Should I Cut Off Selvages?

by Marilyn Bulson
(Illinois)

Should I cut or tear off the selvage or leave it on for quilting pieces?

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ANSWER

When you're cutting strips along lengthwise grain, you should trim (never tear) off the selvages. But, if you're cutting along the crosswise grain, you don't have to remove the selvages on your first cut.

Here's how I do it: First, I cut all my crosswise strips. Then, when it's time to cut squares from the strips, I trim off the selvages.

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