The Linn County Fair’s Jelly Roll Races Need YOU: On Your Mark, Get Set, SEW!

You had me at Jelly Roll!

Time to break out that sewing machine if it's not already broken or out and head to the Linn County Fair THIS SATURDAY!!  Compete against fellow sewers in a race with...The Jelly Roll! (Angels sing here with harp gliss) There may not be a real Jelly Roll but anytime you mention those words together angels sing. Much like sticky buns, monkey bread, or cinnamon rolls, angels sing,  but let's not get too far off course.

This is a race but is there running?

Get ready for a unique event at this year's Linn County Fair: the Jelly Roll race. Taking place Saturday morning at 9 am, contestants will be sewing up something special using colorful fabric strips. It's not your typical competition—instead of running, participants will be stitching their way to creating quilt tops. With excitement in the air and creativity at the forefront, it promises to be a morning filled with surprises and skillful crafting. 

How many Jelly Rolls do you have to eat?

Don't be misled by the name; it's not about the pastry! In sewing, a jelly roll refers to a bundle of fabric strips, each 2 1/2 inches wide and 44-45 inches long. Typically, these bundles contain 40 strips of fabric in various coordinating colors and prints, perfect for quick and easy sewing projects. 

The selection is up to you, Jelly Roller

Contestants will select their preferred jelly roll bundle. At the starting signal, they will unwrap the jelly roll and begin sewing the strips end to end. Once the first pass is completed, they fold the strip in half and sew it together again. This process repeats five times. By the end, each contestant will have assembled a quilt top, which they can finish as desired at a later date. 

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Deb Zumbach, the contest coordinator, was inspired by a similar event at the 2023 Louisa County Fair, where she participated despite not finishing first. She believed it would be a fantastic addition to the Linn County Fair. 

Participants must bring their own sewing machines; the jelly roll will be provided for the competition.