How do you cut selvedges?
02-17-2014, 03:34 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The Finger Lakes of upstate NY
Posts: 3,466
Only in the last year or so have I started saving them. That said, some of the fabrics are much older - you know, the ones that hang in the stash for a while.
For me it depends on a couple of things: Do I need to get every inch out of it, or do I have some wiggle room, and how cute is the selvedge. Some of them are darling - or pretty. French General's are beautiful, obviously printed to make the most of it, with a pattern on the edge that can be up to 2" wide - although the flip side of that is that it leaves the fabric on the narrow side, and other Moda's have cute flowers, animals, etc.
If I have enough, I'll cut them as much as 1" wide.
For me it depends on a couple of things: Do I need to get every inch out of it, or do I have some wiggle room, and how cute is the selvedge. Some of them are darling - or pretty. French General's are beautiful, obviously printed to make the most of it, with a pattern on the edge that can be up to 2" wide - although the flip side of that is that it leaves the fabric on the narrow side, and other Moda's have cute flowers, animals, etc.
If I have enough, I'll cut them as much as 1" wide.
02-17-2014, 04:49 PM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,485
I don't cut my selvages off until I am ready to cut my project. I figure out how many pieces I can get out of about 41 in. of fabric and cut all my selvages at that size. If I'm doing strip piecing I cut to the most narrow fabric, that way when I sew the strips together they are all even. I hate it when sewing strips together and have one strip 41" maybe the next one 44 and then another some other width.
I always cut my selvages off before cutting out my pieces. you get a truer cut and don't have to straighten it up as much. Plus, it is hard to use 2 or 2 1/2" pieces of selvages.
I always cut my selvages off before cutting out my pieces. you get a truer cut and don't have to straighten it up as much. Plus, it is hard to use 2 or 2 1/2" pieces of selvages.
02-18-2014, 05:08 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,657
When I was growing up I was told to either remove the selvage or clip it about every 6" because it would shrink and distort the fabric. I prewash my fabric, but still remove the selvage close to the white and put them in my "donate to animal shelter container"
02-19-2014, 05:37 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 2,879
I wish I would remember to cut the selveges off long, but I leave them on till I use the fabric, and then cut them off when I cut the WOF I need. I like them on the larger pieces because if I need more, I can see where it came from.
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