I usually rip the selveges off, but if I don't, I sew them together in a wide seam and trim both selveges at once.

That's what I do as well....

I have always cut off the selvages and plan to continue doing that. However I recently longarmed a quilt for the owner of a LQS, and she left the selvages on! She did use a very wide seam allowance. I figure this lady has much more experience in quilt making than I do, so I didn't question her on this. (But I'm going to continue to cut off my selvages.)

My boss (our LQS owner) also longarms quilts. Often we have to piece the backings for her. She has me cut off the selvages with the rotary cutter and 24" ruler BEFORE seaming them. I've always cut my selvages off, just sometimes after I seam the back!

I never leave the selvages on...... as stated above.. cut or tear..... seems more important on long/large pieces than on smaller in my experiences

I've left the selvages on before and really did not like the results even though I sewed a wide seam. When I cut selvages off of long yardage I lay the fold of the fabric on a straight line and fold the yardage over itself until I have a manageable length that I can then lay a ruler horizontal and cut the selvage off.

As a longarm quilter I always prefer the selvage is removed. It can cause puckers in the backing as the selvage does not stretch like the rest of the fabric. After going to all the work of piecing a king size quilt why take a short cut now when you may live to regret it later.

I usually just snip and rip. If you don't like that method make a really wide seam (1") and then trim the selvages off leaving a 1/2". Everyone is right, the selvages are more tightly woven than the rest of the fabric and once the quilt is washed you most likely will notice puckering. I haven't read in any book where they were left on.

OMGoodness this is me to be sure, never nevr leave the selvages on and always rip them off.

I like the idea of sewing first then trimming the selvage. I have been trimming then sewing. This sounds better. Always get a good idea each time I log on.