The Perfect Quilting Solutions - Where to Buy Jelly Rolls for Quilting
You've decided to take up quilting and want to make a fun, colorful quilt using precut fabric bundles known as jelly rolls. But where do you start when you want to buy jelly rolls? Knowing the best places to find quality jelly rolls for a good price will set you up for success with your new quilting hobby.
What Are Jelly Rolls?
The first thing to understand about jelly rolls is that they are bundles of precut fabric strips. Each strip measures 2.5 inches by 42 inches - the perfect size to sew together into binding strips or quilt blocks. Jelly rolls usually contain 40-42 coordinating fabric strips, giving you a rainbow of colors and prints to work with. Major fabric manufacturers like Moda, Riley Blake, and Robert Kaufman all produce jelly roll fabric collections.
Where to Purchase Jelly Rolls?
Once you decide on a particular fabric line or designer for your jelly roll, you have several good options of where to purchase them. Local quilt shops almost always carry some selection of jelly rolls. The advantage of shopping for jelly rolls locally is that you can see and feel the fabrics in person. However, your selection may be more limited than shopping online.
Widest Selection of Jelly Rolls Online
If you have access to a large chain craft store like Joann or Michael's, you may also find jelly rolls in stock there. The jelly roll offerings at big box stores are often more basic - solids and basics rather than detailed prints. But they can be great to purchase with coupons or sales. You may also check discount stores like Tuesday Morning to discover clearance jelly rolls at excellent prices.
Details to Consider When Buying Jelly Rolls Online
For the widest selection of jelly rolls available, turn your search online. Large online fabric retailers like Missouri Star Quilt Company, Fat Quarter Shop, and Craftsy offer hundreds of different jelly rolls spanning different designers, color schemes, and themes. The benefits of ordering jelly roll online include convenience, bigger selection, and access to pre-order or out-of-print fabric collections. Most online shops also offer great discounts or sales if you sign up for newsletters.
When looking to buy jelly rolls online, pay close attention to the details like fabric designer, collection name, and colorway. Many online listings show images of the actual fabrics included so you know exactly what you're getting. Don't forget to factor in shipping costs when comparing jelly roll prices across different online retailers.
Related Bundled Fabric Offerings
Once you start searching for jelly rolls online, you may come across related bundled fabric offerings like charm packs, layer cakes, and fat quarters. While jelly rolls provide long skinny strips, charm packs contain 5" squares, layer cakes are 10" squares, and fat quarters are 18" x 22" cuts. Like jelly rolls, these precut fabric bundles make quilt piecing faster and easier.
Buying Fat Quarters Online
When you're ready to buy fat quarters online, many of the same online shops offer bundles, packs, and even subscriptions of coordinating fat quarters. Fat quarters allow you to purchase small cuts of fabrics you love without investing in whole yards. They can be used to fussy cut motifs or assemble scrappy quilt blocks. Look for fat quarter bundles within a designer collection for a coordinating set.
Finding the Perfect Jelly Rolls
Whether you take a trip to your local quilt shop or peruse the endless online offerings, finding the perfect jelly rolls to start your new quilting hobby is an exciting first step. Once your fabrics arrive, you’ll be eager to start stitching them into stunning quilt blocks – and then on to piecing your quilt top with the material you buy material for sewing. Happy quilting!