Wednesday 4 December 2013

Beach Ball - a jelly roll quilt tutorial (and giveaway!)

After finishing up my DUDQS mini quilt last week, I jumped straight in to making a larger version. I bought a jelly roll of Zen Chic's recently released Sphere collection a few months ago, and decided to design this quilt using just the jelly roll plus a fat quarter of background fabric for the setting triangles.

I've written up a mini tutorial for how I put it together - and I also have a giveaway offered by the Fat Quarter Shop at the end of the post :o)


I've designed this quilt using a jelly roll, but you could easily substitute for a range of 2.5" strips from your stash. To plan out your layout, I suggest using some equilateral triangle graph paper (you can download it free from here). The jelly roll I used for this quilt included a nice proportion of lighter value prints (15 of the 40 strips) which made it easy to play with the background hexagons. If you are working with a bigger variety of colours it might be useful to plan out colour placement to make sure you end up with a balanced layout. If you wanted to make a bigger quilt, it would be a good way to work out your layout too.

A few things to keep in mind:
* Each strip set will yield 9 triangles, enough to make one full hexagon, and one half hexagon per strips set. If you cut two strip sets, you would have enough triangles to make three full hexagons.
* For this quilt, I used 96 triangles, twelve across by eight down. I had several half-hexagons left over, which will become part of the back.

This quilt top finishes up at 45" x 50", a good size lap quilt for a child, or a large baby quilt. It would be really easy to make it bigger by using more strips.

All seams are a scant quarter inch, and I have pressed my seams open at all stages.

I started by sorting the jelly roll into colour sets, separating the lighter value prints (in this case the grey and white based prints) from the darker ones.


Next, split each colour into sets of three strips. Some of my strip sets included one strip with a contrast in colour or value.



Sew each of these strip sets together along the long edge. For the strip sets with one contrasting strip, make this the central strip in the strip set, as this will form a continuous ring within the hexagons. Press your seam open.


Next cut each of the strip sets using either a 60 degree triangle ruler:


Or using the 60 degree line on your ruler, lining up the line on your ruler with the bottom or top of the strip set.


Continue down the strip set, flipping the strip set or ruler as you go. You will end up with 9 triangles from each strip set.


Setting Triangles:

To avoid trimming off the sides of the quilt, and losing some of the width of the quilt, I added setting triangles at the end of each row. To make these, cut strips the same width as your strip sets (6.5") from your fat quarter of background fabric. Make a 60 degree cut with your ruler, and then make a vertical cut, 4" in along the long edge, and 1/4" from the shorter side (see below).  Continue along the strip, cutting a total of 16 setting triangles. 


Piecing the quilt:

At this stage, you could lay out your pieces and start piecing the rows together. I found it easier to piece together my darker coloured triangles into half-hexagons first, as it was much easier to switch them around on my design wall until I found a layout I liked. 


When sewing these half hexagons together, match up the seams along one edge and pin at each seam (I pin the side of the seam that will be sewn first). 


You will end up with three half-hexagons from each strip set.


Lay out your pieces into rows (here I have 8 rows of 12 triangles, plus a setting triangle at the end of each row). Adrianne has written an awesome tutorial on sewing equilateral triangles if you'd like some tips on how to do this. 

Once your rows are sewn, sew your rows together in pairs, carefully pinning the seams where your hexagon strips meet. Continue sewing together in pairs, until you have a complete quilt top. 


 In regards to the layout, you could easily make this quilt with full hexagons interlocking across the quilt, rather than using partial hexagons as I have done. In fact, the layout possibilities are endless - I'm planning on making another bigger version of this one at some stage soon. It's a quick and fun top to put together.

If you have any questions please just leave a comment or send me an email. If you do use this tutorial to make a quilt, please send me a photo!

So, on to the giveaway! The Fat Quarter Shop have generously offered the choice of any jelly roll to one of my readers.

To enter, just leave me a comment letting me know which jelly roll you would choose. My followers get an extra entry - just leave a second comment letting me know how you follow. If you would like a third entry, share this post (on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram) and leave a third comment with the link to your post.

International entries are welcome, and I will draw a winner next Monday (9th December) at 9pm AEST. The winner is Crickets Corner, who has been contacted by email.

xx Jess










265 comments:

1 – 200 of 265   Newer›   Newest»
giddy99 said...

Love the hexy quilt, thanks for the tutorial. I would pick the Acacia jelly roll.

giddy99 said...

I follow you via Bloglovin; thanks for the chance!

Betsy said...

