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I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I don't like labeling quilts. To tell the truth, I usually don't label my quilts. If I do label it, it's usually to sign and date it with a sharpie on the back.
My favorite labels are those that I have seen pieced into the back of the quilt. They get quilted over and become part of the quilt.
I recently made two quilts for Timeless Treasures, that I will show you one of these days, that of course, needed labels.
Here's what I came up with.
Hey, at least I appliqued them by needle turn, so the edges are finished! Sometimes I sew them on with a running stitch and leave the edges raw.
While I liked the idea of using the back of part of the fabric, it does make it a little hard to read.
What is your favorite way to label your quilt?
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17 comments:
I am so with you on the Hating to label my quilts. Very few get labels and it is usually because I feel so guilty. A sharpie and a piece of light color fabric appliqued on the back.
I like to use the selvage of the fabric to label my quilts. I cut out the name of the person who designs the fabric and the company name. Then I use fabric marker to put my blog name on the finished quilt label.
I wouldn't label a quilt either but when I recently finished a joined project with my Mom we decided to each write our names and stitch the names afterwards. So not quite a real label. I think this the quilt will be treasured for many, many years and seeing my mums handwriting on it just makes it extra special to me.
I often pay a friend to make a quilt label on her embroidery machine. Then, I piece that label into the back if I haven't yet gotten it quilted. Otherwise, I'll sew strips of fabric to act as a frame, turn the edges under, and stitch it to the back. I'll usually use fusible web to hold it in place while I'm stitching.
I can't say I enjoy labeling quilts but recipients (especially small children and new parents) LOVE seeing their names on the labels.
I agree with you - labels are not my thing. However, I just 'found' a quilt stuck away in a cupboard that I wish I had labeled with the pattern name because I can't find the pattern anywhere.
I'm fortunate to have a basic embroidery machine - I use one of the six fonts on the machine and let it do all the work - all I have to do is sew it to the back. Picking what color embroidery thread to use is half the fun!
I don't label my quilts either. Usually, if the back is light in color I write my name and maybe a date.
I know labels are a good idea, but I just hate looking at a big piece of muslin or something on the back of a beautiful quilt. Maybe if I piece in even a lt square it will not look so out of place. Thanks for the idea.
I always label my quilts, but that may be because nearly every quilt I've finished has been a gift. My favorite is a pieced block incorporated into the backing, with the info written on a white space of the block. A friend of mine is having labels printed at Spoonflower. Maybe with a pretty label (rather than a blank white fabric) it will be less of a chore.
I'm agree with everyone here - I'm really not crazy about preparing labels. Most of the quilts I've completed have been gifts, so I had to put some sort of label of them. I usually end up handwriting my name, the date, the name of the recipient and some small thought about the occasion on a small piece of light fabric and piecing it to the back before quilting.
I like making a label a little better than making a backing but I do it because I love to see them on quilts, mine and those of others. I usually make mine on my embroidery machine and, if I get them done in time, I place them on the back to be quilted in and if not they fit into a corner, sewed down in the binding and then the other two sides are appliqued. It is a lot of fun to see those labels years later.
I totally just grab a scrap, iron the edges over and appliqué it on. Grab my sharpie and fill up the space!
I have used my embroidery machine and I have hand written on lables. I haven't labeled all of my quilts, but I intend to. I might be a good idea to finish them first....LOL
It is SO important to label our quilts. It will mean a great deal to our families and friends down the road. I always make a label. With all the technology available today, it's sew easy!
Well, I guess I'm the techie in the group. I have used the computer-printable fabric to make a label. the first was a label for the t-shirt quilt I made for my daughter with her high school band t-shirts. I included a neat photo of her playing her trumpet, and in addition to the quilt info, I listed her honors in the band, so it meant a lot to her.
the downside is that the printable fabric is a bit stiff and harder to sew onto the backing than regular quilt fabric. I have also framed the label with backing fabric to make it easier to apply.
But I have 2 quilts that need labels as we speak.
Other issue is whether printable fabric is washable.
I'm late to the party but my 2 cents worth: I use my computer to print out a label and like the last commenter, sew strips around the label as that printer fabric is too tight a weave to easily hand sew through. It's expensive so I'll try to do a couple labels from one sheet. More recently I've just started making the label, printing it on paper and using a light box (or sunny window) and copying the words on a piece of muslin, with freezer paper ironed on the back of it.
Although I love Sharpie pens I stopped using them to label quilts as over time the color changes and fades. I use the Pigma Micron pens now. Becoming a consistant labeler is a habit but I've found that it's been a time saver down the line, if I have a question about the quilt, I only have to flip it over and there is the information-using a font on a computer also allows for more information in a smaller area and it's more legible than my handwriting.
OH and I also leave a little space above where I have my name printed on the label so that I can then actually 'sign' the label.
I love to label my quilts, another creative thing to do! sometimes I embroider a label, listing the recipient, fabric used my name and the year completed, sometimes use printable fabric, make a label from a party invitation, great way to acknowledge the occasion, somtimes just a pigma pen on a scrap of fabric from the front, it all depends on the recipient and my mood.
I can't say I am overly fond of labeling my quilts but I think it is very important so I do it. If it is at all possible, I label directly on the back. The only drawback is if you make a mistake you are stuck with it. I don't like big muslin labels stuck on the back of a quilt, if I can avoid it. I have done those type of labels too. I used to turn under the edges and applique them down but that's so much work! Now when I do that I make two squares, sew right sides together, leave an opening, and turn and press! TaDa, no edges to turn under and you don't need to sew the opening shut as you can do that when you sew it to the quilt! I also have a stamp that I put on quilts I am not labeling so that all my quilts are marked in some way!!
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