The saying…. every quilt tells a story has been true since the beginning of the needle & thread. The selvage also tells a story. (some say selvage some say selveldge – potatoe or potato or papa if you are in Spain, right Joanna?)
wikipedia defines selvage as: In a woven fabric, the selvage (or selvedge) is the uncut edge of the fabric which is on the right- and left-hand edges as it comes out of the loom. As such it is ‘finished’ and will not fray because the weft threads double back on themselves. The term also refers to the unfinished but structurally sound edges of flat knitted textiles.
Very often fabric near the selvage is not usable as it may have a different weave pattern, or may lack pile or prints that are present on the rest of the fabric requiring that the selvage fabric be cut off or hidden in a hem. Not usable…. if they could only see how selvages are being used.
Very often fabric near the selvage is not usable as it may have a different weave pattern, or may lack pile or prints that are present on the rest of the fabric requiring that the selvage fabric be cut off or hidden in a hem. Not usable…. if they could only see how selvages are being used.
The selvage is so full of information. It shows how many screens it takes to print that fabric. It tells the order of placement for each screen.
(have you checked out the selvages on some of the chain fabrics?…not very many dots there)
I like to sew a piece of the selvage on the back as I am adding the binding. I then whip stitch it down to the back of the quilt. What does this do? Mainly it just helps me remember what collection was used in the particular quilt. I don’t use this as the label but it does document the quilt for historians down the road.
So imagine how intrigued I was when I discovered Karen Griska’s book, Quilts from the Selvage Edge. Her blog is a must read. I invited her to make a project for the moda bake shop using the scrapbags. Have you heard of the Moda Bake Shop?
A couple of years ago, the theme of the Moda booth for Quilt Market was Selvages! Small world! So I started saving some of the moda selvages. After visiting with Karen, we thought we would both do a giveaway. I have come to grips with the fact that I am never going to make anything from the selvages I have saved. So I am going to give them away here. Just post a comment and talk about it on your blog. I will draw 3 winners Saturday the 14th. Karen is giving away the pillow she made for the bake shop. Go to her blog for details to win the pillow.
Karen said it was okay to include selvages of any width or length, so I did. It seems as if I have been wrapping that ball for days. I think the winner will be pleased. Images may appear larger, so I photographed the “Selvage Ball” alongside some of balls that were laying around my house. (the basketball is a kids size) 2 of the winners will receive their selvages in a gift bag. I don’t think I can get any more balls made. Can’t wait to see all the selvage projects out there.
I don’t have a blog….oy. Hope that doesn’t disqualify me. I will tell my friends about it though…does that count? I love the selvages stuff I’ve seen, including the pillow at the bake shop. I want to make one!
ruthrberke at yahoo dot com
When I first read about things made with the selvage, I thought it was completely insane. But now that I have seen all of the pattern options, I just LOVE the look. It would help me get started on a project to win your lovely selvage ball.
this is cool, i should start digging mine out of the sewing room trash, no, just kidding, i will start saving them. thanks!!
I tell you, the selvage thing I didn’t get until I started seeing all the wonderful projects! I’ve got one long piece of selvage for anybody who wants it. I’d been tossing them all out!
I recently discovered your blog and “selvages” and I think they are so special and indeed tell a story! You’ve so inspired me to try new projects!!! Your lovely ball would help me get started! Blessings ~ Alanna in DC
I am a slow quilter and haven’t gotten enough selvages to make anything, so the addition of yours would really be a boost toward my selvage project plans.
I think the selvage ball looks good as is! It would be tempting to use the selvages, but then the ball would be gone! Decisions, decisions!
Karen
I like to make string quilts, and I think I will start adding selvage strings to my quilt. It looks good in a ball too. 🙂
I have been trying to save selvages after seeing all the great ideas!! I probably have thrown so many away over the years!!
