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MUST you cut off the selvage? I can't believe it never occurred to me to wonder!
VolcanoMouse FL Member since 11/12/10 Posts: 33	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/13/12 8:14 PM A friend casually mentioned to me that she always cuts off her selvages for fear that 1. they'll show if she stitches wrong, or 2. they'll warp in the wash. This stunned me: I've been leaving me selvages on-- and in many cases blessing them where they saved me the effort of finishing a seam-- since I started sewing. Oh lord. Have I been Doing It Totally Wrong? I tried to Google the question, but most of what I found came from quilting forums. Is the answer the same for garment making?
marec   Intermediate OR USA Member since 5/11/08 Posts: 3538	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/13/12 8:18 PM You are the designer and get to decide what to do with the selvage. I used the selvage in this jacket as a feature on the front jacket Some people save cool looking selvage and use as trim!! ------ my blog: http://kf-biblioblog.blogspot.com/ Sewing through my pattern stash-125 completed.
Elona   Advanced CA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7401	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 7/13/12 9:24 PM I always pre-wash my fabrics. That way, if the selvedge (or anything else) is going to misbehave, I know it before cutting into the fabric. That said, I think there may have been five times in the decades I've been sewing when the selvedge went weird, and on those occasions, I either clipped it to release the tension--or just cut if off. If your selvedges haven't been giving you any trouble, then you're not doing anything wrong (although, as I say, I do favor pre-washing to eliminate surprises).
CRUST Intermediate Member since 3/21/12 Posts: 87	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/13/12 9:31 PM I have some vintage reproduction jeans with retained outseam selvedge and fairly narrow seam allowances that, with the unsaforized cotton, seem to have contributed to the legs twisting clockwise. I like it.
Vintage Joan Intermediate Member since 7/16/07 Posts: 9220	Login to reply to this post In reply to VolcanoMouse << 2 members like this. Date: 7/13/12 9:32 PM Quote: Have I been Doing It Totally Wrong? No. I once posted on this site that I had cut off my selvages for some reason, and at least one person said, "Why would you do that?" I don't cut off the selvages, but I try not to include any selvage fabric in my cut-out pieces, because they're a different weight than the rest of the fabric, and often more tightly stitched. I have sometimes lapped over into the selvage a tiny bit when I've been short of fabric, but as long as that little bit isn't as wide as a seam (i.e. won't accidentally be seen peeking out of a seam in the finished garment), it's fine. -- Edited on 7/13/12 9:37 PM -- ------ my shield and my very great reward (Gen. 15:1) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ http://clearingclearing.weebly.com/
heathergwo Advanced Beginner CA USA Member since 11/14/11 Posts: 766	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 7/13/12 9:37 PM I agree with the others. I've NEVER cut off my selvages and never even thought about doing so. Why would you??? And like Vintage Joan, I've been thankful they are there a time or two as that last few millimeters allowed me to fully cut out a pattern piece knowing taht the selvege would be in the seam allowance and not ruin the garment. ------ Brother Innovis 1250D Singer Curvy 8763 Brother 1034D Janome 385.19606 Brother 2340CV
sings2high   Expert/Couture NJ USA Member since 11/25/11 Posts: 146	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/13/12 9:50 PM I always prewash my fabric and I used to leave the selvage on, until the day a blouse that was selvage self-faced and fused down the front shrank progressively and unevenly, leaving me with a nasty looking mess down the front and the blouse was completely unwearable. So, yes, you can leave the selvage on, and most of the time it won't matter at all. But don't take the chance on really expensive fabric or if it's something that you are pretty sure you'll want to wear for a decade or so. ------ Measure twice, cut once.
Scrnme007   Beginner USA Member since 4/5/11 Posts: 60	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/14/12 0:32 AM I do remember something about removing selvages in quilting, but in garment sewing I just avoid the selvage when cutting out the pattern pieces. Unfortunately, I too Have been short fabric and if I absolutely had too I'd use the selvage. It actually worked to my advantage when I had to cut my waistband along the edge .... I didn't have to finish that edge! But now I'm going to investigate further... it's probably better to take off the selvage so the edge weave isn't tighter than the core fabric. Thanks for the reminder! ------ SewWannabe-SewReady
Lena Merrin Expert/Couture AUSTRALIA Member since 2/5/09 Posts: 477	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 7/14/12 2:26 AM The only time I cut off the selvage is when I am working with some knits - the selvage gathers the fabric up. ------ www.thesewingspace.com
CM_Sews Intermediate CA USA Member since 9/18/04 Posts: 1476	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 7/14/12 3:53 AM In quilting, you want to cut off the selvedges because they are such a tight weave (compared to the rest of the fabric) that they would be difficult to quilt through, especially if you are quilting by hand. In garment sewing, the selvedges can shrink differently than the rest of the fabric. I've prewashed and had selvedges that shrunk up smaller, "gathering" the edge of the fabric, and I've also had "wavy" selvedges that shrank less than the rest of the fabric, perhaps because the weave was more dense. If the selvedges are stable after prewashing, I may include them in a garment, depending on how the pattern pieces fit on the fabric. There are no sewing police, so do whatever works for you. On the other hand, be aware that there is a chance you could have problems. CMC

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