bearisgray

I do not cut the selvages off of my fabric until the pieces cut from it are in actual use. Even when cutting strips width of fabric, I wait until my strips are cut before removing the selvages.

Because:

It minimizes fraying while the fabric is in my stack
I might have a clue as to who the manufacturer was

If/When I am ironing/pressing my fabric before cutting it (and after washing and drying it) and the selvages are puckering, I clip them the depth of the selvage (between 1/4 to 1/2 inch) so the body of the fabric lays flat

I have bath towels that the "trim" - or whatever it is - puckers badly - that is what some selvages do when/if used. One won't know what the fabric will do until it is washed - and I know that many people won't/don't wash their fabrics before cutting them.

So - I won't use selvages from an unwashed fabric - and I do not knowingly used unwashed fabrics (if they are washable).

I occasionally will use a selvage - if it is laying smoothly - on an outside edge piece or on a facing. But - it has to lay flat.