I have saved selvages for a while as I have seen some neat projects made with them. So far I have made a pincushion and used them to make fabrics for my art quilting. I do have plans for other projects. I try to keep the selvages 1/2" to 3/4".

When I cut off my selvages, I usually leave almost a 1/4 inch of white on the fabric I will be using. If the printing goes to the edge, I just cut off the very edge where the fabric is thicker and seems to want to shrink. If making binding, I can leave almost all of the white on, and put that where it will be folded over and covered.

Do I save what's left. Of course! LOL Those are strings for gardening, to hold up my bird feeder and fly trap, to tie up morning glories, to tie up packages and bags of batting. They are very strong. I waste very little, but I try to keep things organized so I know where to find it and it doesn't look like a mess.
When the season is over they can go out with the greenery.

I would love them also, and would gladly pay postage also. I have been saving them now for about a year and would like to make a quilt from them.
Also, I save the labels from clothing. Been doing this for about 20 years to make a quilt. Almost have enough for a king sized. Would love it if you would save these for me also. And again would happily pay the postage.
Thank you!!!
Karen

I started saving selvages about three years ago....have made my share of "selvage items".....last year I gave away a bunch for cost of postage......BUT not sure if out of habit or because they are so cute, I still save the silly things. I try to leave a 1/2" to 1/4" piece of the main fabric to show on the primary piece. I cut the unprinted side and save for packages, plants, etc. QuiltE, if you'd like some to get you started (kind of like starter yeast)let me know and I'll send a few your way......saving them becomes addictive and once you start, I guarantee, you'll never be able to throw any away again without a twinge of betrayal....HeeHee!

Too funny, wendiq, and unlike starter yeast you don't have to fuss with it on the kitchen counter. They grow on their own in a plastic sack, empty bin, where ever!!

and there is probably more that i didn't remember/think of yet. brain needs more green/ginseng tea before proper functiong status achieved on monday mornings

sad to say I've been throwing them away up until now and I'm trading with a lady on the board, but since I buy fabric every week I'm going to make me some chickens, thanks for the link

I have made some tiny purses, mug rugs, and ties out of the selvages. I also have a large plastic jar full of them and it makes a colorful decoration in my sewing room.

WendiQ ... nope! Not going to lure me into this!!! I'm just going to be keeping mine so I know what I have used ... when I say, darn, wish I had more! Then no doubt, I will moan and groan and whine and whimper because I can't find anymore. So not sure if there's any sense for me to keep them, then!! :D As for the friendship starter, if you could figure a way to get it to me, I would be delighted. :D Instead .......... I'll let you send the selvages to OKSGlad ... she has lots of space for them to go forth and multiply!!!!! :

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How about this??? It's not mine - found it online. Now this is something you can do with selveges! Isn't is gorgeous??!??

Jane

lots of fun ideas here! jc-- neat quilt pic!

:)

I see people on here looking for them...so started sticking my in a bin...then every once in a while I give them away...or if I am selling my fabrics I have put them on the list.

Here are pics of the first selvege quilt I made and a closeup of the quilting I did on it. I used a piece of muslin for the foundation fabric to sew the strips onto. Using them as leaders and enders, eventually, I had enough blocks done for a throw size quilt. Isn't it neat how most of our quilt pictures have 'feet'. :-)

Very clever setting, SandyinZ4. Adding the nonwhite selvage takes some of the white brightness from block and makes it more interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I am saving selvages. i am working on a quilt made with them, and also using them in smaller projects like Christmas stockings and pot holders. I like to have them about an inch wide. I can use narrower, but not less than about 3/4" makes them to hard to get sewn down if they are too narrow

I love the way this one is set. havent seen that setting before

Sandy, love that quilt!!!!

This selvage quilt is my own design. It was my second time of trying QAYG but I did it in sections instead of separate blocks.Still not sure I much care for QAYG..unless it is sew and flip way.

I save them sometimes and friends have saved them for me too. I started a locker hooked rug using them but I have a long way to go for it to be big enough to use as I don't work on it very often and find that short pieces don't work very well. The other thing I noticed is that a lot of them are white or nearly so that my rug is turning out pretty light colored. I didn't read thru all 10 pages so someone else may have mentioned using them for this purpose too.

I make quilts out of selvages because that is the material I have been given; you know, "someone's junk is someone else's treasure," sort of thing. I have narrowed the projects down to two different foundations. The first is merely sew right on to the batting. The other is to lay out on fusible interfacing and press on; then sew. This REALY speeds things up! and they sew so nice and crisp looking. The author of this tutorial, http://darlee.ca/Look-No-Pins.html says, "Look, no pins" but I never used pins on any of my selvage sewing; I am not real precise but I like the interfacing method for the neatness and making it more of a production line process for speed. Also, she irons with some open interfacing exposed; I never do this because with the distractions I have, "careful" isn't in my vocabulary! Another thing, seems to me all the selvage quilts on line look alike. . .Probably because I did them, mine seem different and original; maybe because not as much red or maybe it is quilts are like our children and we see them as totally unique and the cutest babies ever!