Jess I would love the tidepool jelly roll

Betsy said...

I already follow with GFC and bloglovin

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous quilt! It looks so good with the fabrics you've chosen - so many lines don't have very many light colours, so it's pretty awesome that one does.

If I had to choose, I might probably choose Heather Bailey's True Colors line, but it's a small jelly roll (only 20 strips, I think!), so probably I'd go with Botanics by
Carolyn Friedlander.

(clumsy.chord(at)gmail.com)

JoyceLM said...

I'd get the New Neutral Kona Solids jelly roll. Thanks for the chance.

JoyceLM said...

I'm a follower with Bloglovin'. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Love that quilt; I'll have to put it on my to-do list! I'd choose the new Lauren and Jessi Jung jelly roll of Chantilly!

--Jo -- patchaday [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I follow on bloglovin'!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Great quilt tutorial and I follow you with GFC!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

I love jelly rolls and would choose Splash Bali Pop!

DeborahGun said...

its a gorgeous quilt Jess - thanks for sharing the tutorial. I would choose the New Classic Kona Cotton Solids Roll Up. I love rainbows!

DeborahGun said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeborahGun said...

I follow you by email and on FB (Deborah Gunthorpe)

DeborahGun said...

I shared on Instagram.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Very pretty quilt. I would pick 'Hosephine' by French General.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I follow with GFC

Lou said...

Love it! I'm always looking for ace patterns to use with jelly rolls, and I need a bright quilt in my life so would go with the Kaffe Fassett Fall 2013 Collective Design roll, and maybe add in some bright solids.
I follow you via bloglovin, and love the pattern so much I've pinned it as well (http://www.pinterest.com/bikerunsew/quilt-spiration/)!!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

I love this pattern Jess! I would get Road 15 by Sweetwater!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

I follow you with bloglovin!

Willa said...

Pacific Bali Pop would be my choice. Like the colors and the contrast. Thisis a beautiful quilt and looks fun to do.

Furball Farm Quilting said...

Thanks for a wonderful tutorial.... this just MAY well prompt me to do one of these 60 degree quilts. I like the look of the Verna Mosquera range of Billet-doux.

Furball Farm Quilting said...

I follow you on BlogLovin and GFC. Thanks for the chance to win this beauty.

Sheryl said...

It's a hard call, but I'd go with Road 15.

Sheryl said...

I follow on feedly

kay said...

I would choose Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander. Thanks for a great tutorial!

Anonymous said...

I go with Botanics and use it for binding. Thanks!! sarah schraw at gmail

Anonymous said...

I follow on Bloglovin'

knottygnome said...

Great tutorial, thanks! I think I would choose the botanics roll up.

knottygnome said...

I follow you via bloglovin and on instagram.

Susan said...

thanks for the chance to win. I'd pick the Botanics jelly roll from Fat Quarter shop

Susan said...

Just discovered your blog and now follow you on feedly

Leanne said...

It's a lovely and fun quilt. I would pick Sphere if one can pick one not yet released or else Botanics. Thank you for the chance to win.

Leanne said...

I follow your blog, I mostly read it in Feedly.

JLVerde said...

Love the Just My Type jelly roll.

JLVerde said...

Long time follower, here. Love this giveaway!

bab5313 said...

I am a big fan of season's greetings jelly roll.


bethbimber (at) gmail (dot) com

bab5313 said...

I also follow you through bloglovin

bethbimber (at) gmail (dot) com

Michele @ Undiscovered Optimist said...

I love Just My Type - such fun fabric! Thanks for the giveaway!

Renee said...

Botanics or Acacia!

Michele @ Undiscovered Optimist said...

I follow you on bloglovin - seanandmichele at gmail dot com

Renee said...

I follow through feedly :-)

Unknown said...

I love the sphere line but alas it is not being released yet. So Botanics us my next choice. Thanks for the chance

Unknown said...

I follow you via Bloglovin'

mommabee said...

I would choose Sphere as my daughter likes the yellows and I like the blues!

EmileeHope said...

Florence by DS, thanks for a fun tutorial & giveaway!

EmileeHope said...

I follow you on bloglovin!

B said...

I would choose Sphere by Zen Chic.

needle and nest said...

Oh, I'd definitely choose Florence. Thanks for the chance to win it! xoxo

needle and nest said...

I follow you via Bloglovin.

KelQuiltz said...

sooo hard to choose!!! Florence, anything Kaffe, just my type, sphere looks AWESOME too!! and solids are calling my name... one of the Kona solid rolls - in pastel shades.

thanks for the opportunity

KelQuiltz said...

