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.