What's A Selvedge?

What's A Selvedge?

Selvedges (British English) or Selvages (US English)?

Obs for me they'll always be selvedges but what exactly is a selvedge?

Why Is It Called A Selvedge?

The term selvedge comes from self-edge and has been used since the 16th century.  It's the finished edge of the fabric that stops the edges fraying.  It runs parallel to the warp threads down the length of the fabric and is created by the weft threads turning back on themselves at the end of each row; a natural part of the weaving process.

Why Don't We Normally Use Our Selvedges?

1: On one edge of the fabric selvedges are usually white and don't contain the fabric's colour or design so are of no use alongside the main print;

2: Selvedges are often thicker and heavier than the main fabric; this can sometimes make them difficult to sew through; and
3: Even if hidden within a hem or seam, selvedges don't always behave the same as the rest of the fabric during washing, they may shrink less and can cause warping.

What Can We Learn From A Selvedge?

Designer, collection and manufacturer information, etc, is displayed on the white selvedge edge in increasingly more and more imaginative ways, including adding licensing info, messages and more.  Here're some examples:

A row of coloured dots shows all required colours have been included during the manufacturing process.  Sometimes symbols appropriate to the fabric collection are used instead of dots - in the pic above as well as dots we have planets, clouds, snowmen and hearts.

Cotton + Steel share lots of info on their selvedges including the season/year.

The above selvedges carry warnings and licensing info.  Licensing info on fabric is something to be aware of if you're considering selling items you make - though you can give items made with licensed fabric as gifts you shouldn't sell items that you make.  I'm aware there's a lot of debate out there on the internet as to whether or not this licensing agreement is still legal once the seller, who has entered into the licensing agreement, has sold the fabric on to the consumer as the consumer hasn't signed any agreement with the owner of the image.  I've spoken with an Intellectual Property Lawyer and he told me you must not sell anything made with licensed fabrics.  I asked him about what the position would be if something was made from a fat quarter that didn't have the selvedge info on it and he said you'd still be liable as the onus is on you, as the maker,  to check whether you can sell a fabric before doing so.  Personally, I'm just not prepared to run the risk of any legal battles so I'm taking his advice and steering clear of this hornets' nest!

And finally, some selvedges tell you the fabric content and where the fabric was manufactured.

Waste Not Want Not - Selvage Along 2015

These days quilters and sewists are eager to use their selvedges in new and inventive ways.  Keen to recycle, upcycle and avoid wastage we're always looking to find useful and decorative uses for these end scraps. 

Do you save your selvedges?  If you do why not join in the Selvage Along hosted by Jess @Quilty Habit and Renee @Quilts of a Feather.  Intros to the Selvage Along started last Monday and you can click through to the intro posts here and here.  Even if you don't have any selvedges at the moment the Selvage Along runs through to 21st September so, no excuses, start saving your selvedges.

There's a link up on Jess and Renee's blogs today to share pics of our selvedges and how we store them, you can share pics on Instagram too using #selvagealong.

How I Store My Selvedges

Here's my selvedge basket.

I store my selvedges in zip-loc bags divided by colour.

How do you store yours?

How To Make Selvedge Fabric
Click the image below to find out how I make Selvedge Fabric and on 10 August I'll be sharing with you how to make a Selvedge Zippy Pouch, just like this laptop case.




Selvage Along 2015 Schedule
For lots more selvedge fabric and project tutes check out the full Selvage Along Schedule:

20 July - Intro posts @Quilty Habit and @Quilts of a Feather
24 July - Link up your selvedge pics @Quilty Habit and @Quilts of a Feather
27 July - Selvedge Strip Pillow Tute by Jess @Quilty Habit
3 August - Anna Maria Horner Selvedge Feathers Tute by Renee @Quilts of a Feather
10 August - Selvedge Zippy Pouch Tute by Chris @made by ChrissieD
and a midway/check-in linky @Quilty Habit and @Quilts of a Feather
17 August - Selvedge Binding Tute by Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
24 August - Project by Vera @Negligent Style
31 August - Project by Jess @Elven Garden Quilts
14 September - Tute round up on @Quilty Habit and @Quilts of a Feather
21 September - Last linky party - link up all your selvedge projects! @Quilty Habit and @Quilts of a Feather


I'm excited to find out how others store their selvedges.
Have I convinced you to start saving your selvedges yet?

What's A Selvedge?

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Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

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Linky Parties

This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too.  If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties'  page you can see where I like to share my work.