Thanks, Lissa! Your giveaway gave me the idea to beg for selvedges on my blog, at the same time mentioning your giveaway and writing about Karen’s blog. I hope my friends don’t decide to hoard them instead of giving them to me, LOL! http://debbiesfiberwork.blogspot.com
It’s amazing since I started blogging how I’ve learned selvedges are coveted. Makes me sick at all those I’ve thrown out as trash over the years. Anyway…I LOVE selvedges and have made a journal, bookmark, and tea wallet so far. I drool at Jodie at Ric Rac’s amazing creations.
I’ll share your giveaway on my blog…even though it makes my chances of winning smaller. :o)
OOooh, yes!!
I’d absolutely LOVE to WIN the selvage ball. I promise to keep it away from my kitty…Tiger Lily…she loves to play ball!
Sure hope my luck comes through!
Hugs
I would love to win that gorgeous ball of selvages. I can’t wait to have the time to make a selvage project. I started keeping them in a big glass jar a while back. They look like candy. Bright colors and pretty dots.
Planet selvage. When I first looked at you photo I suddenly had a vision of the earth wound with selvages. Then I saw the golf ball. I’d love to win a ball. I’ll share it on my blog.
A ball of selvages–a dream come true! I have been collecting (addicted to) selvages for about 15 years now and have a whole page devoted to (regaling the glories of) those wonderful, colorful strips. Check out (drool over) my selvage projects on my website and my Etsy store. And yes, I really (seriously) need more selvages!!
http://www.quiltsbyelena.com
http://www.carolinasquirrell.etsy.com
I love the selvage ball! I have so been wanting to make something out of selvages but so far don’t have very many to use. This would be a great opportunity for me to get lots more selvages!
Have a Blessed day,
Diane
I could just kick myself, over and over, for throwing these away all through the years…I am a fabriholic and no telling how many balls I could make if I had every selvage gone to the garbage can! eekkk…
I would love to win one of the gift bags or the ball either…I have ordered some paperweights, after seeing selvages put on the bottom of one while blogging one day! I am going to a retreat to meet 70 other quilters who I am friends with on the HGTV Quilting and Needlework Forum and I would love to make them all one of these.
I wish everyone luck! and I hope I win too!
Thank you for a great give-away!!
http://www.pigtaledesigns.net
For years I threw all those selvaged edges away. That’s what we were taught! Sigh….
I’ve just recently discovered the joys of selvages (after throwing them away for 20 yrs) so thanks for the give away ~ although I have to say that ball looks pretty cool all on its own.
http://www.tinkquilts.blogspot.com
I just posted to my blog about your giveaway!
http://scottieacres.blogspot.com
Me, Me!! Pick me!! So many of us have toss these precious strips of fabric for so long…if we had only known! Makes me sad to think of how much of what we paid for has ended up being trash!
I love the idea of including a piece of the selvage on the back as an identification piece!
Pam@
http://www.pamgwillim.com
mycreativemind@pamgwillim.com
I don’t know why you would not use your own selvages, but I would love to be the recipient! Thanks!
When the selvage revolution started, I said I wouldn’t follow. Needless to say, I have now done a few projects. I love seeing all the selvage ideas on the blogs. I hope I get picked so I can add more variety to my collection.
I have been saving selvages ever since I came across Karen’s blog and saw the “Red Zinger” quilt. I would LOVE to have more to add to my selvage stash. Pick me, Please!
This is so cool. I have been saving my selvages and have only made a couple pin cushions but I am getting more and more ideas. I am posting this on my blog right now. Great giveaway.
It would certainly be interesting to win a selvage ball… please enter me in the giveaway, I have posted about it on my blog. I would probably make a bag. It would be so strong!
http://mumsyblossom.blogspot.com/
I too have been intrigued by salvage. For some reason I just love them. Thanks for pointing out the book. I simply must own it. Your work is lovely!
Quilting with selvage edges is BRAND NEW to me!! In fact, the first time I saw it was on the Moda Bake Shop blog (the pillow) that you mentioned in your post. I actually posted about how cool it was on my blog that day. I thought about all the yards and yards of selvage edges I have cut off and tossed…that will SO not happen any longer!!