I follow you on bloglovin

wobblybobbin said...

I love this quilt! I think it would look awesome in Acacia, but also would be beautiful scrappy!

wobblybobbin said...

I follow you with bloglovin :)

sew.darn.quilt said...

Volcano Bali Pop caught my eye, love those warm colours!
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial
today =) and for the chance.

sew.darn.quilt said...

I follow via GFC/Bloglovin' =)

Lisa England said...

That's a hard choice -- right now I'm torn between Bobbins and Bits Batiks and Botanics.

andri. said...

Thanks for the tutorial! I'm following with bloglovin:)

andri. said...

I'd choose either briar rose or botanics....tough choice!

Julie V said...

I'd choose Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander. Thanks for the opportunity!

Elaine said...

Love your quilt and tutorial! I would choose April showers to make my quilt! Thanks for the chance!
satterfieldfamily at sbcglobal dot net

Lisa said...

Love the tutorial and I would choose Botanics!

Lisa said...

I'm a follower of yours to!

Vicki H said...

Great tutorial. I would love to have Snowman Gatherings. Thanks for the giveaway.

Vicki H said...

I am following via bloglovin.

Julie said...

I like the Laria jelly roll. Thanks for the giveaway!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

The Dusty Kona solid is my favorite.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I follow on Bloglovin

Amy said...

I love the Road 15 and Lario jelly rolls! Thanks for the giveaway

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Florence for sure - I love that lone and it would look great in your pattern :)

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Yay I am one of your followers :)

Tiffany said...

I really love your mini quilt, especially the cool way you laid it all out. I'm a follower!

Tiffany said...

I've never had an opportunity to work with a jelly roll and I would LOVE to try one out! Choosing is so hard, so I'm going to play it safe and got with the Kona New Classics.

Faye Nettles said...

I would choose Botanics. I love that line.

Faye Nettles said...

I am a follower of yours.

Faye Nettles said...

Shared on FB https://www.facebook.com/faye.nettles.92

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

This is one of my favorite new lines and I love what you did with it. Great design for the fabric. Great tutorial. I would choose this line or Barcelona

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

I'm a follower too. Thanks for the extra chance.

Anonymous said...

HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON BLOG LOVIN'!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

HELLO, I'D SELECT KONA'S NEW CLASSICS JELLY ROLL!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

SewLindaAnn said...

I'd have a hard time choosing between Botanics (Carolyn Freidlander) and Kaffe Fasset's new collection. Love the quilt pattern and might dive into that today. Thanks!

SewLindaAnn said...

I Follow you in Bloglovin.

Jo said...

I would go with Botanics

Andrea Harles said...

Great use of a jelly roll. My choice would be the Sand and Surf stone strips Northcott Stonehenge

Rina Mason said...

Thanks so much for the tutorial, I've bookmarked it so I can attempt it early next year. My choice for the jelly roll would be Floral Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings or Sand & Surf Stone Strips by Northcott. So many to chose from it hard to pick just one.

Rina Mason said...

Shared on FB https://www.facebook.com/rina.mason?hc_location=timeline

Michele T said...

This is an awesome pattern!! If I could pick a jelly roll it would definitely be Bobbins and Bits Batiks!! Thanks!!

Michele T said...

I follow you via Bloglovin' - thanks for the extra chance!!

Michele T said...

I tweeted: https://twitter.com/mimistarquilter/status/408314900193091584

Rachel said...

What a great project. I am going to have to try this one. I would choose the Josephine Jelly Roll
French General for Moda Fabrics. So pretty.

Rachel said...

I am a follower via Feedly.

Gill said...

Great quilt - thanks for the tutorial!
I'd use Florence!!

Jenne said...

I´d love the Seaholly Bali Pop
Hoffman Fabrics :)

Katy Cameron said...

Love the HV/LV combo, I think Botanics would have the same effect nicely :o) Thanks for the chance to win!

Katy Cameron said...

I trail around after you too... ;o)

Vernon said...

I like the Volcano Bali Pops.

Newbie Jen said...

Well, IF I was allowed to wait a couple of months, I would love a Color me Happy roll, but if that was against the rules, I could totally be happy with a Botanics roll.

Newbie Jen said...

I am a devoted follower!

leanne said...

just love this design - your mini was gorgeous and this one is too ! I'd choose either acacia or wallflowers - there are so many gorgeous jelly rolls - thanks for the chance to win one !

leanne said...

I follow you on bloglovin and also instagram !

