Beginner
For quilters who prefer to watch a project being made, Jelly Roll Jog pairs a free video lesson with a reference-sheet listing. It is an approachable striped design that lets the roll supply the main color story.
The designer lists 40 width-of-fabric strips and about ⅔ yard for binding, plus backing. The public product description does not state a finished measurement, so check the video or reference sheet before choosing it for a particular bed or space.
Helpful tip: Use the video as the main demonstration. The listed one-page PDF is a reference sheet, not a promise of a fully illustrated standalone booklet.
View Jelly Roll Jog at Megan, Tiny Orchard Quilts →
Access: Free video; free PDF reference sheet listed by designer.
6. Jelly Roll Sizzle
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 48½ × 48½ in — lap version
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Sizzle introduces diagonal corner stitching while keeping much of the work in strip sets. It is a sensible progression for someone who has made a basic rail-fence-style project and wants more movement.
The lap version listed here uses 32 print strips and ⅔ yard of background. Smaller and larger options appear in the publisher’s PDF, with their own material lists.
Helpful tip: Mark the corner-stitching lines carefully and test one unit before trimming. The direction of the background corners affects how the blocks connect.
View Jelly Roll Sizzle at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
7. Jelly Roll Twirl
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 48½ × 48½ in — throw version
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Twirl creates a rotating effect from strip-pieced sections and background corners. It suits quilters who enjoy seeing secondary shapes emerge when blocks are placed together.
The throw version uses 33 print strips with ⅝ yard of background. The larger lap and twin versions use more rolls; the one-roll requirement does not apply to every size.
Helpful tip: Photograph the full block arrangement before sewing rows. A rotated block may look attractive on its own but interrupt the intended movement.
View Jelly Roll Twirl at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
8. Jelly Roll Gems
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 60½ × 60½ in — lap version
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Gems mixes striped sections with pointed units for a quilt that feels more detailed than a simple strip top. It is a good choice when you want to practice accurate corners while keeping a coordinated bundle as the starting point.
For the lap quilt, the PDF lists 40 print strips and 2⅛ yards of background. A runner option is also included, but its requirements differ.
Helpful tip: Protect the seam allowance beyond each pointed unit. If you choose the optional pieced backing, use its separate backing requirement rather than the plain-backing figure.
View Jelly Roll Gems at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
9. Jelly Roll Cabin
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 66½ × 66½ in — lap version
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Cabin brings strip-based blocks together with accent squares and background space. It is a larger square project for someone ready to keep several fabric roles organized.
The lap version uses 36 print strips, 2⅛ yards for background and border, and ⅞ yard of accent fabric. The PDF also offers crib and queen versions; choose the version before buying.
Helpful tip: Make the accent fabric visually distinct from the prints. Label background, accent, and border pieces rather than relying on their color alone.
View Jelly Roll Cabin at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
Explore our Log Cabin layout guide for a different approach to arranging standard Log Cabin blocks for additional planning tips.
10. Jelly Roll Railway
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 61½ × 78½ in — original lap version
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Railway is worth considering when you want a rectangular quilt and are comfortable adding triangles around strip-pieced sections. The extra fabrics help frame the prints and shape the design.
Although the original lap quilt uses only 24 print strips, it also needs background and accent/border yardage. A low print-strip count does not necessarily mean a smaller overall fabric purchase.
Helpful tip: Handle diagonal-cut edges gently and follow the trimming directions. Accurate units matter more than rushing the strip-piecing stage.
View Jelly Roll Railway at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
11. Jelly Roll Ripples
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 62½ × 82½ in
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Ripples builds a layered block effect with short strips around smaller units. It gives you a larger rectangular quilt while letting repeated fabric groups carry the design.
The pattern uses 35 print strips, 18 background strips, and separate border fabric. A print roll alone is not enough for the top; the background strips are a second fabric requirement.
Helpful tip: Group the cut pieces by block or fabric print before sewing. Follow the block-placement diagram carefully so the repeated shapes continue across the top.
