Selvage

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For the denim, see selvage denim.

Image:Selvage.jpg

The Selvage of a piece of curtain fabric. Note self-finished edge, irregular weave pattern, maker's marks and the start of the main print.

In a woven fabric, the selvage (or selvedge) is the uncut edge of the fabric which is on the right- and left-hand edges as it comes out of the loom. As such it is 'finished' and will not fray because the weft threads double back on themselves.

Very often fabric near the selvage is not usable as it may have a different weave pattern, or may lack pile or prints that are present on the rest of the fabric requiring that the selvage fabric be cut off or hidden in a hem.

Selvage also can refer to the excess area of a printed or perforated sheet of any material, such as the white border area on a sheet of stamps.