This box was overflowing with selvages. Most of them just an unfolded mess. I started saving and using my selvages about 25 years ago. I used them to tie up roses and other things in the garden. I even dyed them all green so they would work better in the garden. Then about 10 years ago I started making selvage balls, basically to store them until they were needed in the garden. When my friend gave me a lot of fabric I had heard about, but not seen, selvage quilts so I tore off her selvages and started my box.In 2008 I wove the base of a chair with my selvages, unfortunately that did not hold up, although I'm not sure that it was the selvages fault....there were smaller children and scissors around then.
About 3 years ago I saw my first selvage quilt and realized that I needed wider bits. (See one here-not the first one I saw but a pretty fab. quilt. Here's another one.) With help from my family we got all the narrow pieces wound into balls yesterday. We played a game of toss the ball; now they sit in a basket on the coffee table.
I think they are pretty.The wider bits are folded and some of the similar colors are together. They are waiting for time and inspiration. But now I have room for more. :) I imagine I'll need a lot more to actually make a quilt with them. Two years ago I used them to make this:
A bit skiwampus but it works in my purse for some sugar free gum and candies. I learned that You need a stable base to sew these onto. Here I had used a very flimsy cotton/poly gingham. I liked that it had lines but it had no body, a muslin would have worked better.Today I'm using one narrow bit as a twill tape to help me stabilize the edge of a quilt...we'll see how that goes later today.
How DO you organize selvages? I'm sure if I actually start using these I'll have to stir and hunt... a lot.
1 comment:
I've always thrown my selvages away. what great ideas to use them, though!
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