1. Do you save both selvages, or only the printed ones?

I save only the printed ones, but I have read that some people save both.

2. How wide do you cut them?

I cut mine 1.5″ wide, because that’s what the Selvage Queen Karen Griska recommends. I find it works great. I measure 1.5″ from the finished selvage edge.

Another note: I saw fabric recently with a Mexican theme, and the little color windows were all shaped like tiny Mexican hats! Imagine how much fun we’ll have if fabric companies start making their selvages with artistic considerations!

My first intro to the idea was from Karen Griska’s book entitled Quilts From the Selvage Edge. It’s full of fabulous projects made with selvages. Karen’s blog is wonderfully inspirational, with readers contributing photos of their own selvage sewing. (By the way, look for a fabulous quilt from Karen in an issue next year.)

There’s a bag pattern by Amy Butler that I love, I’ve probably made it at least a dozen times.

I recently made a selvage version for my daughter Holly for her birthday. (By the way, Holly is a writer with a great blog.)

Earlier this year, Karen made a color option for our “green” Jan/Feb issue, which was four blocks from a quilt by Mark Lipinski of Quilter’s Home fame. 

I’d like to give this piece (the four blocks shown) and a copy of Karen’s book Quilts From the Selvage Edge to a reader who submits a comment about how she has used selvages in a project. We’ll draw for a winner on Wednesday, July 1 and post the results at that time.