Here is a link I saw while browsing through the old boards here and would be great for selvages. There is even a freedownloadable pattern/directions! The tutorial is confusing since she uses pink and purple solids for the white in the directions but once you realize that it is a great pattern presentation -- and free! http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/...-my-field.html

YoBroSew ... Thanks for the info and links.
Now, please do show us some pics of your selvage quilts!

Do you know off hand the best size pic to post; saw somewhere around the halls of this place but can't remember which door the info is behind...

I just post the pics I have, as they are ... haven't had to resize, so I can't answer your question.
Try them the way they are and see how that works.

I save them when I think of it.....someday I will make something clever with them.....so many ideas of items made with them...I have a big box full...yeah and still growing!!!

OK. I hope this isn't overkill or way too big or much.

This is just a top, a very worn out top as got put to use before got quilted. First pic is on bed (a bit sloppily) just to show. Second is where it is used; a part of the closet turned into a reading nook. (gonna post these first to see how big/small for the rest.
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YoBroSew ... Size looks fine to me ... and wow, what a lot of selvages and sewing!
Look forward to seeing more of your selvage creations.

HuntAnnette ... now there's some inspiration for your Selvage Stash! :D

OK. A big big AND blury! Drats! Here are some squares from the quilt; you can see their is a lot of randomness. I had to really focus in not getting lost in trying to organize and plan because if I allowed myself to coordinate, with the hodgepodge of selvages, I would still be planning. I get lost in planning. There is everything imaginable for print designs; french fries to Elvis to Santa Clause to flowers to animals. A lot of the squares the kids did as they walked by the sewing machine. So, this was not an endeavor taken seriously and actually has a very amateurish feel to it that makes it authentically a "happy blanket" vs a quilt. Here are some close up squares. This was not made with the interfacing. AND I really was clueless as to anything quilting. My awesome, most wonderful SIL who is an artist with her quilts passed on her selvages when I said upon seeing a selvage quilt (looks stunning and professional; crisp), "Now, I could do that." Whenever I would go to her house I would fondle her stash as I have always had a love afair with fabrics. I have moved into paper piecing some now but will keep using the selvages, even in the pp'ing, as it is THERE to be used and I don't have to purchase any fabric. (I am afraid I would get stuck in decision mode if I planned colors!) I am so grateful to my SIL for not laughing at my wanting-but-never-doing for so many years.
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They make pretty rugs. Someone at my LQS has one up there that they made. I think it is hooked-kind of looks like crocheted coils.

The only other one I have is one where son made about half the blocks and I only have four rows quilted. I don't even, horrors, use a quilting foot; just randomly wave across the row. Again, this is not one with the fusible interfacing so not crisp but most of the blocks were done three years ago by son; he just wants his blanket done!

I totally get how this is not for most quilters and I am afraid my work may validate the naysayers reasons for not engaging with these scraps. Not everyone's need be so "unpressed" looking. Unfortunately, I do not have any of the more finessed ones to take pics of. :(

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Great that your kids have worked with you on these ... makes them a treasure of their own because of the group effort!

I make purses out of the salvages. I save them and just started saving christmas ones. I cut off at least 1/2 to 3/4 inch of fabric with the salvage. Don't throw them away.

I've been saving mine to cover the cushion on my sewing stool., but need more. DD having been saving for me also. My dog chewed the corners off and it looks pretty ratty. Love the idea of using fusible to put them together. Thanks for the tip.

As much as I am frugal and inclined to hoard, I don't save selvages (for sewing anyway). I do use them in our garden, but items made from them just don't seem to appeal to me. I do however save other things for quilts and waggas (Aussie quilts) and bags - just not selvages.

I never had a use for them. Then one day I needed a book and posted here on QB for it. GREYHOUND MOM offered to send me the book if I would just save her my selvages. The book arrived at my door a few days later. I starting saving selvages that day and have since sent her two boxes of them and close to having enough for a third box. I was so taken back by her trust and kindness that I will forever save her my selvages. A good friend of mine was ready to make the quilt from the book and borrowed it. She told me she was finished with it and would bring it back next time we met. She went on vacation and was feeling bad when she came home and entered the hospital and died two days later. I didn't have the heart to ask for it from her family. A beautiful quilt that she handmade and my wife had quilted for her covered her casket.

The question that begs to be asked ........ what is the difference between quilts and waggas?
Please? and Thanks!

What colors of selvages would you like? I have some nice ones that I held back from the "utility quilts" of the kiddos and enough to get your seat done. Most are a bit wider so project will go faster. I would love to pay my SIL's generosity forward. pm me if would like. (Smoke and animal free home if that an issue).

[QUOTE=QuiltE;6391574]The question that begs to be asked ........ what is the difference between quilts and waggas?
Please? and Thanks![/QUOTE
What other things you save? And yes, I am curios about the finer differences between quilts and wages. Thanks for sharing.

Greyhound mom, if you are reading, how about pics of what you do with the selvages???

Would love to see some of purses????