Labeling A Quilt
 

I am giving my baby quilt away once it's done and I want the baby's name and birthdate to be on it. I do have an embroidery machine, but I am also noticing very nice labels which appear to be handwritten. This is such a minor question I'm almost embarrassed to ask, but what pens do you use to mark these? I have never gotten into fabric marking with permanent markers and am interested in it.

Thanks so much,
Carla

when i use a pen, i use Zig Millenium. it is archival pigment ink. it has a very fine point.

I use IDenti.pens by Sakura. I bought then at my LQS, but I am sure you can get them online, too. I did a signature quilt for my granddaughter's wedding and it turned out very well and has washed up nicely.

JoAnns has permanent pens in their quilting notions section that come in a pack of different colors that are for writing on quilts (Frixon?)

if you really do mean Frixion, don't use them for your labels... they disappear with heat/ironing. i love my Frixion pens for marking the quilts for quilting.

I think what you're looking for are pigma pens. I bought a set online a couple of years ago to use up here at our summer cabin. I have more at the winter place but they are different sizes. I like the .05 size because it is thick enough to do a nice label. The skinny pens .005 are really too thin and I have to go over my lettering several times to get a nice label.

You can usually find these at quilt shops, too. I don't know if Joann's carries them. I don't go there often and haven't looked for them.

I also use the Micron Pigma fine point pens, bought them at Hobby Lobby with a coupon as they are a little pricey.

I have the Pigma pens, but find them too fine and can't get a nice flow on my penmanship so I bought a set of fabric marking pens at either Michaels or AC Moore, can't remember which, but them have 2 points, one fine and the othpeis like a marker type. They work the best.

NO! Frixion pens are not permanent! The ink will disappear with heat, and also will wash out.

I have used Pentel 'Gel Roller for Fabric' pens.

Actually I had thought of embroidering his name, and I guess I'll try that first. I'm just concerned about it being bigger than I really want. I have to drive an hour to get to any of the craft stores and half a day to get to some of them (JoAnn's). There is a Staples nearby which carries the Zig Millennium but the price — ouch! I'll try embroidery. At the least, I can put his initials on it.

Thank you, everyone.

~ Carla ~

I also use the Micron Pigma fine point pens.

Sometimes it costs less to pay the shipping on an on-line order than to drive to a store to pick up the item.

Don't use Sharpies! The smell is terrible and won't go away. Don't ask me how I know.

Oh, agree. Several times I've ordered items when it would cost me more to drive, shop, and (probably) get lunch out than to pay shipping. One of the difficult things about living in a small town, which I kind of like otherwise.

~ Carla ~

Micron pigma pens.... Permanent, acid free, do not bleed/fuzz along the edges.

Are these permanent? I have several colors but haven't tried them for labels.

When making labels for Giving Quilts, I go to Word on my computer to print out the message on paper. I stabilize the fabric, usually muslin, by ironing Freezer Paper to the back.

My "light box" is a plastic shoebox with a piece of plexiglass on top. Harbor Freight has a dandy little blue square flashlight (sometimes it's free) that can shine upward. The paper goes on the plexiglass, then the stabilized fabric. I use a Pigma Pen to trace the message.

If you're talking about Frixion pens, those are NOT meant for labels. You use them to mark a design or something on the pattern. When you iron them, they come off.

I love handwitten labels and Pigma pens. froggyintexas

I looked for the Pigmas at my local office supply today but they don't have them. I guess I'm going to have to drive an hour to a town in the area. That's so awful. (There are yarn and quilt shops in that town. ;-))

~ Carla ~

I live 25 miles one way from the nearest WalMart so I have learned to order on line and save gas and the hassle of fighting the crowds. Plus I can get exactly what I want AND don't have to worry about driving somewhere only to find out they don't have what I want. I pay 3.60/gal for gas and get 25 mi/gal so I can order on line and pay for shipping cheaper than driving to get stuff.

I just found a set of Tulip fabric pens (packaged just like water color pens) at Walmart yesterday, and plan to use them today to produce a doodle on white pre-washed fabric, then let it ride though a few loads while I do laundry tomorrow to see if they fade. I will make an extra, small unwashed sample to compare the washed colors to. I will post my results.

(I once used a sharpie on a comforter/bed spread I bought that had pale red roses, to make them bright red to match my room. Took me weeks of coloring but when I was done, I loved it! Remember that sharpies run/bleed badly on fabric, but this one instance it was not a problem.)

Here's a good article about this:
http://www.freckledwhimsy.com/2010/0...ns-to-use.html

I use copic multiliners.

I am sending you a PM......

Very interesting article, Gale. Thank you!

~ Carla ~

I like to use the Micron Pigma pens for labels, and they have held up well.

Are you familiar with Planet Embroidery. You can join free and there are many freebies on the site. That is my go-to for labels for my quilts. You will also need a program like Embird to size and adjust your words to suite you. You type in the info you want to emb. and then get it in your format. Freebies, I'm talking about the fonts you chose to use.

or do the label using your computer. Use June Taylor sew in computer printer fabric(gold package) available at Joann's. Go to Microsoft office, then to Microsoft word, select insert and search for a picture that closely resembles your focus fabric or the name of your quilt. Remove the square and add your information as to name of quilt, date made and by whom. Use scrap paper to practice. You can change the colors, size and format. Remember to remove the paper off the fabric before sewing onto your backing. Some people embroider all the information about the quilt on the back binding before stitching it. Be sure to take a picture of your quilt, write all the information and put in an album.

I know neither Planet Embroidery nor the June Tailor fabric. The nearest JoAnn's to me... not sure but a minimum of 2 hours of freeway driving. Of course, I can always make an order online. Thanks for the suggestions, Eva and sylviasmom!

As it has transpired I am fearful of running out of thread before I finish quilting and I can't get any of my color in town, but the as-yet-unvisited quilt shop in the town about an hour away said on the phone today that they have it. I will go tomorrow afternoon and will also shop for ways to put the child's name on his quilt while there. The quilt is for is a special needs newborn who will be in the hospital for some weeks yet so I want a label and I plan to sew the thing VERY securely to the quilt, so it can't easily be removed. Sad that my trust in mankind is at such a low level but... there it is. And I have to say I am excited about this new shop. A friend gave it a good review. :thumbup: I might just happen to take a peek at fabric for a quilt for my father — just sayin'.

~ Carla ~

I use micron pigma they have different size from very fine to thicker, size 3 - 9 point.

What section in Hobby Lobby did you find the pens Jeanne S, I haven't seen any sets just 1 pen & it isn't Pigma.

Well, I pulled a boner: I left the quilt shop and was several miles on my way home when I realized I had never even looked for labeling pens. (head smack) — I do believe I'm headed for a wee bit of hand embroidery. LOL. Thanks, everyone. I have learned a lot and gotten some great links out of this thread <small> even if I am too stupid to even look at the list I have in my hand.</small>

~ Carla ~