Quilt Labels
DCMQG Members met on September 2022 and shared many tips regarding Quilt Labels.
See below for some inspiration!
Tanya (@mdwhiskey417) shared that she embroiders her labels for special quilts because she likes the extra special touch it adds to a quilt (picture on the left). She also uses @everemblem labels and thinks they are a fantastic way to label without the extra effort. Mary Jane (@greenhouse5835) also embroiders beautiful labels on the quilts she gifts (picture on the right).
Jane (@jcampknits) makes lovely triangles and attaches them to the corner of her quilts when binding. Here are her directions: "Basically, you cut a square and fold it in half on the diagonal. Write (or laser print) the information. Then match it to a corner of the quilt and sew it into the seam while attaching the binding. I usually do both sides of my binding by machine, so I line up the label and sew it the first seam of the binding on the back. Then I flip the binding to the front and top stitch it in place. I’m sure it would also work if you attach binding to the front and hand stitch to the back, including the label in the hand sewing.”
The top part of the triangle is left open so it can potentially carry a card. Jill shared an Instagram tutorial from @juniperusthreadworks on how to create and attach a similar triangular label.
Elle (@ellerby77) often just uses the thread she is binding with to do a very quick embroidery with her name and sometimes the date. Sometimes she hides her name in the free-motion quilting on graffiti-style quilts. Nice idea!
Bia (@beatrizsaggese) likes to machine embroider personalized messages on her quilts. Sometimes she adds another personal touch by adding an antique doily and a message handwritten with a Micron pen. It all depends on her antique shop finds.
Jill (@crafty_giraffe) also likes simple labels from @everemblem because she tends to get frustrated making more detailed labels, and that was keeping her from binding/finishing quilts. She ordered the ones on the picture earlier this year and that way, if nothing else, she puts them on when sewing the binding and the most basic info is ready. The best part for her is that it all feels more complete.
Mayre (@hand.made.goods.by.mayre) also loves emblem labels and she personalized them by writing washing instructions. Dutch labels (@dutchlabelshop) is also used to print generic labels by several guild members.
Generic labels were discussed as an option if you don’t want to personalize your quilts too much, so they can be passed from one person to another.
Ashley (@smartash_b) and Jill (@crafty_giraffe) like to use Micron Pens (available on Amazon) to write personalized messages on their labels.
Nancy mentioned that she likes to write the date the quilt was made. Phyllis (@sewtogetherphyllis) mentioned that she likes to record both the date she started and the date she ended the quilt :-)
Phyllis (@sewtogetherphyllis) uses the following steps to create her very personalized labels: (1) design the label on the computer; (2) iron cotton to freezer paper (8.5 x 11); (3) using an ink jet printer, prints her design on the cotton/ freezer paper; (4) let sit until dry, rinse off, dry and voila! Here are some of her very cool labels.
Elle (@ellerby77) mentioned that it is probably a lot more cost effective now to buy fabric prepared for printing with ink jet printers, but you can attach fabric to the full-sheet label papers and run it through the straight tray on an ink jet printer to make pretty effective labels.
Gretchen (@goodquiltco) uses a local ink jet printer service (www.novaquilting.com) who prints personalized messages directly on fabric. This service uses a standard 4-color printing process so you can print photos or other graphics, as opposed to a process like screen printing where you are limited to 1-3 colors.
Linda (@oneofakindtextiles) has used Transfer Artist Paper to print images on a transparent fabric that is then attached to the quilt preserving the background of the quilt. The Transfer Artist Paper can be found at Artistic Artifacts and comes in sheets of 8.5 x 11. She shared a picture of the material as well as a book about transfers.
There are some very creative ideas from members who donate charity quilts. See some great examples below:
Cindy (@cddm7) makes a little sandwich which creates a raised surface and then attaches the label with a blanket stitch.
Stephanie (@stephpowellsews) goes all out with amazing machine embroidery. Look at the embroidered fox and bunny which match the fabric of the front! Also, how about the hearts around the label! And this emblem! Wow!
Anne (@anne5vt) did a nice frame for the charity label, echoing the binding.
Lisa (@lhpogue) pieces the labels in unexpected places of the backing, creating a little surprise when you turn the quilt.