Thread: How much selvage do you cut?

I cut off the minimum on the "blank" side - and work my way across the fabric. I like to leave the identifying selvage on the buk of the fabric as long as possible. when I get to that selvage, it ends up being the width it ends up

I do not deliberately cut a wide selvage for any of those selvage projects.

Hmmmn, I've seen cute projects using selveges but have never felt so inclined to save them for this purpose. I never thought of using them in the garden though. Good idea! Guess I will start saving them for that. I could have probably made many things out of them if I had saved them throughout my quilting lifetime LoL. You guys are so smart and thrifty.

I used to cut just the bare minimum and use it for string, then saw all the beautiful things to make with them!! Now I cut 3/4 to 1 1/2 inch strips. Got some great plans to use them someday!!!!

Originally Posted by SueSew

Ok, so if selvedges are no good for making garments, or curtains, or quilts, they are odd-looking and hard to sew through, and they have no 'give', then tell me again what I am supposed to do with them?
Thanks

It's one of the biggest ironies in quilt-land. People take those pieces that others say are unuable for your quilts and guess what they do with them? They make quilts and other gorgeous stuff! I've seen an amazing skirt, purses, coin purses, etc.

I leave approx 1/2 inch of the fabric showing & have made some great quilts, tote bags, mug rugs, etc, etc. Anything you can make with a piece of fabric you can make with the selvages & the finished articles are striking. I get many requests for them. I've seen garments that are cute but haven't done that myself.
There are a couple of books about using the selvages & much information on the Internet if you google Sewing with selvages.
It is light hearted & fun, getting enough selvages is very fast if you do a lot of sewing, sometimes friends give me their selvages.