View Jelly Roll Ripples at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
12. Jelly Roll Check
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 60½ × 72½ in
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Check is a strong option when you enjoy an organized light-and-dark look. It combines strip-pieced blocks with plain squares, giving the eye repeated places to rest.
This is a two-roll project if your bundles contain 40 strips each. The pattern asks for a specific split of 45 dark and 30 light strips, so two random bundles may not supply the value balance you need.
Helpful tip: Audit the light and dark counts before cutting. Do not assume that every coordinated roll contains an equal number of each value.
View Jelly Roll Check at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
13. Jelly Roll Relish
Designer/publisher: Fat Quarter Shop
Size compared: 58½ × 70½ in — throw version
Suggested experience: Beginner / confident beginner
Relish is appealing if you would rather start with a print bundle and a solid bundle than cut a large amount of background yardage. The plain areas organize the prints, while pieced border sections carry their color outward.
The throw version calls for 32 print strips and 39 solid strips. Both sets count toward the quilt top; binding, backing, and batting remain separate.
Helpful tip: Keep border components labeled as you work. Similar-looking strip-set pieces can serve different roles in the center and the outside edge.
View Jelly Roll Relish at Fat Quarter Shop →
Access: Free PDF from the original publisher.
14. Confetti Quilt
Designer/publisher: Caroline Fairbanks, SewCanShe
Size compared: Approximately 61 × 68 in
Suggested experience: Confident beginner
Confetti is a colorful throw for someone who likes repeated small pieces and a light background. The free online tutorial uses strip piecing to create a scattered effect rather than asking you to sew every tiny piece independently.
Use the supplies list’s 3-yard background allowance for planning. The designer also discusses using a second background roll and explains how usable strip length affects the result.
Helpful tip: This is a more involved project than its cheerful appearance might suggest. Check your ruler’s 45-degree marking and work in organized batches.
View Confetti Quilt at Caroline Fairbanks, SewCanShe →
Access: Free complete web tutorial; optional paid PDF/library access.
15. Standing Tall
Designer/publisher: Cedar Quilt Co.
Size compared: Check the free pattern for the size you want
Suggested experience: Beginner — designer’s description
Standing Tall is a beginner-oriented option for a softer, painterly strip quilt. It is a useful contrast to the more geometric block designs in this collection.
Cedar Quilt Co. offers the pattern free through a newsletter sign-up and says that yardage requirements are included. The public description does not give a strip count or finished dimensions, so obtain the pattern before buying fabric.
Helpful tip: Choose this option if you are comfortable sharing an email address to receive the free pattern. It is not an immediate, unrestricted PDF download.
View Standing Tall at Cedar Quilt Co. →
Access: Free pattern via newsletter sign-up.
Which Jelly Roll Quilt Should You Make First?
If you want a small, manageable project
Compare Jam, Jam II, and Slice. Their small versions let you learn the construction on a smaller top. Choose the design first, then reserve enough strips for it; similar-looking small quilts can have different background requirements.
If you want to use prints without buying separate background yardage
Jam and Jam II are useful starting points. Jog’s product page also lists a print roll without separate top yardage. Check the whole material list before buying, and remember that finishing fabric is still needed.
If you want a larger project
Look at Cabin, Railway, Ripples, Check, Relish, and Confetti. Compare total top fabric as well as strip count. A project using fewer print strips may need more background, accent fabric, or borders than another project using a whole roll.
How to Choose Colors for a Strip-Pieced Quilt
- Check contrast against the background. Lay your palest and darkest prints beside the proposed background. If both disappear into it, choose another background or adjust the print selection.
- Sort by value when the pattern asks for it. Light and dark are not the same as warm and cool. A black-and-white photograph can help you see whether the groups are distinct.
- Spread repeated prints. Open the roll before sewing and check how many times each fabric appears. Plan where repeated strong prints will fall in the quilt.
- Watch directional designs. Some units are rotated. Decide whether sideways text, animals, or obvious one-way florals will bother you before cutting those strips.
