Why trim so much selvedge?
#1
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
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I was wondering why some people trim so much off of the selvedge edges. I rarely take off more than 1/2" as that is usually all that is necessary where the print stops and the weave gets so dense. I take off even less with batiks. Usually I cut my cross wise strips selvedge to selvedge and then trim off the little bit of selvedge from each end of the strip. I have seen members post quilts made entirely out of selvedge strips and it looks like some of these strips they are taking off up to 1 1/2" to 2" wide, maybe even more from their entire length of fabric. I will only cut selvedge from LOF when needing LOF to do sashings or borders but even then I rarely trim off more than 1/2". I can easily see where the weave is so much tighter in the selvedge and I am definitely lopping all that off. Is there a reason for removing more? Or is it just because you want to be able to use the selvedge strips in a strip quilt that you would take off more?
#2
I have noticed that too. I take off very little myself. Sometimes it's wider on one end but that seems to be because I squared up the fabric. I don't think it was on the bolt evenly. I try to cut as little as possible off. No sense in wasting it. I'm also always worried I won't have enough fabric to finish a project. Fabric is getting way too expensive to just hack away on it.
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 1,079
I have a friend who just finished a small quilt using the selvedge edge strips. She likes to have a wee bit of the fabric showing, not just the selvedges. Other than that, I don't have a clue. I don't save the selvedge edges.
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 17,068
Originally Posted by gale
I just cut where the weave gets normal. But with all the selvage savers recently, I've been cutting at 1" so I can someday pass on my selvages.
#9
If you ever decide to pass it on, please let me know! I make lots of selvedge bags and just LOVE them.
Originally Posted by gale
I just cut where the weave gets normal. But with all the selvage savers recently, I've been cutting at 1" so I can someday pass on my selvages.
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