Selvages Away!

The selvages are all packed up and on their way to freedom.

Too Much!

A long time ago I got excited about working with selvages and for a long time I "harvested" them whenever I cut into my fabric.

However, I am no longer in love with them and find them occupying too much space in my studio. I'd be happy to give them away... BUT.  The but is you can have them if you want to pay for shipping. I'll jam as many as I can into a Medium sized US Flat Rate box. Email me at patcherymenagerie AT gmail DOT com if you're interested.


Update: All the selvages are gone. Thanks.

In other news, the Scrap Slab Tutorial is undergoing its final edits and should be ready soon.

When Can I Use the Selvage Edge?

As part of an effort to bring clarity to quilters who need more information, here is my first post about some of the little things that many quilters take for granted. Eventually this post will be part of a "Page" on the blog devoted to tips and tricks and some of the basics that we sometimes forget. I've got plans for posts (pages) on straight of the grain and bias (among others) planned as well. As usual, your suggestions and comments are welcome.

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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. They are often thicker to sew through, and longarm quilters often have difficulty quilting through them.

Even though it may be tempting to leave the selvage intact when you are piecing the backing of a quilt, it's best to remove them. I often piece two long lengths of fabric together, matching the selvage edges, but I sew a 1-1/2" seam, using the selvage edge as a guide, and then I cut the selvages off before I press the seam open.

A few years ago using the selvages, particularly those with colored selvage dots, was all the rage.

Unless you plan to show them of like this, don't use the selvage in your patchwork.

Working, shopping...

I'm working on the new tutorial. Here's a free hint about how to find coordinating fabric: Check out the selvage dots. The selvage dots show all the colors in the print. Use those to find other fabrics.

I went shopping on Saturday. I needed jeans and a pair of dress pants. I was also looking for some tops for my trip to California. I found those, then as I was walking through the Mall to the exit, I slowed down when I came to a shop that I had passed many times. The name of the place was Mt Everest something, and it had all kinds of bags, knapsacks, and knickknacks from Nepal. Along the top of the wall hang some knapsacks and purses I've looked at every time I walk by.  On Saturday I went in. The over the shoulder bags were only $30. I picked one and walked toward the back of the store toward the register, and on the way I saw this.

It's a kid's hat, and it was only fifteen bucks. Sold! I thought it was perfect for my granddaughter.
 

"e" is for experiment

I was wondering what a letter made out of selvage dots would look like. I think this one disappears too much into the white and would need to have a more contrasting background. This "e" is 5-1/4" tall by 4" wide.

I like making my lower-case "e" this way. To me it looks like it's saying "Eeeek!"

A Special Box!

I got home last night, and found this gorgeous box on my doorstep!It was from Cherie at Quilted Jonquil.
Underneath a lovely note and some Halloween strips for future houses, was this terrific stash of selvages!

Woo hoo! Thanks Cherie!

Almost Finished!

My selvage bag would be finished, except I couldn't remember how I finished off the first quilted selvage bag. I tried what I thought I did, and it was awful, so I ripped it out.All I have to do is add the handles and it will be complete.

Selvage Bag

It's raining outside. What a good day to stay in and sew!
I'm making a quilted selvage bag for my Etsy shop. This bag has nice warm brown neutrals, moving to warmer orange and beige on one side, and up to a soft yellow on the other. The handles will be neutral, and the bag will be lined and have a patch pocket.

The Selvage Fairy

Look what I found on my desk when I got to work yesterday. A lovely big strip of selvages from this nifty Betty Boop fabric, and a note...


"Oooooo, it looks like the selvage fairy has been here."

Thank you Selvage Fairy!

It's a Selvage Bag

There's a big surprise. Actually, this bag is different from the others in that it is slightly shorter (about 13") and it's quilted.

It's A...

It's a bird...No.

It's a plane...No.It's a Surprise.

Selvage Something, Part Deux

Here's the second half of the Selvage Something. I love the egg beater fabric, and there are some cats up there, along with my current favorite op art boxes.

Half of Selvage Something

This is the first half of the Selvage Something.

Stay tuned.

Selvage Tuesday

Black and White Selvages... I have a plan, but I have a little bit more prep work to do before the "real work" begins.

Selvage Doll Quilt

There was one block I didn't like in my Doll Quilt Swap 7 quilt, so I did it over. After arranging the blocks the way I liked, I added more selvages to the four inner blocks giving me a much more interesting design. I have now made the quilt sandwich and have started quilting.

I really like the graphic quality of this, and for some reason it reminds me of Andy Warhol's Wayne Thiebaud's work.

Millie helped, of course.

Sixteen Six-inch Selvage Squares

What do you get when you sew sixteen six inch selvage squares? A messy sewing room.

Selvage Squares in Process

I'm working on the selvage blocks for my quilt for Doll Quilt Swap 7. These blocks are 6-1/2" square, and will be sewn up 6" finished. I haven't yet decided quite how I'll arrange them, but I do have a concept in my head.

Selvage Bag # 3

As soon as I made my first selvage bag, my Mom asked for one. I had to collect a bit more selvages, though, so I waited.

Mom's birthday was Friday, July 24, and we spent a good part of the day together. I fixed a problem with her computer and we did some shopping.

When I got back to my house, I gathered my stuff. First, I needed the "extras," the fabric I would use for the lining, the pockets, and the trim, and thread and notions. I wanted several pockets, a zippered pocket and a key fob. I also knew my Mom would want the bag to close somehow. I had this funky pink button I had bought for another project, and never used. It would be perfect.

(you can click on all the photos to enlarge.)
My Mother is a professional artist, and she's not afraid of bright color. I made the big panel of selvages for the bag itself. The selection and placement of each selvage strip was carefully planned and deliberately placed. I knew exactly what I wanted.
Then I made the handles.Next I made the panels for the pockets and sewed them to the lining, and then assembled everything.Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I almost forgot to add the handles at the right time. One of the handles was twisted, and I had to rip it out and fix it. But the crowning glory came when I tried to insert the lining and sew the two big pieces together. Somehow I had mis-measured and the lining was way too small for the bag. In frustration, I threw it aside and did some housecleaning.After I cooled down a bit, I realized it was a simple fix. After dinner I went back into the sewing room, fixed my mistake, and finished the bag.It's really quite beautiful, and I am very happy with it. I brought it over to my Mom's house on Sunday morning. My Mom was thrilled, and immediately transferred the contents of her purse to this bag.Even Millie approves.

Selvage Stash

This was my selvage stash in February, when I first started collecting them. They are in a Men's shoebox sized plastic container from, where else, The Container Store.
This was my selvage stash in early March.This is my selvage stash in April, after I made the two selvage bags. I was in a hurry when I was cleaning up my sewing room.Selvage Bag 1

Selvage Bag 2

My Mom wants a bag too, and if anybody wants to donate their selvages I would greatly appreciate it!

I ordered two Moda Scrap Bags. They arrived on Friday. One was full of selvages, the other had hardly any. They are tightly wrapped, so you can't tell by looking at them. Lots of good fabrics, the colors were soft greens and reds. These will make great potholders and stuff. I won't make bags out of them because I prefer the brighter colors.Yes, I washed them first. I wash all my fabric first.