Preparing for National Jelly Roll Day: Cut Your Own Strips from Half-Yard Cuts

National Jelly Roll Day is coming up on September 19, and it is the perfect excuse to play with colour, sort through your stash, and plan a strip-friendly project.

But did you know that making your own jelly roll-style bundle from half-yard cuts is surprisingly easy?

How many strips can you cut from a half yard?

With a standard quilting cotton width of approximately 42 inches, one half-yard cut measures about 18 inches by the width of fabric. Cutting across the fabric into 2½-inch strips gives you 7 strips from each half-yard cut.

That little bit of maths can add up quickly. A bundle made from 12 half-yard cuts gives you:

12 half-yard cuts × 7 strips per cut = 84 strips

Your final count may vary slightly depending on the usable width of your fabric and how much you allow for selvages.

Want fewer strips?

You do not have to cut all seven strips from every half-yard. If you cut just four 2½-inch strips, you will use 10 inches of the 18-inch half-yard length and have an 8-inch section of fabric left by the full width of the fabric.

That gives you 48 strips from a 12-half-yard bundle:

12 half-yard cuts × 4 strips per cut = 48 strips

The remaining 8-inch sections are still useful for smaller projects, scrappy piecing, appliqué, or adding a little extra variety to your stash.

Build your own custom bundle

The best part of cutting your own strips is choosing a colour story that feels completely yours. You can pull a coordinated bundle from one collection, mix several designers, or make a scrappy combination from fabrics you already love.

• Choose 12 half-yard cuts in a planned colour palette.
• Press each fabric before cutting for the most accurate strips.
• Square one edge before you begin.
• Cut seven 2½-inch strips from each half-yard cut, or four if you want to save more fabric.
• Keep each fabric’s strips together until you are ready to mix them.
• Arrange your strips from light to dark, warm to cool, or in a completely scrappy order.

You can roll the finished strips together, tie them with a ribbon, or sort them into a project box. It is a simple way to create a custom jelly roll bundle while making sure every fabric is something you genuinely enjoy sewing with.

Why cut your own strips?

Precut bundles are wonderfully convenient, but cutting your own gives you more control. You can choose the exact colours you need, add extra repeats of a favourite print, coordinate with your existing stash, and make a bundle in the size your project requires.

It is also a lovely way to prepare for National Jelly Roll Day without waiting for the perfect bundle to appear. Gather a few half-yard cuts, turn on your favourite playlist, and make an afternoon of it.

Ready for September 19?

Whether you are using a traditional precut or making your own custom bundle, National Jelly Roll Day is a great reminder that small strips can become something wonderfully big. Pull your fabrics, sharpen your rotary blade, and choose a project that makes you excited to sew.

And remember: 12 half-yard cuts will give you approximately 84 two-and-a-half-inch strips when each cut yields seven strips, or 48 strips if you cut four from each. That is plenty of colour, plenty of possibilities, and a very satisfying way to celebrate.

Happy cutting, and happy National Jelly Roll Day!

— Jennifer, Jackie & the Sew Obsessed Team