Jelly Roll Quilts – Block Ideas for 2-1/2″ Strips

Do you ever buy a jelly roll and just don’t know what to do with it? Do these fabrics call out to you and you NEED to pet them and enjoy them, but what to make with the jelly roll? Here are some ideas for using 2-1/2″ strips in a block and quilt.

Be sure to see The Gallery of Quilts at the bottom of the page. If you would like me to brag about YOUR quilt, send a picture to phoebemoondesigns@gmail.com. Thank you!

Single Blocks

Block idea for 2-1/2" Strips
 

This is a 4 1/2″ square with 2 1/2″ strips pieced around it, making an
8-1/2″ square.

Quilt idea for 2-1/2" Strips
An EQ representation of the quilt

Puss in the Corner Quilt Block

Here’s a four patch with an alternate setting square the same size as the four patches.

Puss in the Corner Quilt
This is an EQ representation of a full quilt made using this block.  Note that the block is placed in sashing with a colored cornerstone.

X's and O's block

X’s and O’s. The easiest way to make this block is by making a tube. One side of the tube will be the two strips sewn together and the other side would be a strip of white matching that width. Using a 45-degree ruler, cut the tube into triangles. When opened, they will be squares. Arrange the squares as shown. Watch those bias edges!

X's and O's quilt

There is a video of me cutting a 45-degree block here but it is NOT the block above.

In the gallery below, the quilt made by Celia was made using 45-degree triangles cut from two strips sewn together, as was the quilt by Birdie.  The quilt made by TM was made using 60-degree triangles cut from two strips sewn together.


Rail Fence Block

The rail fence is probably the easiest of all strippy quilts to make. You can set this as straight blocks, alternating the direction of the strips, or set it on point. 

Rail Fence Quilt (On Point)

Here is an EQ representation of the block on point. Note that the blocks are arranged to make a stripe on the quilt.

Combining two jelly roll blocks to make the design

Nine Patch Quilt Block

What happens when you add a nine patch to a rail fence? 

Lemon Twist Quilt

An EQ Representation


Bricks on Point Block

Here’s a block inspired by an antique quilt!  To make a quilt, you need to make two blocks, one with a dark center and one with a light center.

Bricks on Point Quilt

An EQ Representation – notice the effortless QSTs!


Four Patch Quilt Block

Here is a perfectly ordinary four-patch quilt block.  But what happens if you combine it with the block above? 

Churning Dash Quilt

An EQ Representation


Four Patch on Point

Here is an easy block – a four-patch set on point.  What would it look like if you set it in a quilt with sashings and cornerstones?

Four Patch on Point

An EQ Representation. Click here for an article on how to set a quilt or block on point.

Quilt Gallery – Quilts using 2-1/2″ strips

Quilt On Point
Hexagon quilt made by TM
Pennies from Heaven Quilt
Coin Quilt made from jelly roll scraps
Julie's challenge quilt
CeCe and Lynns Challenge Quilt
Rail Fence made with a jelly roll
JB's Challenge quilt
Woodland Winter uses an entire jelly roll
Nine Patch Quilt made with a jelly roll
Birdies Challenge Quilt
Jelly Roll Race made by Donna

Have another tip to offer? Send it to me or reply below and I will add it here.

Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter! Once a week, I send updates on quilt-related information I have found while wandering the web. This might be an inspiring article, a tip or tutorial I have discovered (or written), and occasionally exclusive offers & discounts as well as immediate access to the secret page of free patterns, guides, and printables. You can follow my page on Facebook, or join the Make Believe Quilters group, too.

2 thoughts on “Jelly Roll Quilts – Block Ideas for 2-1/2″ Strips”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *