Labeling your quilts
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
I don't label my quilts. I've bought stuff to make labels, even designed some on Spoonflower and ordered samples...but when it comes time to do it...I just don't.
I've thought about it, and I have come to the conclusion that I just don't like labels!
I don't label anything else I make. When I make a stuffed animal or a wall hanging or a sculpture or a painting or a throw pillow, I don't stick a label on it saying when it was made, who it was made for, what year, what city....nope. I just make it and give it. I don't even usually sign paintings or drawings - only time I have that I can think of is when it was something for a class that had to be handed in. I HAVE scribbled messages to the recipient on the backs of things like canvases before, but nothing formal like a label, more like a casual note. If I have a special message I want to accompany something I've made, I make a little card or tag I can pin or tie onto the item with a bit of yarn.
It's not that I don't think I'm an artist (I do) or that I'm not proud of my work (I am)...I just don't like labels on my creations.
I don't necessarily dislike labels on OTHER people's quilts - not trying to say other people shouldn't label their stuff all they like or that there's anything wrong with it. I just don't really like them on my stuff. Personal preference.
I think maybe if I were shipping a quilt off to be in a show, I might label it so it wouldn't get lost. But I'd probably try to make it something I could remove later. And I don't really foresee myself doing that anyway - my quilts are more "drag around and make forts out of it" type quilts rather than show quilts.
I've thought about it, and I have come to the conclusion that I just don't like labels!
I don't label anything else I make. When I make a stuffed animal or a wall hanging or a sculpture or a painting or a throw pillow, I don't stick a label on it saying when it was made, who it was made for, what year, what city....nope. I just make it and give it. I don't even usually sign paintings or drawings - only time I have that I can think of is when it was something for a class that had to be handed in. I HAVE scribbled messages to the recipient on the backs of things like canvases before, but nothing formal like a label, more like a casual note. If I have a special message I want to accompany something I've made, I make a little card or tag I can pin or tie onto the item with a bit of yarn.
It's not that I don't think I'm an artist (I do) or that I'm not proud of my work (I am)...I just don't like labels on my creations.
I don't necessarily dislike labels on OTHER people's quilts - not trying to say other people shouldn't label their stuff all they like or that there's anything wrong with it. I just don't really like them on my stuff. Personal preference.
I think maybe if I were shipping a quilt off to be in a show, I might label it so it wouldn't get lost. But I'd probably try to make it something I could remove later. And I don't really foresee myself doing that anyway - my quilts are more "drag around and make forts out of it" type quilts rather than show quilts.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,256
I find the notion very romantic, that we are labeling our quilt for someone 200 years down the road who finds it in a dusty attic, so they know something of its history. That's why I do it. Granted, most (if any) of our quilts won't be that one, but . . . just in case!
#24
It's relatively fast and easy to add a label and I do mine as the last, finishing touch. Make them as simple or as intricate as you want, or as the occasion merits, but please try to get in the habilt of doing it. Think about that child who will someday be handed a quilt by his mother and told, "They say this was made by your great-great-grandmother back at the beginning of this century, but no one knows for sure." Let them be sure!
#25
If anybody sees this far down - just curious how you'd label a quilt for a soon-to-be born baby girl. I was thinking I could put the last name of the parents, as in "baby girl Smith" or something...but they're not married and have different last names so I don't want to assume anything. Not sure.
#26
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
Posts: 10,477
Some of the earlier ones got away, but now I do all of them, in case someone a hundred years from now is interested when it was made. I put the number, the name I gave it, who it's for, my name and place I live. I sew it on the back, after quilting.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,255
If anybody sees this far down - just curious how you'd label a quilt for a soon-to-be born baby girl. I was thinking I could put the last name of the parents, as in "baby girl Smith" or something...but they're not married and have different last names so I don't want to assume anything. Not sure.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 559
When I hand quilt a quilt, I will sew my initials or name somewhere and the year. I try to not let it be obvious.
Recently bought a stencil...am going to try fabric paint on it and fill in the pertinent info..
Recently bought a stencil...am going to try fabric paint on it and fill in the pertinent info..
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Tri-Cities, Washington
Posts: 757
If anybody sees this far down - just curious how you'd label a quilt for a soon-to-be born baby girl. I was thinking I could put the last name of the parents, as in "baby girl Smith" or something...but they're not married and have different last names so I don't want to assume anything. Not sure.
I always label the ones I make for gifts but around my house if I make a quilt I am usually on to the next one before I get to the label. Bad habit I know.
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