Before You Cut: A Practical Preparation Checklist
- Download or open the exact version. Match the pattern name, quilt size, strip count, and background amount. A larger sizing guide is not interchangeable with the small version’s materials.
- Read the full material list. Count background, accents, borders, binding, backing, and batting separately. A “one-roll quilt” usually describes the print component or quilt top, not every fabric in the finished quilt.
- Check usable strip length. Remove selvages as instructed and confirm that the pattern’s cuts fit. Do this before batch-cutting a whole bundle.
- Test the seam allowance. Sew a small sample and measure it against the pattern’s expected unit size. Our quarter-inch seam guide explains why small differences add up.
- Keep sets labeled. Separate uncut strips, completed strip sets, and trimmed units. Put a label on the top of a directional unit so the layout survives the trip to the machine.
- Press without stretching. Lift and lower the iron, especially near diagonal edges. Use the pressing directions in your chosen pattern; our seam pressing guide explains the options.
Common Jelly Roll Quilt Mistakes
- Assuming every roll has 40 strips: count the actual pieces before choosing a pattern.
- Treating two crib tops as two finished quilts: each still needs its own backing, batting, and binding.
- Measuring inconsistently at pinked edges: check your strip width and use a consistent reference. Confirm the sewn unit’s measurement instead of trusting the zigzag edge alone.
- Pulling long strip sets through the machine: support the fabric and let the feed dogs move it. Measure sets periodically so a bowed panel does not become a batch of inaccurate units.
- Prewashing loose narrow precuts without a plan: fraying and shrinkage can reduce usable width and length. Check the fabric maker’s guidance and how your chosen pattern uses the strips.
- Choosing by the cover photo alone: read the access note and materials first. A free web tutorial, a free PDF, and a newsletter download are different ways of receiving instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strips are in a Jelly Roll?
Many full rolls contain 40 strips, each 2½ inches wide, but counts vary. Junior rolls and other bundles may contain fewer pieces. Use the actual label and count, especially when the pattern needs specific numbers of light and dark strips.
What size quilt can I make with one Jelly Roll?
There is no single answer. The layout, usable strip length, background fabric, borders, and number of strips used all affect the result. This collection includes small quilts made from part of a roll and larger designs that combine one print roll with extra yardage.
Can I cut my own 2½-inch strips instead?
Yes, when they meet the pattern’s width and usable-length requirements. Keep your cuts straight, check the grain, and count the required strips. Short scraps are not a direct substitute for full-width strips unless the pattern explicitly allows piecing or shorter lengths.
Does a free pattern mean I do not need to buy anything?
No. “Free” refers to the instructions under the creator’s access terms. Fabric, batting, thread, and tools may still need to be purchased. Some free patterns are delivered after an email sign-up.
Are all fifteen projects suitable for a complete beginner?
They include both beginner and confident-beginner choices. Start with a straightforward strip-pieced project if this is your first quilt. Designs with diagonal corners, triangle edges, or more involved layouts are sensible next steps after you can sew accurate units.
Do I need to buy a paid PDF for Confetti?
The designer provides a free web tutorial. Use that version if you do not want the optional paid PDF or pattern-library access. Follow the original page for the current format and instructions.
How should I finish my Jelly Roll quilt?
Follow your pattern and your quilting method for backing and batting allowances, then baste, quilt, and bind. If you are new to the final edge, see our quilt binding tutorial with mitered corners.
Pattern Credits and Sources
The twelve Fat Quarter Shop designs are credited and linked individually above. Jelly Roll Jog belongs to Tiny Orchard Quilts, Confetti to Caroline Fairbanks of SewCanShe, and Standing Tall to Cedar Quilt Co. This article provides independent project comparisons and planning tips; follow the original creator for the complete pattern, any corrections, and current access terms.
Patterns, diagrams, and original photographs remain the property of their respective creators. No third-party PDF or pattern diagram is hosted or reproduced here. Measurements and material summaries refer to the specific versions named, not a substitute cutting chart. If a source’s details change, use its latest instructions.
