Tips on cutting selvage
 

I am working on piecing the back for my latest quilt. I am needing 122" x 122" so I have to piece. Do you guys have any tips on cutting the selvage off the long lengths of fabric? I have 4 yard lengths and am not looking forward to cutting those selvages.

I tear it.

Sorry, meyert...suck it up. LOL
I did just that yesterday and my selvage was no longer straight because I had
starched my fabric. So much fun. ;-) As you can see, I survived. So will you. :)

You can do it. Go!!!

When I use to make large quilts, I always ripped it.

Make sure to take your time as you cut it off. ;)

ha ha you made me laugh Suck it up buttercup!! I was hoping that someone had a magic trick

I wish I had one. My advice...make sure your table is at the right height and take a break
in between. Got a sore back after cutting on a low table. Have fun! :)

I've torn them too and not had too big of an issue with stretch. And try to position those on the outside of your quilt sandwich. The ones that happen to be on inside seams, I would consider doing a larger seam (maybe even up to 1/2 inch?)

I sew the 2 sections together first with a BIG--prolly about an inch seam. Then I trim it off. Actually I have left on on a few times and just snipped every couple of inches if it seems puckery.

I have my own HQ16 and am a charity quilter. I stitch the seam to one side on my regular sewing machine. This makes sure it does not twist on the frame. The stitching will show on the back but that does not bother me at all. I doubt it will other the recipient either.

I am sure the quilt police would stab themselves in their eyes if they saw me do this. My goal is a very well constructed quilt that can withstand many washings and much use.

I do any trimming for my sewing on my kitchen counter which is a perfect height for me.

I tear it off. Hold the fabric and rip about 12", stop and repeat. I've had no problem with fabric distortion. No way I'd spend time cutting off that long a selvedge with scissors or cutter.

Not sure it's a shortcut, but I mark the line with a purple marker & then cut with shears. It's going to be enclosed in the binding anyways so if there's some tiny hesitation marks they'll never show.

This did cross my mind. I think it would be easier to cut after the sewing.

I did one 4 yard length that was plaid.. and used my scissors and cut on one of the stripes of the plaid (used that as a line to follow and cut on) That worked pretty good

Now I have to do 2 more lengths of solid fabric.. so there will not be a line to follow. Unless I draw one like Bree123 suggested

I either cut them off with my scissors or a little at a time with the cutter.

Well I did it! I ripped the selvages off. I was afraid - not sure why. But the fabric ripped easily and wonderfully. I am glad I asked. Thank you!

cut it? yikes. I tore and then couldn't stand the strings so tried to trim it and ended up cutting my thumb. Good luck.

Glad to hear you had success ripping. That is what I was going to suggest as well as the others. For short lengths, I'll cut but those long lengths..........rip 'em!

I tear mine too.

I sew same as Tartan but cut off at 1/4" normal seam allowance. The ripping frightens me.

I'm like the others who leave it on, sewing with a larger than normal seam and then trim if necessary. For piecing backs, I normally just press the seams open, esp. if I have made a 1/2" or larger seam.

I just recently ripped for the first time and was amazed by how straight it was! Makes it so much easier when doing the backings!

I also tear and have never had a problem. If I don't like the way the torn edges look, I iron them.

I, too, tear the selvedge with no problem.

I tear VERY SLOWLY

I heard recently on a video clip that tearing slowly causes more distortion. I wouldn't know by experience, but just thought I'd throw that thought in there.

If you leave the selvage on, you must clip it every so often. When washed, they sometimes tighten up and you can't go back and clip.

To me the thing that works best is just tearing it. You might have some extra threads hanging about, but you know you have a straight edge by tearing. The quilt teacher in my very first quilt class that I took, told us to tear it. It was a little disconcerting at first, but it works.

Just rip it, I do it all the time

Option 1: Fold your fabric evenly and use your rotary cutter. Option 2: Put a length of your fabric (one layer) on your mat and use the rotary cutter to do the edge, moving it as necessary (just like you would trim a quilt edge prior to binding).

I rip. It feels so good!

Tearing is the way to go if you need to make long cuts. If I'm making a quilt back using a single extra wide piece of backing fabric, I will not only tear with the grain (to get the width or remove selvages), but I will tear across the grain as well to get the proper length. I've never had a problem with tearing causing any distortion on cotton fabric.

Rob

I also tear it...

I've folded it in fourths and cut with a 60mm rotary cutter. I worry about runs (especially in dark fabric) when I tear - I've had it happen.

I use a rotary cutter and save it. Some day I might make a selvage quilt.

I fold the fabric into a manageable size; so for a yard, I fold it in half lengthwise on the selvage, then pin the fabric and then line up a ruler up to an inch from the edge of the selvage, I then use a rotary cutter. if the fabric is more than a yard, make sure that the fold is no more than 24" so that it is manageable to use a 24" ruler. Any longer and it's bound to wiggle thus giving an uneven edge.

I prefer to tear long pieces of fabric -- borders, binding, backing. For the backing, I will also tear from selvage to selvage, though some fabrics do not like to be torn that way. That way I am sure of getting them straight of grain. However, I have been known to leave the selvages on as long as they are wholly encased in the seam. Since I prewash my fabrics, I know if the selvages are going to shrink (and I have only had one piece of JAF where the selvages shrank). I know - heresy but the quilt police would have to open up the quilt to find the selvages. :)

If you own a serger try removing the thread and use the serger to cut the selvage off.

cmquilter

I rip. Get a straight on grain seam.

Add me to the ranks of rippers.... otherwise I serge if just joining strips together.

After reading everyone's posts I thought I was the only one to do it this way!!