Are you looking for a new and exciting project to tackle? Do you find yourself staring at those perfectly coordinated jelly roll precuts… unsure where to even begin? Asking yourself: What can I make with one jelly roll? I get it!! That’s exactly why I am obsessed with designing jelly roll patterns. Yes, they look beautiful sitting on your shelves… but what if they were more?

What if they became something bold, modern, and completely satisfying to finish?

Introducing: The Wind Echoes Quilt Pattern

This month I have the perfect pattern for you — Wind Echoes. It was released a few months back in Make Modern Magazine (Issue 65), and you can still grab a copy if you’d like. And now it’s available under my brand as an individual pattern too!

So let’s dive in and discover what you can make with one jelly roll.

Wind Echoes is a modern twist on a classic pinwheel design. It’s clean, graphic, and incredibly fun to sew. And here’s the best part: This quilt answers the question that haunts you…

What can you make with one jelly roll?

Not one jelly roll plus a little extra. Not a tiny quilt that’s basically a baby quilt.

This is a generous, cozy throw-size quilt — and you can easily size it up or down using the pattern extras link. You also have a couple of leftover strips, so you can weed out the fabrics that just don’t work. The throw size finishes at 78” x 78” — nice and big! Perfect to be loved and cherished for endless years.

Rachel Fields with RF Quilt Studio is the maker of this stunning quilt. I am swooning over her background fabric. Isn’t it fun and a little surprising? I can’t help but smile each time I see it. The background is a striking black and white fabric that almost reads like a grey. This grounds the quilt while adding subtle motion of its own. Against the backdrop, the pinwheels glow in warm, sunset-inspired tones: soft peaches, corals, apricots, buttery yellows, and pops of deeper orange and floral prints. She has definitely perfected the fabric gradient.

I can’t wait to see how Rachel quilts this quilt top!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, RACHEL.

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The Secret to Creating a Beautiful Gradient Wind Echoes Quilt

One of my favorite ways to use this pattern is by creating a gradient effect. Gradient quilts seem hard to create — but they’re actually very simple to plan. Here’s how I approach it:

1. Find Your Extremes

• Identify the darkest fabric in your jelly roll.
• Identify the lightest fabric. These will anchor your quilt layout.

2. Choose Your Background Wisely

• Pick a background that is a few shades lighter than your darkest fabric or a few shades darker then your darkest fabric.
• I like choosing a background that doesn’t closely match too many prints in the jelly roll — this keeps the pinwheels crisp and defined.

3. Build Balanced Fabric Sets

• When creating your pinwheel sets, choose two fabrics that are similar in color.
• Pair them with a third fabric that is either slightly lighter or slightly darker. This creates movement without chaos.

4. Lay Out Your Gradient

• Place your lightest fabrics in one corner.
• Place your darkest fabrics in the opposite corner.
• Gradually transition between them as you move across the quilt.

It’s incredibly satisfying to see it all come together. Get your Wind Echoes pattern here.

If you’ve been saving a jelly roll for “something special,” this is your sign to pull it off the shelf and start cutting. Wind Echoes makes it simple, satisfying, and surprisingly fast to turn one beautiful bundle into a quilt you’ll actually use and love. So stop wondering what you can make with one jelly roll — and start stitching. I can’t wait to see your version come to life. 💛

Share your Wind Echoes Quilt on Instagram using #WindEchoesQuilt and tag me @brownbirddesigns. Use #BrownBirdDesignsCreations on Instagram to qualify for a quarterly giveaway. To qualify, the creation needs to be made from a tutorial or pattern by Brown Bird Designs (Elisabeth DeMoo).