What does Selvage mean in sewing?

A selvage (US English) or selvedge (British English) is a "self-finished" edge of a piece of fabric which keeps it from unraveling and fraying.

Which end of fabric is selvage?

A selvage is the tightly woven edge of a fabric. It prevents the side edges of the fabric from raveling or fraying. Don't use the selvage in your project! The selvage, because it's densely woven, is sturdier than the rest of the fabric, so it can be more difficult to sew through.

Should I always cut the selvage off?

The selvage edges of fabric are sometimes printed, as in this example, and sometimes not as in most batiks. Nevertheless, you should cut them off and not use them in your patchwork piecing. They don't always press flat, and they often pucker and tighten when washed, meaning what they are sewn to doesn't lay flat.

What does it mean to cut fabric selvage to selvage?

​When the fabric is taken off the bolt or roll, you'll notice it is woven such that it has two selvage edges on both its lengthwise sides. Vise versa, the width edges perpendicular to the selvage edge are called cut edges representing the direction in which fabric is cut off the bolt or roll.

Does it matter which way you cut fabric?

Cut out your paper pattern pieces accurately before pinning them to your fabric. Ensure you have the grain running in the right direction according to your pattern pieces. The straight grain of a fabric runs parallel to the selvage. The further you move 'off grain' the more the fabric can stretch and distort.

What is the selvage? How to find the selvage edge of fabric? - Sewing terms and definitions

Can I use the selvage as a hem?

Pattern: Vogue 8932; fabric: MoodFabrics.com. A pretty selvage can be used to create a border-like effect at a skirt hem. Cut the skirt sections on the fabric's cross-grain with the hem allowance edge on the fabric selvage. The hem must be straight—shaped hems won't work.

Is the grain line parallel to the selvage?

Straight grain, or lengthwise grain, are the threads going parallel to the selvedge of the fabric - the uncut edges that are bound so that they do not unravel. When fabric is cut at a shop, it is cut on the crossgrain. The crossgrain are the threads running the width of the fabric - from one selvedge to the other.

How do you know which way the grain of fabric runs?

Fabric grain also affects the way fabric will hang and drape. It's easy to figure out where the grain in a fabric is. To figure out where the grain is, pull your fabric in several directions. The direction with hardly any stretch is the direction of the grain.

What is selvage quilting?

A selvage is the side of fabric where the finished edge stops the edges from fraying. The warp threads run parallel down the length of the fabric and the selvage is created when the weft threads are folded back on themselves at the end of each row as the fabric is woven.

What is the meaning selvage?

Definition of selvage

1a : the edge on either side of a woven or flat-knitted fabric so finished as to prevent raveling specifically : a narrow border often of different or heavier threads than the fabric and sometimes in a different weave. b : an edge (as of fabric or paper) meant to be cut off and discarded.

What is a nap in sewing terms?

Primarily, nap is the raised (fuzzy) surface on certain kinds of cloth, such as velvet or moleskin. Nap can refer additionally to other surfaces that look like the surface of a napped cloth, such as the surface of a felt or beaver hat.

Why is the selvage important?

A selvage's main purpose is to prevent unraveling or fraying, which makes a fabric stable and secure. Some fabrics come with frayed edges for aesthetic purposes. A selvage's self-finished edge makes sure that this fraying won't come undone and affect or damage the rest of your fabric.

What is the purpose of the fabric selvage?

A selvage (US English) or selvedge (British English) is a "self-finished" edge of a piece of fabric which keeps it from unraveling and fraying. The term "self-finished" means that the edge does not require additional finishing work, such as hem or bias tape, to prevent fraying.

Why is it important to soak cloth before cutting?

The main reasons why you should pre wash your fabric:

Cotton fabrics often shrink around 5%. But a shrinkage between up to 10% is not uncommon in fabrics made from natural fibers. So if you don't wash your fabric before sewing, and then wash your final garment, your garment you might not fit correctly.

What are the three ways of cutting the fabric?

Why is it called selvedge?

The shuttle is essential; it threads the weft through the warp shed. As the weft is continuously passed back and forth, the edges of the fabric are self-finished, which is why it's called 'selvedge. ' This tightly woven and durable edge can be included in the garment without additional processing.

Does width of fabric include selvage?

What is this? The usable width of your fabric is the measurement between the warp thread on the left edge to the warp thread on the right edge, minus any selvage.

What is the right side of fabric when sewing?

In the context of sewing the 'right side' of the fabric really means the 'correct side' or the side that will face outwards when you have finished your project. If its a printed fabric it will be the side that looks the nicest with the colours bright and vibrant and the design clear.