Since Renee @Quilts of a Feather and Jess @Quilty Habit hosted the Selvage Along last summer, I have been saving fabric selvages. My collection is growing, but I had no idea what I might do with them. Then I happened to discover Riel Nason and her book Modern Selvage Quilting (non affiliate link), and I was immediately excited to learn more!
Not only does Riel have a variety of projects in sizes that will work well with just a few selvages to large, masterful full size quilts, but she explains her methods for working with selvages. I know many of us (myself included) wonder just how much extra fabric to cut off with a selvage. I worry whether I will have enough width of fabric remaining for my project that does not require the selvage edge if I take too much. Riel has solutions for how to save selvages, and she discusses how to work with both “wide cut” and “narrow-cut” selvages. Brilliant!
I knew right away that I would love to work with the Anna Maria Horner True Colors selvages that I cut from the fat quarter bundle I used to make Family and Friends earlier this year. Looking through the projects, I quickly decided to make a set of 4 placemats.
Modern Selvage Quilting Placemats
The placemats work with both wide and narrow cut selvages, so I was able to learn two techniques for working with selvages from Riel in this quick project.
Modern Selvage Quilting Placemats
To compliment the selvages, I used Essex linen for the background, and Andover Chambray for the color coordinated binding.
Modern Selvage Quilting Placemats
Piecing the placemat tops went smoothly and quickly, even though I was learning new techniques as I was working.
Modern Selvage Quilting Placemats
The placemats finished at 19-inches wide by 12.25-inches tall after quilting, squaring, and binding. I think that this was a great project to use for a coordinated selvage bundle like these True Colors selvages, and I like that each placemat is unique and a different color scheme.
Modern Selvage Quilting Placemats
I am so glad that Riel shared her tips for working with selvages through this book. Do you want inspiration to sew with selvages? C&T Publishing is generously giving away a copy of Riel’s book (hard copy if you are in the US, ebook if you are elsewhere). Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win. I will choose a winner on Wednesday, May 18th. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to follow along on the Modern Selvage Quilting Book tour to check out what everyone else has to say about the book. There is an opportunity to enter to win a copy of the book each day of the tour!
May 10 Riel at C&T Publishing Blog
May 11 Cindy at Live a Colorful Life
May 12 Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl
May 13 Diane at Butterfly Threads Quilting
May 16 Krista at Poppyprint
May 17 Casey at The Studiolo
May 18 Leanne at She Can Quilt
May 19 Sandy at Upstairs Hobby Room
May 20 Mel at The Quilting Room with Mel
May 21 Riel at The Q and the U
Linking up with Finish it Friday.
Disclosure: This book was provided for review by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced by the businesses involved.
One of my guild members loves selvage projects and has made a wide variety of
Items. My favorite was a Mondo bag useing those 2-1/2″ left over pieces. I made a small clutch and liked the finish.
Your placemats look great! The idea of useing the selvage as an accent strip is brilliant. Love the colors you chose. The book sounds like fun. Thanks for the chance to win.
Your place mats look so cool Yvonne! The Essex linens really let the True Colors shine through. Really excellent machine sewn bindings too! Thank you for sharing about Riel’s book – it looks terrific!
I can’yt believe I wasn’t already following you on Pinterest Yvonne. Your boards look great!
Your placemats are ace!! I love that design. It’s brilliant to combine negative space with selvages – makes them pop even more!
I’ve started saving selvedges with something more in mind than using them to tie up my tomato vines. Still, I didn’t know what it would be. Love your placemats!
love your placemats! I may just have to make them as my next project!!
OMG. Just what I need – another reason to keep stuff I would have thrown out. Between this and ticker tape quilting, I can’t throw out anything! I love your placemats. I can tell that I definitely need this book.
While I don’t have a huge stash of selvages, this book looks like the inspiration I need to get inspired! Your place mats are so perfect, I especially love the different colored bindings!
Very cute placemats. I love the essex linen combined with the selvages.
Your placemats look so great!!
I really love the look of your placemats!!
Love the placemats. The Essex linen is perfect with the selvages.
so cool, the linen is awesome against the selvages, it really highlights the colors.
Lovely place mats, and the contrast is perfect with the selvages, and a contrast binding, these would be great as gifts.
Great timing Yvonne. I was cutting pieces for a project and for the first time ever, I kept two of the selvages. They have been sitting on the corner of my cutting table this week and I keep looking at them, thinking “do I really want to go there?” Looking at your placemats, the answer is ‘Yep, I do.”
I saw this book previewed on the C&T blog and I am sure that there is something in it that will call out to me. I have saved selvages for years thinking I would make a string star quilt with them. I’ve got quite a few now and have started cutting a little more generous slices to make them more usable. I think your place mat project is an ideal example of how a little will go a long way. Love the color families with the gorgeous linen background.
Sewing with selvages is such a neat concept but I’ve never done it and I always forget to save them. Those are great placemats and every time I see Essex linen I just love it. I definitely need to get my hands on some of it!
They look great – must admit i haven’t started saving selveges yet but will try to remember when I see some fun ones!
Your placemats are awesome! I love the coordinating selveges, especially with your bindings. Placemats are still on my big to do list.
Oooh these turned out so nice! I love the linen you used, perfect for placemats and selvage sewing.
Oh aren’t they lovely – what a great way to have a little play with selvedges, all the colours pop so beautifully against the grey!
I used selvedge in my bee blocks last year – still unfinished and have been keeping a small collection since , admittedly not wof . Great idea with the placemats
I’ve been saving selvages for several years. I’ve cut them all thin as I saw a project that was all white except for the writing on the selvage and loved it. The only thing I’ve made, though, is a mini spool quilt with selvages from Bonnie & Camille fabrics. Some day though….:)
Well, I have been saving selvages too, with the idea of giving them away, but seeing your placemats, and knowing I have Essex linen in two lovely colourways, makes me think of snagging some out of that big bag and making some more placemats. 😉
Lovely placemats! So glad the book includes projects for those who are new to selvage hoarding!
I’ve not work with selvages because I never quite knew how to start. What a great book!
Ok I can spell but not proof read! Lol. Selvege…
This is what I need to get moving on the box of selvedges I’ve been hoarding.
Your placemats are fantastic! What a great use of selvages! I love how you bound each one in coordinating solids.
Great job on the placemats. I’ve been saving selvedges for awhile. Maybe it’s time to use them!
I love your placemats. I’ve been saving my selvages for a few years now and they’re starting to add up to a useful amount. Like you, I do feel a bit nervous that I may leave myself short of actual fabric when I cut my selvages off – and at the same time I wonder if I’m leaving myself enough selvage to be useful! I love that Essex linen – can you please share what colour it is? It makes such a striking but gentle contrast! Love your work! xx
These are lovely! I especially like matching binding 🙂 Well done!
Love the combination of the Essex linen with the selvages, very effective, and definitely a good balance of matchy but individual. I’m not overly drawn to selvage sewing, especially as I rarely have selvages with my sewing, but I do find this book quite intriguing!