ManiacQuilter2

I cut off the bare minimum so I can always find the fabric if I have to buy more.

karate lady

I ususally cut leaving some of the fabric pattern. Then each year at the local quilt show I donate them at the door to be used by whoever wants them..

justflyingin

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.

Maire

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.

Sewnoma

For me they just sort of end up whatever size they end up.

I take the really narrow ones (like in the picture) and braid them, then braid the braids, then braid THOSE braids, then tie knots into it and give it to my dogs to fight over. It's so cute, they know when they see me braiding and knotting I'm making them a toy and they get all excited about it (even though they have a half-dozen at a time, at least, the NEW one is the exciting one). I also use them as string to play with the cats, and I have a jar of them set aside that I use as "ribbon" when I'm wrapping hand-made gifts. I like the garden ties idea too but we can't seem to get a garden going at this house!

The wider ones that have a little fabric left on them, in the past have often ended up in crazy quilts, but I've started saving them to the side lately; I have in mind trying those out for those fabric-wrapped rope bowls I've seen people making.

AZ Jane

I guess I'm the odd man out. I do not cut the selvedges off first. I cut them off after I have cut my WOF, so all I have a little trims.

wendiq

I usually cut a 1/2" of fabric above the printed selvage.

wendiq

I should have added that I cut the minimum of the unprinted side and use as ties.......I usually give all my selvages away. The recipient can do what they want with them. I, personally, have made a purse/tote, potholders, pincushions, and more that I can't remember. They are fun to work with and quilter's love the things made as gifts!

Mariposa

I cut about 1/2" above, to show some of the color of fabric. For those, I am saving to make some smaller items like pot holders, journal covers, etc. Others I use as ties in the garden.

glasqlts

I do something different. cut 1/2 inch off and slip knot them end to end to crochet into rag rugs. My guild friends save theirs for me too, or I make a "trash" run at the end of the day!