shellyp

I'm getting ready to back a couple of tops. I will need to piece the back together. In the EB book I have it says to rip off the selvage before sewing together. My quesion is: wouldn't it be stronger to leave the selvage on the backing before sewing the two sides together? Or would it just be extra bulk?

mary quite contrary

My experience has been that the selvage shrinks at a different rate than the rest of the fabric. I always cut mine off. I wouldn't choose to tear it because that will stretch the fabric.

Just my 2 cents.

Mary

Oklahoma Suzie

I was always told to cut them off. It works for me.

sewnsewer2

I leraned a long time ago to cut the selvage off. It shrinks horribly!

cassiemae

You can buy extra wide backing fabric that is 108 inches wide I have started using that and eliminate the piecing together. It is more expensive but you don't need to buy as much.

Keep quilting

ef

SaraSewing

I also take off the selvages for the above mentioned reasons. The only variation is that I don't "rip" them off. I rotary cut them for a clean edge.

Jim's Gem

I usually tear off my selvages but then use a min 5/8 in seam to make sure that if it got stretched, the stretch would be in the seam allowance, than I press the seam open

gcathie

ditto on cutting off the salvage....I don't tear...don't like the threads...

auntluc

I usually sew a 5/8" seam when joining the selvages together....then cut so I end up with a 1/4" seam.
The longarm quilter told me it was difficult to quilt thru the selvage edges and she prefers to have the selvages removed.

While we're on this subject, which way are your seams supposed to run? Up and down horizontal or across the quilt vertical.
I've heard different reasons from quilters as to which way it should be.

Cathe

Do it however you like.

I prefer to use one 40" wide piece in the middle, running the length, and then have panels on each side of that one rather than have a seam in the middle of the quilt.