osewme

Do you always cut off your selvage? Have you ever left it on or only cut off about 1/2 of it? If so, what does it do to your quilt? I have a limited amount of backing fabric for a quilt I'm making & feel like I need every square inch to make it work. I know I could piece the back with some other fabrics but was really not wanting to do that unless I absolutely have to. Thanks for the info in advance.

Fabric Galore

The selvage doesn't shrink at the same rate as the fabric and this could cause some puckering. For this reason I normally trim it off but if I did leave the selvage on the fabric, I would snip it so it would have more give. I can sympathize with you because I have been in the same boat.

Iceblossom

It depends, if a selvedge is small and smooth I'll leave it in gratefully as help for my backing seams after I've prewashed and pressed the fabric. Basically, if I can't feel it I treat it like it's not there, just any like any cut edge. I've had to piece with this concept too, I consider it non-ideal but doable.

If it's wide and rough I'll cut it off. If it's tight and ripples the fabric, I cut it off narrow or wide.

If you are the one who will be doing the quilting, it's up to you. If you have someone doing it for you, you might ask them.

dunster

I always cut it off because of the tighter weave. But I once quilted some charity quilts for the owner of a quilt shop. She is a very prolific quilter, and does excellent work, so I was surprised to see that she left the selvages on when piecing the back of the quilt.

juliasb

The salvages edges on both sides have a tighter weave and both need to be removed. I personally go as close as possible when cutting off the salvages. I have been saving them lately to make a quilted bag using the salvage edges. So in that respect I have been cutting a bit more away. In your case since you are running tight on the fabric I would still cut the salvages away closely.

bearisgray

If - after the fabric has been washed/soaked in hot water and dried - the selvage lays nice and smooth - I would consider leaving it on.

If it feels "noticeable"or has shrunk - I would cut it off.

Jordan

I always cut off my selvage as it will pucker up and not lay flat after washing your quilt.

Tartan

I have left the selvages on a wide back until the quilt was all quilted and then I trimmed the edges. I have also purposely used the selvage edges on the outside of wide borders on a top. It prevents the edges from fraying until I am ready to finish the quilt. The selvedge is woven tighter so I don’t like to include it in any piecing.

Jingle

I always cut off the selvages.

cashs_mom

This is what I'd do ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^