One Jelly Roll, One Gorgeous Lap Quilt: Meet Rigatoni

Editorial Team · 2026-10-28

If you've ever stared at a Jelly Roll on your shelf and thought, "I love this fabric, but what do I actually make with it?" — this one's for you. The Jelly Roll Rigatoni is the newest pattern in the Shortcut Quilt Series, and it might be the friendliest excuse to finally cut into that roll you've been saving. Here's the short version: it's beginner-friendly, it comes together fast, and it uses precuts so you spend your time sewing instead of trimming strips. Oh, and the pattern is free, with a step-by-step video tutorial to follow along. ### What You'll Need The supply list is refreshingly short: - One Jelly Roll (40 pre-cut 2.5-inch strips) - 3 1/8 yards of background fabric - A matching backing set if you want to skip the guesswork The finished project is a large lap quilt — big enough to actually curl up under, small enough to finish before your excitement runs out. ### Why This Pattern Works for Beginners Rigatoni leans on precuts, which means your strips are already cut to size and consistent. That takes a lot of the fussy measuring out of the equation. If you can sew a straight quarter-inch seam and press as you go, you're most of the way there. The block design shows off a whole collection at once, so every fabric in your roll gets its moment. It's a great way to use a line you love without chopping it into unrecognizable pieces. > "A quilt that's good enough to eat" is a fun line, but the real appeal is simpler: one roll, one background, one weekend-ish project. ### A Little Inspiration From Ours We stitched our sample with Collections for a Cause: Magnolia by Howard Marcus for Moda Fabrics. The vintage florals give each block an heirloom feel — classic, a bit nostalgic, and the kind of quilt that looks like it's been in the family for years. If you'd rather make yours exactly like ours, the quilt kit and matching backing set take the fabric-choosing out of the picture. ### Love Jelly Rolls? There's a Club for That If one roll never feels like enough (we get it), the Jelly Roll Club delivers a fresh roll to your door each month, featuring a new Moda Fabrics collection. Members save 12% versus buying the precut on its own, which adds up over a year of quilting. ### Share What You Make We'd genuinely love to see your version. Post your finished quilt with #JellyRollRigatoni on Facebook or Instagram and tag us so it doesn't slip past our feed. Beginner or seasoned, your take on this pattern is worth showing off. So dig out that Jelly Roll you've been hoarding. Grab your background yardage, pull up the tutorial, and let's get sewing. Happy quilting!