The Jelly Roll Quilt That Looks Like a Million Bucks (But Takes One Afternoon)

Felix Schneider · 2026-09-15

### The Quilt That Steals the Show You know that feeling when you finish a quilt and you just want to show everyone? That's exactly what happened with the Jelly Roll Gems quilt. It finishes at 60.5 inches square, and honestly, it looks like it took weeks. But here's the secret: it didn't. This quilt is beginner-friendly. I mean really beginner-friendly. If you can sew a straight line (or something close to it), you can make this. All you need is one Jelly Roll and some background fabric. That's it. ### Why This Quilt Works Jelly Rolls are those lovely pre-cut strips, usually 2.5 inches wide. They come in coordinated collections, so you don't have to stress about matching fabrics. The Jelly Roll Gems pattern uses them to create a design that looks complex but comes together fast. The finished quilt measures 60.5" x 60.5". That's a generous throw size. Perfect for curling up on the couch or draping over a guest bed. We sewed ours with the Handmade Sweetness collection by My Sew Quilty Life for Moda Fabrics. It's soft, sweet, and makes the gem shapes sparkle. But you can use any Jelly Roll you love. That's the beauty of this pattern. ### What You'll Need - One Jelly Roll (40 strips, 2.5" x 42") - Background fabric: about 3.5 yards - Binding: 0.5 yards - Backing: 4 yards (or 1.75 yards of 108" wide backing) - Basic sewing supplies: rotary cutter, mat, ruler, sewing machine And if you want to make it exactly like ours, there's a quilt kit and matching backing set coming soon. You can sign up to be notified when they're in stock. ### The Free Pattern and Tutorial The Jelly Roll Gems quilt pattern is available as a free PDF. No catch. Just download it and start sewing. Plus, there's a free video tutorial from Fat Quarter Shop that walks you through every step. If you've never made a quilt before, this is a great place to start. > "I was intimidated by quilting until I tried this pattern. The video made it feel doable, and now I'm hooked." — a happy quilter ### Join the Jelly Roll Club If you love Jelly Rolls (and who doesn't?), the Jelly Roll Club delivers one to your door every month. Each month features a new collection from Moda Fabrics. And you save 12% off the retail price. That's like getting a free Jelly Roll every few months. You can see the schedule of fabric deliveries and join the club. It's a fun way to build your stash and discover new fabrics. ### Share Your Creation When you finish your quilt, share it on social media with #JellyRollGems and #NationalJellyRollDay. Tag @fatquartershop so they can see it too. There's nothing like seeing your work inspire someone else to start sewing. ### Final Thoughts Quilting doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes all you need is a good pattern, a Jelly Roll, and an afternoon. The Jelly Roll Gems quilt is proof that you can make something beautiful without spending weeks on it. So grab a Jelly Roll, download the free pattern, and give it a try. You might just surprise yourself. Happy quilting!