I've been thinking about Hinterland's lost quilt http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-107544-1.htm and how to better identify our quilts without putting personal information on them. Then it hit me - QR codes! I created a label and it works! If you go here: http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com/wor...des-on-quilts/ I've explained how to do it. I hope you think it's a good idea too!

What a clever idea!

What a great idea. Which one are you in the picture? Nice website BTW.

What a great idea!

Janet

You, my dear, are AMAZING.

What a great way to "label" the quilt!

That is an awesome idea!

Thanks Lisa - I'm the tall one!

I am sorry to here that you lost your beautiful quilt. I would find the main headquarters and go from there.

I myself don't have a smart phone, but it's a super clever way to help a lost quilt find a home. Hinterland, I'm thinking your quilt has not been found or did I miss its return home?

Great idea!

I have a dumb question. If the name and address on the label doesn't help how will the code help?

The problem still remains unless the label is a part of the quilt. If it can be removed easily then no identification will exist on the quilt.

It's not a dumb question, Frarose! It will help because you don't have to put your personal information on the quilt. I've never been a fan of putting my personal address or phone number on the quilt. The QR code will take the finder to your web page, where they can contact you directly.

The thought of a stranger knocking on my door scares me anymore - there are too many crazy people out there!

Hi Carol! I completely agree with you. However, I normally put my labels on my backing BEFORE I quilt them, so the label becomes a permanent part of the quilt. The quilting would have to be torn out of the quilt to get the label off, and it's difficult to re-quilt a quilt exactly as it was before. I don't mind that the label has flowers quilted on it - I know the label is quilted down and can't be easily removed.

It's still missing, unfortunately.

Janet

Great idea Cindi. Hello Cindi and I am from Kalamazoo well actually Comstock. Marilyn To edit my brother and sister inlaw live in Mattawan

That is a clever idea. But the very idea of someone stealing a quilt and then entering it into a quilt show, well, that really does take a criminal mind!!! I'd at least go to the judges and show them pictures of the quilt in my house, or with my kids, etc. And make such a fuss that this person would be humiliated enough so she would not steal another quilt.

What about tags you can sew inside the quilt, sorta like microchips for dogs and cats? Ones that can be washed and still work? Or, even better, ones like the On-Star finders put on cars?

Seems to me I've read recently something like that for expensive purses and thousands of dollar boots. Was it here?

I'm not sure, but I think the microchips require special equipment. The On-Star program requires satellites.

I think this is a brilliant idea because all you need is a smart phone, and if you don't have one, the person standing next to you probably does.

Great idea.Isn't technology wonderful?
I have heard about putting the label on before it is quilted, sounds like a plan.

i lie the idea of putting label on before its quilted thanks for that great tip

I went to your site and lost myself for about a half hour!! Way too much good stuff there, taking too much of my time!! :thumbup: I don't have a phone that will do that, but that is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!!

A good idea--I hadn't thought about doing it before the quilting. Thanks for sharing.

Needs to also have a locator chip sewn into it. Like the kind placed on animals. Maybe that would help too?

OOOps missed a prior post on this. Makes sense if you are sending to a quilt show, With all the technology out there, I'm sure someone could come up with what we need and add in an app to do it. Maybe some day.
In the meantime I like the sewing of the label into the quilt and the QR.
Thanks

Great idea - I also loved your information about making washing instruction tags. Got you on my favourites now!

Wouldn't this be great at quilt shows on the label so you can match up pictures with quilters, especially after the show?

and we don't all have a web page. but for those that do-good idea

My thought is that the quilt show venues should invest in the equipment and find a way to put the locator chip on your quilt when they accept it for showing.
The QRcode is a great idea!

This is a great idea. Now if only the quilts that get lost are found by honest people. Take care.
Linda

This sound like a really neet idea, but it still dose not deal with theft and I am afraid that that is what happened to Janets' quilt. I also had an idea, why could you not put a chip in the quilt like they put into pets. My son just had his dog done. He said that it was so small that the vet used a needel and the dog did not even fell it. Our guild was even thinking about purchasing one and for a small fee put chips into members quilt.

Great idea!

Many people here have mentioned the microchip, but the problem I see is that you need special equipment to read it. Yes, you do need "special equipment" to read a QR code - a cell phone with a camera and internet access. But there are WAAAAY more people with cell phones than microchip readers. The other problem with a microchip is you can't see it. If you can't see it, how do you know it's there?

My husband and I were discussing the problem of what to do if the quilter does not have his/her own website. He thinks the solution is to have people register their quilts for a dollar or two (to offset the cost of running the website) and they could register their quilt. If the quilt is lost or stolen, the website activates the page linked to the quilt. Anyone who clicks on the QR code is taken to that page, informing them the quilt is missing, and is given information on how to return it. (I've actually contacted Maria from lostquilt.com about this.)

As far as actually PREVENTING theft, I honestly don't think there is a way to do that. Anyone willing to steal will find a way.

you are right about the scanner, we were thinking that the quilt guild itself would purchase the scanner. But after looking at what was proposed here I think the developing a web-sit and letting people regester there quilts there is a great idea. As you say more people have the cell phones and they are getting more sufictacated every day. Also word of mouth. If you here of anyone setting up the web-sit please post it here on the board, I have a couple of quilts to regester.

I hadn't thought of putting the label on before quilting. That seems "too" easy, like so many of the common sense tips I'm picking up here :D

Last year in my daughter's history class the teacher found out there were several grandmothers and family members who quilt and sew, so she set up a little show one Saturday morning. She used her digital camera to take a picture of the entrant with their piece (EACH piece, as they were allowed as many as they wanted). It was for her class scrapbook, but that would be an option for a quilt show as well. No one is allowed to leave unless/until they match the photo.

Contacting Maria is another great idea - her site has been invaluable, because all I need to do is give them the link, and there's the picture of the quilt.


Janet

Okay from the pix on the site that one had the name address, etc along withe the code.

Hi there, What if someone wanted to start a business and would like to register each quilt that is made. Like a "Quilt Registry". These would include photographs of front back etc or anything relevant. We could each have our own trade mark included in the making of the quilt. There could be a website and we could post photos to register and also if a quilt is stolen. Being quilters and used to detailed work, I am sure we would get to recognise other peoples work which would include their trademark. This is off the top of my head and would probably need some more thought so if anyne has any more ideas or would like to toss this around we might be able to sort it out.
I don't mean for me to do it but reckon it would be a good job for the right person. lol Gleniveve

Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!

We could even use our names that we use on the Quilting Board. Outsiders wouldn't recognise them but we would recognise each others or get a new name just for the purpose of identification. Gleniveve

The problem with the microchips is that someone would still have to take the initiative and "scan" the chip. The chip is not a locator device. All it does is contain a special ID number that when given to the manufacturer or company that controls the database gives the inquirer the information that matches that ID number. So it would serve the same purpose as the printed code that the OP suggested.

In an animal, the chips are covered by skin. If you wash the quilt, wouldn't the chip short out?