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.

My LQS says not to cut them off the backing that it helps to stabilize the backing. Just makes it stronger. But then again, they only sell the highest quality quilting fabric. Guess maybe that doesn't shrink anymore.

I also leave it on until I cut the fabric strips but then cut off the selvage edge completely before cross cutting the pieces. I like the mfg info for future reference on the pieces in my stash.

I never removed my selvages. I like having them on in case I run short of the fabric !!

Depends on what the selvage does after it has been washed.

Once I needed a very small piece of material for an applique. I was not careful enough cutting it out along the salvage and accidentally left a small amount of salvage material on the piece. I never caught it until I was hand quilting around the applique. It definitely caught my eye as the weave was much different in that area. Thank goodness it was very small and could not be detected unless you were working closely in the spot. I always cut the salvage off as I am using the material but now carefully check to be sure I have removed a sufficient amount.

I leave the selvedge on the fabric as long as I can. It gives me a point of reference for setting a straight line and knowing where the cross grain vs length grain is. I never leave the selvedge on a piece that is going into a garment or quilt however.

If the salvage is the same color and not noticeable I do not bother to cut It off. However, if it is white or definitely not the same as the quilt fabric, it could possibly show at some time and then I am sure to clip it. However, I never have had a problem with unusual shrinkage. Seems to me like this is one of those things that we do because it was always done that way. That happens to me a lot.

I find that especially true when I decide to take a class and find out how to do something completely different than the method I had always used. Funny how the new way works much better and Is faster.

I leave the selvage on while I'm slicing strips in case I need that bit of extra at the end. My philosophy is I'm making quilts, an art form of thriftiness. When I at times use part of the selvage, it adds authenticity. Even if the selvage shows occasionally, it adds some interest.

When I made clothes I didn't remove the selvage but was careful not to use them in the garment. Later when I learned to quilt I always read to remove salvages but not why.

I remove my selvages but I save them until I finish the quilt. I often change the quilt as I am making it and then I need more fabric. It makes it so much easier to hunt down the fabric 2 years later when I finally finish the quilt.

I leave selvedges on, and I'm a pre-washer. So my stash is full of pre-washed fabrics with selvedges intact. I trim them off when I'm cutting fabric for a quilt, but that means I rarely have long selvedges, just lots of little shorties. I throw them into my crazy quilt bin.

I also leave mine on until I'm cutting the fabric for a project - then I just do a little snip at the end right below the selvage and rip it - it comes off straight every time. I save it - comes in handy when tying bundles, etc. But I like the idea of keeping it for rag rugs.

I always remove the selvages and now I am cutting them 1.5 inches wide and saving to make a string quilt.

It's interesting that most quilters feel selvages must be removed, but other quilters save them and make entire quilts out of them. I remove them because I think most of them are ugly. I'd leave one if I were certain it would be in a seam allowance and I needed the extra fabric.

I cut mine off and tonight I had to cut one off because it was woven so tightly that it distorted the fabric print that I needed to use. After cutting, a quick touch of the iron and the fabric laid the way it was supposed to.

I leave mt selvage on until I HAVE to cut it off, that way I know where the straight of grain is and when I cut it off I leave a bit of the actual fabric on it...someday I'll make one of those selvage quilts, ya just never know.