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Fashion & Textiles vocabulary · Pattern Making

Selvedge

Meaning in fashion & textiles, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In fashion & textiles, selvedge means: Finished lengthwise edge of woven fabric that resists unravelling.

In Turkish: kumaş kenarı, dokuma kenarı

How it is used

British spelling; selvage is common in American English. Check whether the edge can be included in the cut pieces.

Example sentences

  1. Place the grain line parallel to the selvedge before cutting the trousers.

    The lengthwise edge supplies a reference for the warp direction.

  2. The tight selvedge made the edge curl away from the main fabric.

    An edge may behave differently from the central usable fabric.

Common collocations

  • fabric selvedge
  • selvedge edge
  • weaveThe pattern in which the lengthwise warp yarns and crosswise weft yarns are interlaced in a woven fabric, such as plain, twill or satin.
  • grain lineAn arrow marked on a pattern piece that must be placed parallel to the lengthwise threads of the fabric when cutting, so the garment hangs correctly.

More terms: Pattern Making

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