Readers Project: Barbara’s Jelly Roll Quilts and Her Assistants

Note from Alanda Craft: Our Readers Project is from Barbara.  Check out Barbara’s assistants. What a cute crew to have helping out in your sewing room. Barbara has also sent through some photos of her beautiful jelly roll quilts. Here is a link to our tutorial if you would like to make your own  jelly roll quilt.  I do love the fabric in the Dance of the Dragonflies.

Barbara Says:

I’ve done quite a few jelly roll quilts that I never sent to you.  I’ve gotten really good at them and am sort of proud of myself.

I still watch videos when I’m stuck or not sure of something.  Or, if I hear or read about a technique and think I might want to try it.  I’ve learned a lot from your site.

The snappy pattern is the first one I’ve tried.  Yes, it’s a simple block pattern but it’s a start.  When I was at the quilt shop on Tuesday, I saw another block pattern I’d like to try.  I really want to make a red, white and blue one.

I’ve made several more smaller ones for myself out of the scraps.  I swear, you’d think I was trying, when in fact, it’s all just random.

They look wonky because I need to iron them.

  • One of my friends, Adina, left San Diego about a year after we did.  She loves purple and dragon flies.
  • She had her kitchen in SD painted purple with stenciled dragon flies.
  • She did the same thing in her new kitchen in Reno.
  • When I ran across this pattern called Dance of the Dragonflies, I knew it was for her.  She called the day she got her surprise box and was in tears.

  • The one I made out of the pink/orange kitty pattern was harder.  Because all of the scraps were different sizes and shapes, I didn’t know what to do.  So, I just started with random pieces to make squares.
  • I started with the biggest piece – a cat then built around it.  I had to cut some down to make them fit.
  • Eventually, I had a nice big square.
  • Then I added the left over solid pieces that I didn’t use at all in the original quilt.  I used those to make a border.
  • I still need to add one more outer border and it will be done.

  • Anne, another lady from my old office, said she prefers bright and bold colors.
  • This too, was longer because she’s very tall.
  •  I wasn’t thrilled with the white down the center, but it needed something.
  •   It looks wonky in the top third but that’s because I didn’t straighten it when I took the picture.
  • Laycee, my friend who does my nails, loves flowers.  I found this jelly roll for her.

Barbara’s Assistants

  • Photo 1 – Moose also serves as my trouble shooter and quality control officer.
  • Photo 2 – Part of the cleanup crew.
  • Photo 3 – My finished product inspector.
  • Photo 4 – This is Moose, my chief inspector, and tester for sleepability.
  • Photo 5 – My design consultant

Click the links below to see more of Barbara’s quilts:

Watch the video below on how to make a Jelly Roll Quilt

Go here for the written instructions.