What is a Jelly Roll of Fabric?
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
A jelly roll is a package of fabric that includes cuts measuring 2.5” x 42″. Jelly Rolls typically include 40 strips of fabric. The name Jelly Roll is unique to fabric manufactured by Moda Fabrics, but other manufacturers have similar products under names like Rolie Polies, Strip Sets, Roll-Ups, and Bali Pops.
Jelly rolls are popular among quilters because of their versatility. The 2.5″ width is great for sashing, borders, log cabin blocks, and jelly roll race quilts.
Not only does the 2.5″ size work for a variety of projects, but the precut fabric saves quilters a ton of time cutting those narrow strips!
My favorite place to shop for jelly rolls is Fat Quarter Shop.
How Long is a Jelly Roll Strip?
A Jelly Roll strip is 42″ long. If you were to place each strip in a Jelly Roll end to end they would stretch 1680 inches or 140 feet! That’s a lot of fabric.
How Much Fabric is in a Jelly Roll?
A Jelly Roll typically has 40 strips of 2.5″ x 42″ fabric. This is the equivalent of 3.77 yards of fabric. Jelly Rolls offer a lot of fabric in one little roll.
How Many Different Fabrics Are in a Jelly Roll?
Jelly Rolls are typically made up of fabric from one fabric line. The number of fabrics included depends on the number of fabrics in the fabric line.
Some Jelly Rolls only have one color of fabric, and some have 30 (or more!) different fabrics.
How Many Jelly Rolls Are in a Yard?
You can cut 14 2.5″ strips from 1 yard of fabric. That means there are .35 jelly rolls in one yard of fabric.
What is the Size of Jelly Roll Fabric in Inches?
One jelly roll strip is 2.5″ x 42″.
What is the Size of Jelly Roll Fabric in Centimeters?
A jelly roll is 6.35 cm x 106.68 cm.
How Do You Make Your Own Jelly Rolls?
While purchasing Jelly Rolls can be convenient and time-saving, it is more costly. If you’d like to make your own Jelly Roll, you can simply cut 40 2.5″ strips out of 3.77 yards of fabric!
Make quick work of the project by using the Stripology XL ruler by Creative Grids. This time-saving ruler allows you to cut several strips at once with its pre-marked lines. All without moving the ruler or resquaring your fabric!
Should Jelly Rolls be Pre-Washed?
Generally speaking, precut fabric should not be pre-washed. Washing small pieces of fabric can cause them to distort and unravel. Not to mention they may shrink, which might mean you won’t have enough fabric to make your quilt!
If you must pre-wash, here are a couple of tips:
- Use a garment bag (or two) to keep your strips contained. This will reduce the amount of movement in the wash and will help the fabric stay untangled and fray less.
- Use dye-trapping sheets when washing your fabric to reduce the likelihood of bleeding.
Check out this post if you want more information on how to prevent your quilt from bleeding!
I hope this helped clear things up! Head over to my Beginner’s Precut Guide if you’re interested in learning about more quilting fabric precuts.
Other Posts You May Like:
A Beginner’s Guide to Precut Quilting Fabric
How Many Squares in a Yard + Cheat Sheet
How Many 5 Inch Squares Do I Need to Make a Quilt?
How Many 10 Inch Squares Do I Need to Make a Quilt?
Simple Quilt Size Guidelines and a Printable Chart