Advice on a Senior Quilt Project
 

I am making a senior quilt for my son's graduating class to auction at the Fall Festival. He goes to a private school so only 18 seniors. I had each student take a block and have it custom embroidered. I was going to have embroidered on the quilt the name of the school and Class of 2015. The problem is the local shop is charging me $15 per block to do the custom embroidery and so to do 6 blocks with school name and Class of 2015 will cost me another $90 ! I have already spent $300 for material, thread and batting. I know I will have material left over but still I cant afford to spend the extra money. I just have a basic baby lock and no embroidery, my life is complicated enough!!! LOL

I am wondering which will be faster, doing alphabet paper piecing blocks or just cutting out the letters and satin stitching around them (applique)? I am looking at 30 letters/numbers and will be about 4 inches each. And the festival is two weeks earlier this year! It Oct 23rd this year. I have all senior blocks and other piecing ready to put together this weekend. Just wanted some experienced quilter's opinion.

Also, labeling? I want to put a small label with my info and business (who is donating the project). Any advice? Hand write with sharping on a small piece of fabric on the back? Or draw out and satin stitch?

I promise to post when completed, it is going to be very nice.

I can't answer the lettering questions but I use Micron archival ink pens available at JAF on-line for labels on quilt. PLEASE don't use a Sharpe.

Thanks, I will pick one up next time I am near a shop.

What if you painted it with fabric paints and then quilted around each letter.

I think cutting out the letters with steam a seam on the back. Iron to the blocks and do a simple button hole stitch around them. A little less thread and bulk than satin stitch.

Wonderful ideas! I can get permanent fabric paint right???? I believe I have seen that at the quilting expo.

or you can get fabric medium to add to regular acrylic paints to make them permanent. I wish we lived closer. I have an embroidery machine. I'd do it for thread and stabilizer.

I find applique quick once you start it. I perfer it over piecing.try it, have fun too.

There is a post under Links & Resources on labeling pens. It has a link to Freckled Whimsey with the results she came up with after testing different pens. I have had a problem with fading after using the Micron pen. It has been over 5 yrs & been washed but I will have to redo it for my client.

This was my first thought, as well. I'd use freezer paper to make stencils.

Now I need advice on the actual quilting of the senior project. I have purchased variegated red white and blue thread. I was thinking of doing the white with feathered decorative quilting, doing the nine patch with stitch in the ditch and just outlining the senior blocks that are embroidered. Opinions!

Picture of senior quilt project
 

Attached picture

Auction of the quilt is tonight. Will let you know how it did!

What a great project. I would like to see a bigger picture of it. I hope the auction was a success.