Help with Selvages Please
 

I'm working on a fabric panel that will be a wall hanging. It measures approximately 33 inches wide by 39 inches high, without borders or binding. The borders and binding will add about 5 inches all the way around, so finished size will be about 38" W X 44" H. I'm using 80/20 batting, so it's not thick or heavy.

The selvages are at the top and bottom of the panel, going crosswise of the panel when it will be hung.

Would it be wise to turn the backing fabric so the selvages are going top to bottom (just the opposite of the front panel) to avoid possible stretching issues when hanging it?

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Thanks!
Helen

Cut the selvages off. They can shrink differently than the rest of the fabric - your piece will have plenty of stability if the backing is cut on the straight of grain. Are you planning on quilting it or tying it? Something else??

I agree, cut all selvages off, even if you don't intend to wash the piece.

Yes, I know to cut the selvages off, and all the fabrics have already been washed & dried, but what I'm asking is that since the selvages go from side to side on the panel, would it be wise to turn the backing in the opposite direction to avoid stretching issues when hanging. I'm thinking that if I hang the finished quilt with both the front panel and backing fabric selvages going across the top and bottom, side to side, it's surely going to stretch out of shape, no matter how much quilting I do on it?

I've already done some Trapunto? on the deer, tree trunk on the left and on the grass the deer are standing in by adding two layers of batting and a piece of backing fabric behind them, then stitching around them and in any detail areas to define the shapes. It looks so awesome! Still thinking on what I'll do with the remaining background areas.

if your backing is cut on the straight of grain, it'll be fine. If your stitching is going thru the backing, that'll give it stability. Lengthwise grain is sturdier than cross-wise grain

Helen,
Try using twill tape along the seam allowance on the wrong side of your quilt top before you quilt it. I buy it at Joanns in the hem tape/blanket binding display. The color doesn't much matter because it will fall within the seam allowance. Twill tape has no stretch or give and will stabilize those cross-grain sides for a wall hanging panel.

I apply it to the wrong side as below.

Jan in VA

Is there a reason you're saving the selvages?

Thanks, Jan. Great idea!

Well, the grain runs east/west on the quilt panel front, (not sure why they print them this way, other than to utilize the largest print area of the panel as possible) so I placed the backing fabric north/south grain. I did add the twill tape and it seems to do a great job. I also did quite a bit of quilting, and it's to be a wall quilt, so the hanging sleeve will go full width and will most likely help with any possible stretching, too. I think it will be just fine.

Down to just the binding left to do...WOOT! WOOT!

GrannieAnnie,

I'm not saving the selvages. I guess I shouldn't have used that word when trying to explain what I was asking, since almost everyone who replied seemed to focus on that word. lol

lovely Jan and her lovely pictures! !