Hello there! Welcome to August. This month's Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is "It's All Up to You". We were challenged to make whatever we want, which is really harder than it sounds. There are so many things I want to make! I decided to try another version of the Jelly Roll Rug. This one is made using the Jelly Roll Rug + Pattern.
Disclaimer: The products used to make this project were given to me by Island Batik and Industry Partners.
Here's what the pattern looks like. It's by R.J. Designs. You can find it online, but I purchased my copy at Quiltique, a shop I checked out while visiting my parents in Las Vegas in June. Quiltique did not have a lot of Island Batik fabrics, but they did have precuts of both of the Breast Cancer Awareness fabric collections, Positively Pink and Hope and Heart. Oh yeah! Island Batik everywhere!
The Jelly Roll Rug + pattern requires two rolls of 2-1/4" fusible batting strips. I was excited to be using the strips I've received from Hobbs. I've been saving them for just the right project, Let me tell you, they worked like a dream for rug making. I also used my Precious Pink 2-1/2" strip pack that I just received in my second shipment from Island Batik as part of the Ambassador program. Did you see my unboxing video? Trail Mix highly recommends it.
I used Schmetz needles to sew this project. They zipped right through the multiple layers of fabric and batting strips.
I also used the beautiful pink variegated thread I received from Aurifil this time. It looks gorgeous against all the different shades and tints of pink and contrasts nicely with the turquoise fabric I used as an accent.
If you've ever made the oval jelly roll rug, you know that you sew all your strips together to make one super long strip. To make the square jelly roll rug, you cut your strips down into shorter lengths and stair step them together.
After sewing the strips together into two sets, you cut out four large triangles to make the rug.
And here's the result! My son and I decided to take the rug out to the beach for photos.
I think it looks great in the sunshine with the ocean blue in the background.
Jelly Roll Rug +
Rug Stats:
Rug size: 30" x 30"
Fabric: Precious Pinks by Island Batik
Thread: Aurifil
Batting: Hobbs 2-1/4" Fusible Strips
Needles: Schmetz
Pattern: Jelly Roll Rug + by R.J. Designs
Have you seen my new studio? I'm still cleaning it up and finishing the inside. I can't wait to move in. This is where my new rug is going to live. I'll give a tour when everything is finished.
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Disclaimer: The products in this post were given to me by Island Batik and industry partners at no cost to me.
The June Challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors was Try It! I've been wanting to make a Jelly Roll rug for a while so it seemed like perfect timing.
This month's project could be any size, any technique.
I ordered the Jelly Roll Rug pattern from another shop on Etsy. I used Island Batik's Twilight Chic 2-1/2" strip pack, Hobbs cotton batting, and Aurifil thread in a medium brown to make my rug.
Here's a closer look at the Twilight Chic fabrics. Aren't they gorgeous? I've been wanting so much to use them. It's been sheer torture to save them all year for this project. Those yellows! The purples! The deep dark blues and greens!
The first step to making a strip rug is to cut the batting into strips. This was the only part I didn't enjoy. By the end of the batting cutting my hands were red and sore. I can see why it would be helpful to purchase pre cut batting strips, or maybe next time I will use a thinner batting. I wonder how this would work with Hobbs Thermore.
Next, I sewed all of the Twilight Chic strips together into one long strip. It looked like this coming out of my sewing machine.
Then I sewed the batting into my long strip.
I ended up with this huge unruly ball.
Next I began sewing the strips together into the rug itself. I used a beautiful medium brown Aurifil thread for all of the stitching on this project. It looks nice with the spectrum of color ~ yellow, blue, green, and violet.
My kitty cats found this project especially interesting. That long fabric strip moving and the rug growing. I'm sure they think I made it for them. This is Ragamuffin, my youngest cat and biggest quilting helper.
Trail Mix liked this project, too. She kept coming along and trying to nap on my rug.
When I completed the stitching, my rug looked like this. It was amazing how much I was able to flatten it with careful pressing.
This is my completed rug! I love it and can't wait to make another one. It was fun to try this technique, and I learnt a lot. I have an idea to make a rug that will fit into my super skinny farmhouse hallway next.
