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 top third but that’s because I didn’t straighten it when I took the picture.