Sowing Stitches said...

I "SEW" need to make this quilt!!! We are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year at the beach! This would make a perfect surprise gift for my honey...
I would make this using:
30's Playtime 2 Jelly Roll
Chloe's Closet for Moda Fabrics

sowingstitches [at]gmail [dot] com

Linda said...

Road 15 jelly roll looks wonderful. Great colours. Thanks for the chance to win your giveaway. Love the hexie quilt so much. Great design.

Linda said...

I follow on GFC.

Jenelle said...

Hi Jess! I just wanted to say this is an awesome tutorial. I have been wanting to sew some more interesting quilt designs and I'm definitely bookmarking this. For the giveaway, I'd love to see this made up in Bontanics. The lower volume prints in that collection would be perfect.

Jenelle said...

I also follow you via bloglovin. Thanks for the chance!

wonderlandbyalyce said...

I would definitely go for Botanics, thanks!

wonderlandbyalyce said...

I follow on Bloglovin, thanks!

Mike Pearson said...

I shared it on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AmateurQuilter?ref=hl#!/AmateurQuilter/posts/646215672103570

Mike Pearson said...

I like the Taffy Bali Pop (Green)
Hoffman Fabrics. Divine.

craftykat said...

Oh I would chose the Lush Roll from Erin Michaels! Great quilt!

craftykat said...

I follow on bloglovin :)

Paula Lemos said...

Thanks for the tutorial! I would pick Wallflowers 2.5" Strips
Cluck Cluck Sew for Windham Fabrics.
Thanks for the chance!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

Jessica said...

I would love to use a Botanics jelly roll! Thanks for the chance! I'm pinning the tutorial for future use :)

Jessica said...

I follow you ;) via like, everything.

Paula Lemos said...

I'm a follower!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

Paula Lemos said...

Shared your giveaway in Twitter (https://twitter.com/ap_lemos/status/408340555685318656)
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

Goldogmom said...

oh, I think this looks to be a good quilt to play with, to make it my own. Thank you for the tutorial.

I'd love to win the Kaffe Fasset Fall Collective design roll.

Michelle

Anonymous said...

I would pick the Silver Bella Solid jelly roll. Thanks. kcannon@anwsu.org

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Bloglovin. kcannon@anwsu.org

Julie said...

I would probably pick Table for Two or Botanics, can't decide yet :) Thanks

Julie said...

I follow by email and FB. Thanks

Kendra Watson said...

Lush uptown for me, I think it would have the right balance for your lovely pattern.

Kendra Watson said...

I'm a feedly follower

Christine S said...

Hard to pick! I think Gracie Girl :)

Christine S said...

Following with bloglovin

Elisabetta said...

Thank you so much for the chance, that's lovely

I'd like this Billet-Doux Design Roll Verna Mosquera for Free Spirit Fabrics because of greens and pink that are my favorite combination of colors

Elisabetta said...

I follow you thanks to bloglovin'
So thank you again for this second chance

Elisabetta said...

Here is my tweet
https://mobile.twitter.com/MimmaEtta/status/408362684136972288

Rosa said...

Your hexie quilt is awesome.Thanks for the tutorial and I`d love Josephine!

Rosa said...

I follow via GFC.Thanks!

Sana Saroti said...

Hey Jess, this great quilt and tutorial makes me leave my first comment in what feels like at least half a year. I would totally pick Muslin Mates. That would go great with the two rainbow colored jelly rolls I already have.
Thanks for pulling me out of a blogging freeze!

Sana Saroti said...

Of course, I follow you on Bloglovin.

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Great tute Jess, and a lovely quilt! I think I would have to go for the Carolyn Freidlander Botanics jelly roll! P.S. - thanks for the shout out :-)

barbara woods said...

i love the bella solids , thanks for the chance

barbara woods said...

follow by gfc

Beth said...

Lush uptown would be great!

Beth said...

I follow on bloglovin

Pickletoes Quilts said...

I love Acacia by Tula Pink! Thanks for the giveaway!

Pickletoes Quilts said...

I follow on blogger!

GO STARS! said...

I would choose Botanics by
Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Love the quilt.

GO STARS! said...

I'm a follower on Bloglovin.

Unknown said...

I would choose "Bobbins & Bits PRINTS jelly roll, Pat Sloan for Moda fabrics

Unknown said...

I am now a follower on gloglovin via Facebook

Heather said...

I think that using the Kona Silent Film jelly roll could produce an interesting monochrome result. Thanks for the tutorial.

Unknown said...

