If you don't like how you write, write it anyway. Then print it also. A written signature is very special. Just pretend you are a doctor, like someone else said on this thread.

I have been accused of being a doctor, when people see my signature. ;-)

When all the work done in the quilt is mine, I sign it somewhere. Usually initials and the date completed. I try to place it inconspicuously and simply hand sew with small stitches in the top only or quilt it through all layers. In addition, it may carry a label on the back. I thought of this when I started making charity quilts where a group name is on the back. My identifying marks are not easily found. At one of our group meetings I told fellow quilters about this and they had not noticed the signings. It is fun for me to do this. I emphasize that if anyone else has helped with the quilt I don't do it.

I made a quilt for a family auction and didn't put a label on it. The winner of the quilt brought it to me and asked me to sign it. Luckily, I had a black Sharpie in my purse, so I put my name, the date, and the event, but I hated writing on the quilt. So ever since, I have put labels on my quilts. I will take a piece of muslin and bind it with the fabrics I used in the blocks. I also sew the label into the corner when I am sewing the binding on, so two sides are machined in and two sides are hand sewn. I don't sell my quilts. Never have, never will. Each recipient knows that the quilt is special, just for him or her. If I gave a quilt to someone and they gave it away, I would be heartbroken, unless it went to a son or daughter who would treasure it, too.

I am with you on this one.

Somewhat off topic.... Can you imagine how Daphne Greig felt when she traveled from Canada to the Quilt Market in Minneapolis and the US Customs agent forced her to write "sample" IN PEN on all of her display quilts.

http://daphnegreig.blogspot.com/2010...et-report.html

I print out what I want to say on computer (except signature, I do use my signature as I have recently found mamy of my family), transfer to fabric, then embrioder.

I try very hard to label my quilts, even the ones I make for myself, although I sometimes forget. However, when I am making a quilt for a family reunion, I make sure I label the quilt with my name, city, state and date of the reunion. I like to think that this is my way of being remembered but I also get a great deal of joy and satisfaction in making the quilts.

I agree with you - I don't put labels on 99% of my quilts. They are almost always gifted to others and I really expect them to be used and washed, so they will probably be worn out before they come close to "antique." I don't make any "decorative" quilts - my personal feeling is that if I spend all that time making a quilt - I want myself or someone else to enjoy snuggling it it on a daily basis - not pack it away for safe keeping and preservation. Even the most intricate/labor intensive quilts don't have quite the same appeal to me if it can't be used. This is not to say that I wouldn't want someone to take good care of a quilt that I made for them - I do want that - but not to the extent that the quilt isn't used all the time.

For example, I made my daughter a quilt that had a great amount of work in it, for her bed. Her room gets alot of morning sun and curtains and bedding fade. But, I love walking into her room and seeing it on her bed - she loves it alot as well and loves having it. The "Mom, I love my quilt" that I frequently get from her is a wonderful thing. The quilt will probably be ragged and faded by the time she goes off to college, but we will still have the happy memories of using it. That's more important to me than if she decided to save it for her future children. You never know what the future holds - so not using lovely or special things could become a major regret.

I do however, think a quilt should be labeled if you are expecting it to be handed down for generations to come/being donated to a museum/going into some type of quilt collection. It's always nice to know the history of these quilts.

I hadn't thought about it that way. I still like an embroidered label because it lasts longer but maybe I'll start signing it so my ancestors can see my actual signature.