The very first class I took, the instructor said to cut the selvages before cutting, so they are not measured into the strips or cuts of fabric.

So I just wondered if anyone else had heard that..

I cut the selvage off along with 1 to 2" and make selvage scrappy quilts with them. My sister saves her selvages for me. They make good durable quilts for camping and kids. Selvages are tight weave and can handle loads of washing.

my personal rule is "don't cut until you need to"

I do the same as most - cut the selvage off after I start piecing.

What an awesome idea, I hated just tossing them.. I usually kept them until I was done with the quilt. Once I used them to make a label on the back..

Same here. :)

Me too, cut as I piece them. Like someone said, don't cut until I have to.

I wait to cut until I need to. There are times that you may just need that little bit to get your cuts right/have enough material and you're sewing just against the selvages inside edge and part of it actually ends up in our 1/4 inch.


Wow three Western Wa people in a row answering this post - what are the chances!!

I cut the selvages off first but I am collecting them to make a selvage quilt and don't want to have 2" pieces to work with.

It depends.

If I want to make something out of the salvage, then I cut it off first; otherwise, I cut it afterwards.

http://www.selvagequilts.com/

NAYY