I would adore the Botanics jelly roll.
Spetzie@att.net

Allison C said...

I would love a Botanics roll

Unknown said...

I follow you in Instagram

Emily C said...

I would get honky tonk.

B Greene said...

I think I would get Acacia, but Botanics is a possibility, too. Thanks for the great tutorial!

B Greene said...

I am a happy follower of your blog.

Ella said...

I'm a follower!

Ella said...

I'd go for Lush Uptown Jelly Roll
Erin Michael for Moda Fabrics!

Rachelle said...

Snowman Gatherings Jelly Roll
Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics is my favourite at the moment

Rachelle said...

I follow you using Bloglovin

ittehgaps said...

Would love to use SPLASH bali pops. The bright colors would be perfect for beach balls. Just fun and cheerful colors to work with. Cindy O

ittehgaps said...

Glad I found you with bloglovin. You have some nice tutorials. Adding more todos to my list. C Oneal

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

I would pick Botanics!

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

Of course I'm already following :)

Beth said...

I think your pattern would look great in Snowman Gatherings, so that's what I'd choose. Thanks for the detailed tutorial and all the pictures!

Beth said...

I tweeted! https://twitter.com/wordygirl11/status/408443284248203264

Beth said...

I follow you via email.

Unknown said...

Botanics jelly roll! Thanks for the chance

Unknown said...

I follow by email

Farm Quilter said...

I would choose Spring Stone Strips by Northcott Fabrics
Northcott Fabrics STONE S-74.

Farm Quilter said...

Your blog happily appears in my email inbox daily :)

OhioLori said...

Love this Quilt!! I would choose the Sunshine roses Jelly Roll! Awesome!! :)

OhioLori said...

I follow you thru Email :)

Reb Thack said...

Gracie girl!!

Reb Thack said...

I follow via Bloglovin :-) thanks'

Hayley said...

Oh Botanics for sure!! I love how there is a good mix of colour v low volume that would be perfect for this pattern

Hayley said...

I follow you via bloglovin

Vicki said...

I follow through bloglovin!

Vicki said...

I love the "Peacemaker by Kathy Schmitz".

Helen L said...

great tutorial: I love your quilt and how you made it with the full and partial hexagons!! I'd go for "This N That" by Nancy Halvorsen. thanks for sharing!!!

Christelle said...

Thanks for the tut, can't wait to try it! I would choose the Tidepool Bali Pop

Christelle said...

I follow you by email!

Betty said...

I'd use Mixed Bag by Studio M for this delightful quilt - great tutorial!

Betty said...

And I'm a follower! Love your work.

Erin @ Once Upon a Donkey said...

Love this Jess. Has been fun watching your progress on IG. Thanks for the tute. It may just finally get me to attempt triangles.

Thanks for the opportunity to win too. I LOVE you version so that is hard to pass but, as I'm about all things girly at the moment, I'm thinking Lovey Dovey might be nice. :)

Erin @ Once Upon a Donkey said...

I follow with Bloglovin'. :)

Nikita said...

I love this pattern! New Classic Kona Cotton Solids Roll Up..I've been eyeing that for a while now.

Nikita said...

I follow you via GFC

Nikita said...

Shared via FB

wanda said...

I love the new pattern. Thanks. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I Twitter and posted FB.

wanda said...

I have been waiting to order lagoon Matam Batiks for a quilt.

wanda said...

I love your blog and follow it by email.

Margaret said...

thanks for this tutorial. I would pick bobbins and bits.

Margaret said...

I follow you on twitter and blog lovin. I already like you on facebook

Margaret said...

https://twitter.com/schind67/status/408558457592102913 i tweeted

Lynn M said...

I would love the love collection. Thanks for the chance!

Lynn M said...

I'm a follower

Chiska said...

I would love the Taffy Bali Pops jelly roll. This is a great quilt! Thanks for the tutorial.

Willa said...

Love that quilt. The value range of your chosen fabrics is spot on!

Anonymous said...

It would have to be Acacia by Tula Pink. I LOVE your quilt so much. Many thanks for the opportunity.

Anonymous said...

I have yiou in my FAVORITES file both at work and home. This way I can access your inspired blog any old time!
Thanks again.

barb said...

i would get the kool aid bali pop babscorbitt@gmail.com

barb said...

i follow via email babscorbitt@gmail.com

Jennifer said...

I would pick 30's Playtime 2

Unknown said...

The jelly roll I would like is the bobbin and bits batiks from Pat Sloan. I always love her fabrics.

Jennifer said...

I am now following you by email.

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