Have you ever really looked at the edges of the fabric you buy before cutting them up and discarding them? I’m sure you have, and if I asked you what was there the most common answer would probably be: the name of the fabric company and the fabric line. Many of you would also mention the “color dots”.
These dots contain each of the hues (colors) used in that fabric and are another great “palette” to use when choosing colors for a quilt (a topic familiar to all who’ve been reading my blog recently). To read a short and informative post about these dots click here!
Some very innovative quilters have actually made quilts from these tightly woven strips, and I’ve always been intrigued by the ones I’ve seen entered in quilt shows. It’s amazing what you can find on the internet. I searched for “making quilts with selvedges” and found oodles of fun sites. Click here for a great video on this topic from Bryan House Quilts.
At the Butterfly Threads Quilting site I discovered a woman who is wonderfully addicted to making selvedge quilts. She’s made them into baskets, spools, log cabins and more. Click here to be inspired!
That being said, I’ve come to realize that one of the purposes of this week’s post is to find out if there is anyone out there who is as totally unobservant as me!!!
While at retreat with my friend Laura a few months back, she was talking about some fabrics she had purchased with creative color dots – wait, what?
My response: “what are you talking about?” She told me she’d send me a photo of some of these selvedges, and here it is (thanks Laura):
What fun! I especially loved the trucks. So I went through some of my more recent purchases and, much to my surprise, found some delightful edges:
And my personal favorite – compasses on a colorful map fabric by Timeless Treasures:
I love it! Who knew these were hiding in my stash? Did you?
Will any of you admit to being as surprised as I was to know about these “creative dots”? Please feel free to comment if you dare 🤣.
Do any of you save selvedges? If so, have you made quilts or other projects with them? I’d love to see photographs of them. Please email them to me at .
Louise Haddon says
This must be something fairly new. I just went and looked at some of my fabric and a few of the new fabrics do have a design while the older fabric has dots or nothing.
Lynne Wick Thomas says
According to Jeremy from Benartex fabrics, they are called the fabric “registration” and indicate the colors used in producing the fabrics. There may be some fabrics that have dots that are not colored in. These are found on lesser quality fabrics, typically made by the same manufacturer, but with fewer subtle color changes.
Donna Karolus says
Hi Chris
Yes I did make a selvedge quilt and it was such fun. It was in an AQS show in Grand Rapids a number of years ago. I’ll find a pic of it to send to you.
I also forgot to send a pic of a quilt inspired by the colors of nature which I think you talked about a couple weeks ago. I’ll send to you also.
Carmen Sommers says
In Paducah there was a quilt group that made entire vests from selvage.
PM says
Yes, I was aware of the colored dots on selvages. Never thought of making a quilt with them , but I always cut them off and use them to tie up plants in the growing season!
Wanda says
I give my selvages to Debbie Roberts at Quilted Moose in Gretna, NE. She has made a skirt out of the selvages she has collected, worn it to your Quilt Buying Shops (?) and last time I heard, she is working on a dress. Her skirt is really cute and, of course, she has the figure to carry this off. ME – I want to use the fabric, not the selvage.
Cari janssen says
Laura is a wonderful photographer. It is easy for me to understand her observational skills and finding those different salvages.
Cari
Janet Sabol says
I’ve been saving selvedge edges for many years but have yet to decide what to make. I’m thinking it would be fun to delve into them during the winter of 2021 and check out some sites for inspiration.
Gladys Sachse says
They are really strong. I use them to tie up plants in summer. I’ve also used them instead of ribbon to tie on a present or whatever needs tying. I’m cheap!
Geraldine+Sharp says
At Wilson Center awhile ago a “picture” was shown sewn from manufacturers’ name labels cut from ready made clothing
I have had a selvedge strip holding up summer pants. Pants are Koret btand which shows how many years the strip has stayed strong.