I was wondering , when you piece the backing for a quilt ; should you trim off the selvage edge that goes down the center?

Either cut it off or clip the selvage at 4 or 5 inch intervals. When washed, it will shrink slightly more than the fabric and pucker the seam.

I always remove the selvage because it shrinks at a different rate than the rest of the fabric.

yes; otherwise it pulls; there is no give on the selvedge.

Yes!! Do a 1/2" seam, press open to reduce bulk. Keep the grain lines going the same directions so that you don't get surprises. HTH!

There should not be a seam down the center. You should always remove the selvedge.

I do remove my selvedges and often put a pieced strip into the center so it is not as obvious that I had to piece two lengths together to get the fit. That strip is usually right over center horizontally as I turn my fabric to get the 40 inch height (selvedge to selvedge) both above and below it.... Most of my quilts are close to 80 in length and around 65-70 in width, so 4 yards works really well for backing.

There is a way to piece so that there is no center seam, but if I remember correctly, you end up with two offset seams. I've never done it that way, becuase the middle seam/pieced part is now like a signature on my quilts!

I always tear it off.

My friend that taught me to quilt told me to always piece the back at least in thirds. Can't say that I always follow her advice!

I also piece in thirds

Many quilting books say to piece the backing horizontally to reduce strain on the seam. I clip the selvedge every couple inches on drapery panels or backing fabric. If you serged the edges together, the selvedge would be removed entirely. Piecing the backing has been done forever and I haven't seen a seam yet that has come apart, quilters know they have to make secure seams, no matter which way they go.

Carol J.

I'm a longarmer -- I'm working on a quilt right now with 3 seams in the back. The owner did not cut off the selvege and did 1/4" seams. The seams pulls as they say AND the seams will not stay flat. It causes "bumps" along the quilt and I have trouble keeping the machine on the straight and narrow. So -- save yourself and your longarmer a lotta grief and cut those babies off and do 1/2" seams -- and press the seams OPEN!

on edit: To explain --- I pressed the seams open before putting it on the machine --- but 1/4" seams do not seem to want to stay open. :) And I used starch, too!!!