Using up Every Little Scrap!!

You'll get the "Green Living" prize in your town when you sport one of these jaunty little key chains! This was made by the prolific Australian selvage quilter, Jodie. This would also make a nice tag to help identify your luggage at the airport. Another great gift idea for your quilting buddies.

Meet the Rather Aloof Cecilia!

Selvage quilter Jodie, of Balarat, Australia is so funny! She says her selvage scarf is modeled by the "rather aloof Cecilia!" We would add "Bless her heart" to avoid hurting Cecilia's feelings:)

Jodie says she used 1,134 inches of selvages to make this scarf. Yikes! I never thought of adding up that statistic. She stops short of calculating the price of that much fabric. (Unless you buy the fabric just for the selvage, I consider it free.)

Visit Jodie's blog at: http://www.vintagericrac.com/.

Patriotic Little Selvage Quilt!

Just when you think you've seen it all, Elena McDowell comes up with another great design using selvages. I love this American flag. The blue color windows look just right used there, like stars. One of the fabrics even has the text of the Pledge of Allegiance. Bravo, Elena!

Selvage Doll Quilt from Australia!

Selvage enthusiasts must visit Jodie's blog: http://www.vintagericrac.blogspot.com/. Jodie lives in Ballarat, Australia (in the Southeast part of the country). She works in a primary school library, but finds time every day to work on crafts. She loves selvages and is a very creative lady!

Star of LeMoyne Selvage Quilt by Elena McDowell!

Elena McDowell has done it again with this stunning Star of LeMoyne quilt! She has made this selvage star before, but this time she wanted to see how it would look with a black background. I think it looks great! I especially like the swirly designs on some of the selvages, and the use of some very dark selvages. This quilt measures 15 " square.

I like the artistic way Elena photographed her quilt, taking it on an angle with the addition of a little oak leaf whimsy. Nice job, Elena!

Be sure to visit Elena's website for fabulous inspiration: http://www.quiltsbyelena.com/.

Japanese Selvages With Unique Color Windows!

Take a look at the color windows on these Japanese selvages! Rather than the usual little dots, these selvages have little birds and houses. What a great idea. These would look so good in a selvage quilt!

I wonder if the fabric manufacturers will make their selvages more interesting as they see quilters featuring them in quilts.

These photos were sent by Amy from Maryland. You can visit her blog at: http://www.thecalicocat.blogspot.com/. Thanks, Amy!

Meet May Britt of Norway!

May Britt of Hedmark, Norway recently made this wonderful log cabin style selvage block. You can read more about her on her blog: http://www.abyquilt.blogspot.com/.

This is her first selvage block, which I think is remarkable. I made a lot of selvage quilts before I thought of arranging them like this! I guess she is a little more advanced than me! I can't wait to see what she makes next. She plans to make more, so we'll see. Nice job, May!

Have you seen the "Quilt in a Cup?"

Here is a selvage version of the new "Quilt in a Cup" idea from Diane Springer! You can get these cups at http://www.quiltinacup.com/. This large cup comes with instructions for adding your own quilt block, and it's really easy. For this cup, I sewed selvages onto the batting that came with the cup. Then just use a little glue around the snug top, and you're good to go.

This is a great idea for a workshop to do with your quilting buddies because it's so quick and easy, you'll all go home with a finished product! Have fun and send photos!

Selvage Quilt Inspires a String Quilt!

These stunning string quilts (in progress on the design wall) were inspired by my Red Zinger selvage quilt pattern in the current issue of Quilter's Home magazine! The quilt in the top photo was made by Corky of South Carolina, and the other one was made by her friend Karen. You can visit Corky's blog at www.fiber-thoughts.blogspot.com and see more string quilts that her friends made while sewing together over the Labor Day weekend.

My selvage quilts are inspired by "regular" quilts. I am surprised and delighted that the inspiration has now flowed in the other direction! We quilters have so much fun, don't we?

Knitted Selvages!

What to do with those selvages that just don't make it into a selvage quilt? (Maybe they aren't wide enough, or they're just kind of "blah.") Well, use some of those big chunky knitting needles (I used size 17 in the examples above), and start knitting away!

These may end up as a funky rag rug, a conversation piece "throw," a wall-hanging, a scarf, or a floor length coat for the AQS wearables contest! (And maybe not.)

Wanted: Your Advice on This Quilt!

Elena McDowell made this jaunty selvage tree quilt top. Take a look at the details in the selvages; there are squirrels, American flags, chickens, cats, wooden shoes and a lot more. She said she had a blast making it.

Now she's stumped about what to do for the border and she's asking for your suggestions. Remember, this is Elena we're talking about (as in: "No Quilt Job Too Big"), so if your idea involves lots of work, don't worry about it. Send it in. Just click on "Comments" below or email karengriska@selvagequilts.com.

Review of "Quilts from the Selvage Edge!"

Take a look at this wonderful book review in Prescottenews:

http://prescottenews.com/features/reviews/quilts-from-the-selvage-edge.html

This is a news (not quilting) website from Prescott, Arizona. What a wonderful surprise!

Selvage Pin Cushions Make Cheery Gifts!

I made up this batch of selvage pin cushions to give as little gifts. They are about 3 1/2 inches square and stuffed with polyester craft batting. The backs are bright colored solid fabrics. Wrapped with satin ribbons, they look so festive!

Keep this idea handy for those times when you need a quick gift for some of your quilting buddies:)

Selvages in a 1960's Quilt

This quilt was made by my sister, Lynne Jakubauskas (now of Montpelier, VT) back in the 1960's when we were kids in CT. Forty years later, this quilt is still in use! Our Mom thought it needed a little restoration, so she replaced 23 squares that were worn through (using the bright multi-colored fabric that you can see in the middle photo). The store-bought blanket binding was in shreds, so Mom asked me to make a new binding. Lynne isn't into sewing these days. I made a double fold binding using about 6 different compatible fabrics to go with the scrap theme. Lynne made about 6 of these quilts, and she used everything she could find: polyester, drapery fabric, corduroy, terrycloth, wool...Mom took out the wool. It became boiled wool, after all the washings and dryings, giving the quilt an interesting shape!

As I took a new look at this old family antique, I noticed that she included selvages! I'm sure in the 1960's we didn't know that selvages weren't to be used in quilts. We had plenty of scraps of that drapery/upholstery fabric. Mom reupholstered a sofa with it.

I love how Lynne quilted this. She used red thread to match the solid colored backing. We didn't have a quilter's walking foot. She just put that thing on the machine and went for it! And she sewed over all those stretchy and bulky patches, through all the corner seam bulk, and then turned the quilt and repeated the process to make cross-hatching! Yes, she is something of an over-achiever. There are a few puckers, but not many. She did a great job. And any quilt still in use after 40 years is a winner!

Do you have any Japanese selvages?

Are there any fascinating selvages hiding in your stash? Seeing selvages like this one make me pay more attention to those printed edges. This one is from selvage quilter Elena McDowell. I'm sure she'll find a strategic place to feature this one!

If you know what this says, please post a Comment below. Thanks.

Recycled Denim Waistbands

These creations by Deco-Blue Designs http://deco-blue.co.uk/ are made from recycled denim waistbands. This reminds me of the selvage look: random and improvisational. The pillow measures 24" x 24," and the bag is 10" x 12." This is their best selling bag. I like them.

Charming Selvage Needle Case

This delightful Victorian style needle case was made by my friend Barbara Harrison of Doylestown, PA. It's reversible; with her favorite colors, raspberry and acid green cheater crazy cloth on one side, and selvages on the other. I like the tiny pink rick-rack and the little flower shaped buttons. This will also serve as a Christmas tree ornament for a Victorian themed tree at the Pearl S. Buck museum.

Selvage Rug Made by Sandy Voss!

As I strolled along Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico this stunning contemporary rag rug stopped me in my tracks! I entered Marigold Arts and learned that this was hand-woven by Sandy Voss using selvages from Pendleton Woolen Mills in Oregon. Sandy calls this 30" x 48" rug the "Happy Rug." Some of her rugs are much bigger, and some have a more organized, less improvisational pattern. Her most popular rug is predominately red, but I'm intrigued by this multi-colored version.

This Painting has a Selvage Look

When I saw this painting from a distance, I thought, "Wow! A selvage arrangement!" Do you see the similarity? I wonder if the artist who painted this would agree.

I saw this painting in an office somewhere and I can't remember where it was! It isn't signed. If you can tell me who to give credit to for this, please do.

Be the first to try this with selvages!

Take a look at this great idea. Susan Brier has written a book about how to make these pretty baskets by covering clothesline "rope" with strips of fabric, then sewing them into coils using the zig-zag setting on your sewing machine. Wouldn't this look great done with selvages?

I don't have a zig-zag setting on my machine, so if you make one of these, please email a photo to me at karengriska@selvagequilts.com and I'll post it here.

The Joy of Arranging Selvages

One of the most satisfying aspects of selvage quilt making is inserting those little images that are printed near the selvage edge. They add sparkle and surprise. Some of my favorite examples are shown above. It's like hiding Easter eggs! I love to witness people discovering these little surprises.

If the image you like isn't printed close to the selvage, simply cut a strip and fold over one long edge so that it acts like a bound edge. It will look just like a selvage. :)

Nine-Patch Selvage Tote Bag by Elena McDowell

There is just no end to the cool things Elena McDowell can do with selvages. She bought this tote bag at a quilt show and added the nine-patch selvage block. Now it ROCKS!

Newman Quilters Try Selvage Quilting

Meet the Newman Congregational Church Quilters of Rumford, RI. They are a wonderful bunch of quilters: friendly, funny, generous, and talented. Look at all the cool selvage pillow tops they made in one afternoon workshop.

Yes, that's my sister Eileen Lovett seated on the far right. She is my #1 quilting buddy! Eileen is the Queen of Creativity and has more energy than an army!

"What, this old thing?"

I met Diane from Georgia at the AQS book signing event at the quilt show in Paducah. She had a little selvage purse that she made a long time ago. She thought nothing of it, but we all thought it was cool, with the zipper and all. Some quilters are so clever and they don't realize it:)

Meet Erica Spinks of Australia!

Erica Spinks of Australia is inspired by words, textiles and gardens. She chronicles her creative life on her blog http://www.creativedabbling.blogspot.com/.

Erica covered one piece of foundation fabric with selvages, then cut it into quarters to make 4 pin cushions. You can see that the one on the left and the one in front have the same selvage arrangement. Forensic quilters notice things like that! (Actually, she shows some how-to photos on her blog.)

Nice work, Erica!

Selvage from New Zealand

This is another selvage from Jane Prole who lives in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. I'm so glad she cut this selvage strip nice and wide so the stamps will show in the finished piece. Thanks again, Jane!