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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

As others have said, cutting off the selvage is the best way to go. But, if you need the little extra, clip the selvage at intervals to eliminate shrinkage, etc. Good luck! Hoping to see a photo.

if you visit the joann's store, they have hidden somewhere backing fabric 110" wide in a limited number of prints and colors. the thing is you have to find where it is. it's $9.99 per yard, but with your coupon it's a steal. it's worth looking for. they don't always know where it is themselves.