Just got to thinking
 

When I was growing up, I was always told to either clip or remove the selvages from the fabric because when it was washed the selvages would shrink and draw up. Now, a really bunch of years later, I'm wondering that if we prewash the fabric and the selvage doesn't shrink or draw up, why are we still removing them? I think I'm missing something and an still removing them, but not sure why.

Because now it is a habit?? I prefer to leave the selvage on so that I have the manufacturer and fabric line names. I often seem to need 'just a bit more'.

My mother was a seamstress (I didn't have a 'bought' dress until I was 16) and she always removed the selvage before she folded and laid out her pattern.

It's been my experience that they often do shrink at a different rate than the rest of the fabric. It may not be a lot, but it is noticeable.

I've always heard that a selvage has many more threads in it and also may have different thread in them than is in the rest of the fabric. I don't know if that is true or not about the different threads.

The selvedge is woven differently -- that is why I cut it off. I don't like to take the selvedge off until I'm cutting the pieces of the quilt so I rarely have long pieces.

While I don't include the selvage edge in any of my quilts, I do keep the selvage on for as long as possible because it keeps at least one side of the fabric from raveling. Another reason to keep the selvage intact while that fabric is still in your stash is that it is printed with all the information you need to go in search of that fabric at a later date if you need more. I speak from experience!

I do not remove the selvage when I purchase fabric. I will save a sample of fabric with one complete printing of the info that I can take with me if needing to match the fabric or pick out another fabric for a project. I also like to keep a fabric journal where I record information about new fabric in my stash. I list the name of fabric, how much I purchased, what the fabric is made of, the price and where I bought it. I also list the pattern or project it was purchased for and source.

I find it fun to follow the fabric from purchase to completion of the project. Many times this info helps me decide if I want to use the fabric for things I want to sell and what to charge.

salvages are still removed because they are woven tighter than the body of the fabric- look differently, sew differently. you can always cut them off and save them for one of the popular (salvages projects) I generally cut mine at 1" widths and toss them into my rug hooking basket- then either use them for a rug or to wrap clothesline for a new basket project. people use them to make purses and even quilts/quilted projects.