I have already started collecting selvage edges from material I have recently tossed, as well as from my little personal stash. I can’t wait to start making projects. I LOVE the shabby-sheik look. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE your extra selvage edges!!
http://mylifeasacraftaholic.blogspot.com/
I am not a blogger, at least not yet, but am very interested in the selvage look. I especially like the dress and would like to make one like it. I plan to purchase the book. I have been donating my scraps and selvages to a group that makes pillows for an animal shelter. Guess the kitties and puppies will just have to have thinner or fewer pillows as I plan to save my selvages from now on. Thanks for this opportunity.
I recently took a string and crumb-piecing class and I fell in love with using selvages. I’m working on strip/crumb pieced blocks that will eventually become a duvet cover (to replace the very worn one on my bed) and I plan to incorporate many selvages. I’d love to win this ball!
I’m really starting to convert over to this selvage saving thing!! It’s amazing what one can do with a selvage! So yours would give me a good head start!! Thanks!
At our Quilt Guild one of the gals brought in a purse that she made with sevages and it was so cute. If someone would of told to make a purse with sevages I would of said: “You want me to do what!” I’ve always looked at the sevages after I cut them off and wonder “What could I do with these?” Now with all these great ideas, I know what to do. It would be great to win these.
http://www.hummingbirdhems.blogspot.com
Oooh, I would sooo love to win some of those wonderful selvages! I just visited a quilt shop in a town closeby and what did they have on display as soon as I opened the door? A selvage quilt! It was wonderful! Thank you for the chance to win. ~ Deb
It would be great to win these! I’m saving my selvages in a 1-gallon ziploc bag and this would just about fill it up so I can make something with them!
I’d love to win the ball. Making a selvage quilt is definitely on my to do list.
This is great! I love the idea of puting a piece of th selvage in the bindig. This may come in handy years down the road if you need to patch the quilt.
I’m a new quilter, the first one finished and second one in progress, so I don’t have a lot of selvages. But I like to save them untill I’ve enough for something and the selvage ball will help a lot.
I don’t have a blog yet.
Bye bye
Bernadet from the Netherlands
(bernadetbakker@solcon.nl)
OMG….I have never used my selvages yet but am trying to collect enough to make something. I am thinking I need this book as inspiration and of course the knowledge as I was just wondering about how tiny the seam allowance must be to save the writing. You will be a life saver for some lucky lady (crossing my fingers and toes).
Happy sewing,
Sheila
Wow, look at that ball! It would be interesting to make something out of selvages…
The ball looks great. I collect selfages for a long time.
Britta
I’ve been harvesting selvages for over a year now ~ and hope to start a quilt later this year. I used some to make a Priority Quilt for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative late last year ~ 9″ x 12″ overall. Love the ball you’ve shared ~ very cool! And yes, Karen’s selvage blog is GREAT fun to follow.
My blog is http://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com
Thanks!!
Love to win that ball of selvedges!
~Hannah (gdesigns AT wildblue DOT net)
hiyall,
I havew a doz projects running thru my head for selvage, pick me! pick me!
(mauh) Liz
erzebatbat@aol.com
erzebat/blogspot.com
Love the ‘planet selvedge’ image! Thanks for offering them. I’d love to add them to my own teeny tiny collection, and start sewing with them.
I love it, I’d love to have a ball o’selvages as a decoration until I can’t stand it any longer and must sew them!
I cannot believe how many selvages have gone to the landfills 🙁 I would love to make a Selvage project, so I am starting to collect my selvages now. I mentioned your give away on my blog. I’d love for you to stop by and visit me anytime.
Jocelyn
http://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/
Would love to win your selvages. Have started adding them to my crumb blocks but to win this many would mean I could do larger projects
valerie.boudier@ntlworld.com
What a fun giveaway! If I win, I’d send them to Ms. RicRac ’cause she does such fantastic work! When I grow up I want to be able to make a dress like that selvedge dress she made! 😉
After discovering Karen Griska and her work, I am a dedicated selvage quilter! I’d love to have many more selvages.
Mary Frances
mfwood108@gmail.com
Would love to win your selvages, please count me in! Thanks!