DIY Christmas Jelly Roll Table Topper – Simple Quilting Project for Beginners

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A QUICK AND EASY HOLIDAY PROJECT TO KICK OFF YOUR DECORATING?  CHECK OUT THIS EASY TABLE TOPPER, PERFECT FOR JELLY ROLLS!

Creating a DIY Christmas Jelly Roll Table Topper is a quick and festive project that’s perfect for beginners or anyone looking for a fast finish. This project uses just five strips from a holiday-themed jelly roll and can easily be completed in no time.

With a few simple steps, you can make a charming holiday accent for your home or to give as a gift. Let’s dive into the details!

Supplies for a Jelly Roll Table Topper

For this project, you’ll need five strips from a jelly roll with holiday colours or patterns.  If you don’t have a Jelly Roll, simply cut five 2 ½” strips using Width of Fabric (WOF).  In my example, I have used Cozy Wonderland by Fancy That Design House.

You’ll also want to gather your basic quilting supplies.  Here is a list of what I like to have on hand when making any quilting project:

• Rotary cutter and mat – You can absolutely use a good pair of scissors, but I do find that you get the most accurate cuts using a rotary cutter.
• Quilting Ruler – Be sure your ruler shows the 60-degree cut line.
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron and ironing board or pressing mat
• Pins or clips
• Fabric marker
• Spray starch – I have recently started starching my fabrics, and I’m loving the difference.  A note of caution, however: starching precuts may not work out well, as the starch can shrink your fabric in one direction only.  Your squares will no longer be squares!

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For this table topper, I chose to use a fusible fleece batting.  This low-loft batting is perfect for a decorative piece and it helps with quick quilting, to be sure!

Jelly Roll Table Topper Tutorial

I have created a full tutorial on how to sew the Jelly Roll Table Topper, which you can watch here:

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Continue reading below for the full instructions.

Jelly Roll Table Topper Instructions

The first step is choosing your five strips. Look for a combination of patterns and colors that you think will look festive when arranged together. Lay the strips out side-by-side to get a sense of how they’ll look when sewn together, making adjustments until you’re happy with the arrangement.

With your strips selected, stitch together on the long edges with a 1/4” seam.  

Press all your seams in the same direction.  This will allow you to nest your seams, which will help you get your nice crisp points.  “Nesting” means the seams will fit snugly together when you start to piece everything into the final hexagon shape.

Once all five strips are sewn together and pressed, it’s time to cut out the triangles that will form the hexagon.

Lay the sewn panel flat on your cutting mat, and with your 60-degree ruler, align it at an angle on the fabric panel.

I like to start in the bottom right-hand corner, because I’m right-handed.  The 60-degree line will line up with the bottom edge of your panel.  Make your first cut to remove the selvedges and create the first side of the first triangle.

Next, angle the ruler so that a 60-degree line again lines up with the bottom and the ruler lines up with the top point of the fabric.  Make your cut, creating your first triangle.

Continue to alternate your ruler positioning, creating six triangles, each cut across the width of your sewn strip panel. It’s the 60-degree angle that creates the triangular shapes, and this angle is key to forming the overall hexagon shape of the table topper.

This method is a great way to maximize your fabric strips and makes the project straightforward, even for beginners. Make sure you’re consistent with the cuts to keep the triangles uniform—this will make assembly much easier and ensure the final result looks polished.

Now that you have six triangles, you’re ready to arrange them into the hexagon. Lay them out on a flat surface to see how the patterns and colors look in the hexagon arrangement.

At this point, you can move the triangles around to adjust the look until you’re happy with the balance of colors and patterns.

Next, begin sewing the triangles together. Sew two triangles together along one edge, nesting your seams in and holding in place with pins or clips.  Then sew a third triangle onto the pair, creating one-half of the hexagon.

Press all the vertical seams in the same direction.

Repeat this with the remaining triangles so that you end up with two halves.

Finally, sew a centre seam to join the two halves.  The seams will still nest at this stage.  Once the hexagon is fully assembled, give it a final press. This helps set the seams and smooth out any wrinkles or folds, giving the topper a crisp, finished look.

At this point, you can finish your table topper however you like best. You can add a layer of batting and backing fabric if you’d like a quilted finish. Adding binding can really make the patterns or colours pop. This also allows you to add decorative quilting stitches to accentuate the patterns and colors.

Alternatively, you can simply hem the edges of the hexagon for a quick, clean finish.

One of the best parts of this jelly roll table topper project is its versatility. By switching up the color scheme, you can create themed toppers for different holidays or seasons. Use rich reds and greens for a classic Christmas feel, pastels for spring, or earthy tones for autumn. You can also experiment with different fabric textures, such as metallic accents or sparkly fabrics, to give the topper a unique look that suits your decor.

If you’re looking to make your topper extra special, consider adding a few hand-stitched embellishments or holiday-themed appliqués. Small felt shapes like stars, snowflakes, or holly leaves can add a unique, personalized touch.

This Christmas Jelly Roll Table Topper is ideal for those who are new to sewing and quilting, thanks to its simplicity and relatively small size. The jelly roll strips are pre-cut to 2.5 inches wide, which means you can skip the measuring and cutting steps that are often required with larger projects. By learning to sew strips together, cut at angles, and assemble a simple pattern, beginners will build a solid foundation in basic quilting techniques.

And the best part? The whole project can be completed in just a few hours. It’s a perfect way to spend an afternoon, and the result is a beautiful, functional piece of decor that brings a handmade touch to your holiday celebrations.

PLUS – the average Jelly Roll has 40-42 strips.  By only using five strips for this project, you could actually make eight of these table toppers out of one Jelly Roll!  Imagine making 1, 2 or even 3 for your own home and still have several to give as gifts!

This project is a fun, low-stress way to bring holiday cheer into your home. Whether you’re making it as a gift or to enjoy in your own space, the Christmas Jelly Roll Table Topper is sure to be a hit. So pull out those jelly rolls, fire up your sewing machine, and enjoy this quick and festive crafting project!

Want to remember this?  Save this CHRISTMAS JELLY ROLL TABLE TOPPER to your favourite Pinterest boards!