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Selvedge for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'sɛlvɪdʒ

What does Selvedge really mean?

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Selvedge:

Hey there! So, let's talk about the word "selvedge." I know it might sound complicated, but I promise we'll break it down together. Selvedge, spelled s-e-l-v-e-d-g-e, is a term often used in the world of textiles and fabrics. It refers to the tightly woven, finished edges of a fabric strip.

Imagine you have a lovely piece of cloth or a long strip of material, like a ribbon or a scarf. These edges, my friend, are what we call the selvedge. It's like the neat and tidy borders that keep everything in place. Just like how a fence helps keep things inside a garden, the selvedge helps keep the fabric from fraying or unraveling.

Now, in addition to its practical purpose, selvedge also has a special story to tell. You see, these edges are usually created during the weaving process of the fabric. They have different colors or patterns compared to the main part of the fabric. So, by looking at the selvedge, you can often discover information about the fabric's origin, the type of loom used, or even its age.

Think of a selvedge as a bit like a book cover. It provides a glimpse into what you can expect inside. Just like how a cover might have the title, author's name, or an eye-catching design, the selvedge can give you a clue about the fabric's characteristics. Isn't that fascinating?

So, to sum it all up, selvedge refers to the neatly finished edges of a woven fabric. It acts like a protective border, keeping the fabric intact and preventing it from unraveling. Additionally, the colors and patterns on the selvedge can tell us more about the fabric itself. If we pay attention, we can learn a lot just by looking at these special edges!

I hope that explanation helped, and if you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!

Revised and Fact checked by Emily Davis on 2023-10-30 02:27:04

Selvedge In a sentece

Learn how to use Selvedge inside a sentece

  • When you look at a pair of jeans, the edge along the sides that is neatly finished and doesn't unravel is called selvedge.
  • In weaving, the sturdy and self-finished edges of a fabric that prevent it from fraying are known as selvedge.
  • If you have a piece of fabric and you want to make sure the sides don't fray, you can use selvedge to sew neat edges.
  • When knitting a scarf, the edges that you stitch tightly to prevent unraveling are called selvedge.
  • In carpentry, when you want to create a solid and smooth edge on a wooden plank, you can use a special tool called a selvedge plane.

Selvedge Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Selvedge Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.