GEMRM

If you're not confident in your free motion skills doing the letters, you can trace them from a free alphabet font onto tissue paper, pin in place and stitch. Then tear away the tissue. I did dinosaur outlines on a baby quilt like this.

copycat

Machine embroidered words on a border work well. Free-Motion words are usually done in cursive writing.

jmoore

I'm with ka9sdn, Would it take you too long to do hand embroidery?

youngduncan

When I need lettering, monograms, etc., I go to my trusty word processor and print them out using a font I like -- which one depends on what I'm doing. I pin the printed paper to my fabric and stitch over it with a contrasting thread (usually, but not always). I tear away the paper and sew in the piece of fabric.

I found this technique particularly useful when I was doing several of the "Project of Doom" quilts. That way I could determine the finished size and work with the titles of the books on the shelves much more easily than painting them or hand embroidering them.

My handwriting leaves a lot to be desired, so I got consistent results every time. I found that applying a lightweight woven interfacing gave enough body to the fabric that the wording very rarely puckered or stretched out of shape. The weight of the copy paper I printed on helped, too.

osewfast

Thank you all for the suggestions! I appreciate your input.
I'm still undecided - either FMQ the words in or embroidery.
Either way - its a fun quilt & I can't wait for my niece to see it. =)
Thanks again!
Donna Mc

cindi

I've done it both ways - applique and stitching it. If it is stitched, it won't show up unless you're up close to it. But it sure looks cool. I don't satin stitch my applique. I use a zig-zag instead. It's just up to you which will work better with your piece and how much you want to see the letters.
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meanmom

If you want to satin stitch yourself you could put a stabilizer behind it. I put a sheet of paper behind and have had good luck with that. I just use all of the old loose leaf paper left from school. My sister had some embroidery done at a t-shirt shop and it was a lot less expensive than I expected. Just depends on the look you are going for.