How to use selvedges on a quilt backing
Selvedges are having a moment! These little fabric edges, once destined for the trash, are now a quirky design feature that adds personality to quilts. If you’ve ever felt guilty about tossing them, or just want an excuse to keep hoarding them (no judgment here!), let’s talk about how you can turn them into something beautiful - like a fun stripe on the back of your quilt!
These were the first Ruby Star fabrics I ever bought – the selvedges were such a fun surprise!
Why are modern selvedges so cute?
Not all selvedges are created equal, but let’s be honest – Ruby Star Society makes some of the BEST ones. They go all in with bold colors, large letters spelling out the collection name, tiny icons from the fabric prints, and the designer’s name. It’s always exciting to peek at the selvedge and see what surprises are hiding there!
Traditionally, one selvedge edge was plain (just the fabric print running off the edge), while the other was white with small circles showing the different ink colors used in the fabric, plus sometimes the company and designer’s name. But modern designers? They’ve turned selvedges into a branding playground, making them little works of art!
How to cut selvedges (without losing the cuteness!)
When cutting fabric for a quilt, I usually trim off the selvedges before cutting strips. BUT: I make sure to leave about 1/4" to 1/2" of the printed fabric attached. That way, when I sew it into something, I don’t lose all the adorable details in the seam allowance. (What’s the point of using a cute selvedge if it just disappears into a seam, right?)
Here's my box of cute Ruby Star selvedges, waiting for the perfect project.
Ready to dive into the fat quarter bundle! But wait... Something sad is about to happen!
A sad selvedge story (with a happy ending!)
For my Old Cabin quilt, I ordered a fat quarter bundle of Bird is the Word by Ruby Star Society. I was SO excited… until I realized that not a single fat quarter had a cute selvedge! (Cue dramatic music.)
That’s the risk with fat quarters – they only have one selvedge, and there’s always a 50% chance it’ll be the boring side. Lucky for me, I had also ordered a few bolts for backings and other projects, so I still got my selvedge fix!
How I used selvedges on my Old Cabin quilt backing
Bird is the Word is a vibrant collection with bold prints, and my Old Cabin quilt naturally turned out a little busy (in the best way, of course!). So for the quilt backing, I went with a calm print: small viola flowers on a teal background.
But the selvedge was TOO CUTE to hide! Since I had to piece two large cuts of fabric together for the backing, I decided to sew them along the selvedge edge instead of trimming it off. Normally, I’d use a 1/2" seam allowance when piecing a backing, but this time I went with just 1/4" to show off as much of the selvedge as possible. After all, we use 1/4" seams everywhere else in a quilt—why not here too?
Can you sense the selvedge excitement?
The result? A super cute pink stripe with tiny birds and the collection name Bird is the Word running from top to bottom. I LOVE how it turned out!
Ready to try it?
If you’re a selvedge hoarder (or thinking about becoming one), why not try incorporating them into your quilt backing? It’s a fun way to add personality—and a little extra fabric love—to your quilt.
And if you’re looking for a quilt pattern that plays well with bold, modern fabrics (and maybe even some selvedges!), check out my Old Cabin quilt pattern. It’s inspired by traditional Norwegian knitting motifs and is perfect for fat quarters (if you don’t mind the selvedge lottery, that is!).
The Old Cabin quilt is inspired by Norwegian knitwear - here seen in its natural habitat.