How to quilt Getting Started What is a Selvage? A selvage is the tightly woven edge of a fabric. It prevents the side edges of the fabric from raveling or fraying. By American Patchwork & Quilting Editors American Patchwork & Quilting Editors American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine and AllPeopleQuilt.com have been the go-to resource for quilters to learn a new skill or simply sew something that brings pride and accomplishment. Our staff has over 70 years of quilting experience, and works with skilled editors, copy editors, quilt testers, and technical editors to ensure each pattern and article is accurate and up-to-date. We're passionate about quilting, and know that it's not just a hobby — it's a lifestyle. We strive to connect with other quilters and provide content that inspires them in their sewing space. American Patchwork & Quilting's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 31, 2017 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. And, the selvage can shrink during washing and drying leaving you with puckered and distorted seams. How to identify a selvage edge: On the yellow fabric pictured, the selvage isn't printed. It's the white strip at the edge.Sometimes it's harder to distinguish the selvage. On the green fabric pictured, the selvage matches the rest of the fabric.If in doubt about an edge, try to unravel the threads. If the threads won't come apart, it's the selvage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit