I'm about 2/3 done with my first quilt and am starting to think about how to label it. Does anyone have any favorite techniques or ideas about how I should label the quilt?

Also does anyone keep a scrapbook or binder documenting the quilts they complete. I want to do this for myself and was wondering if there were any ideas on how to organize one.

great question. i keep a scrap book/photo album. i jot notes with as much info as i can think of.
as far as labels i sometimes make a label but probably most of the time i use an archival (acid free) pen to just write on the back down in one corner. the minimum info would be your name and date. anything else would be gravy for whoever gets your quilt in a hundred years or so.

I often by pre-printed labels you can buy at the fabric store. They're pretty, and you can just write in your information. I've experimented with doing labels on the computer and printing them on fabric, but I always worry about them washing out. My newest experiment is to paper piece a label using fabric from the quilt itself, then writing the info on there. These are pretty cute, and make the label look like more than an afterthought!

Oh, I like your idea Harmony! I have quite a few ufo's and I have been thinking about how I want to make the labels :D

I often use a left over block and embroider pertinent information on it, such as date, name of the quilt, who it is for and what occasion, who made it and who it is from.

I read somewhere, it is best to put the label on before it is quilted, making it difficult to remove should the quilt be stolen. If the quilt shows up it might have a chance of getting back to it's rightful owner. Personally, I'm thinkin' someone who is stealing stuff would take the t.v. and the computer before they would take the quilt.

M

Here's a label I put on a quilt for a wedding gift. Heart shaped, embroidered with the stuff I mentioned above.

M

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/IMG_4201.jpg

I have downloaded quite a few quilt labels for free and then you can print them using the freezer paper method.... If I remember correctly the quilterscache site might have some basic ones. I have thought about designing my own on the computer with clip art and stuff....will add it to my 'to do' list :D :lol:

I've been quilting less than a year and a half, but have probably made twenty lap quilts in that time, so have been hard at it. I made a scrapbook, starting with my husband's offering to help with the purchase of a new sewing machine for Christmas 2006 (just a Kenmore), and a picture of me and him from Christmas day. I type captions, sentences, paragraphs, etc. about the quilt, where it went, the picture, etc., and attach them next to the photo. It's a lot of fun to go back and look at.
For labels, I use freezer paper and a piece of fabric that matches fairly well, and permanent markers - name of person it's going to, my name and city, date, name of pattern if I used one.

I do lot of applique and usually use a smaller version of the pattern, star, flower, etc and write all the info on it, satin stitch the edges and slip stitch it to the quilt or machine stitch it down if it is a design where the machine stitching won't show.

I've experimented with several things. The one that turned out the best was to take a block that I ended up not using on the front and had a friend embroider the info. on the block. I then appliqued the block to the back prior to quilting. (My machine is too old to do the nice embroidery designs).

I keep pictures of all my quilts, although I've been way too lazy to actually go buy a book to put them in. Since I just started quilting in 06, I guess I better do that while I can still remember where they all went!! :roll:

Colletta-I was "taught" that a quilt isn't finished until it has a label on. So, I guess I have some quilts that STILL aren't finished!

My favorite way to make a quilt label is on the computer. I have downloaded hundreds of fonts (for free) onto my computer and I pick one that suits the style of my quilt and its recipient. Then I type up what ever I want the label to say. I also add simple graphics if I desire. I print it out on paper, then trace onto "freezer papered" fabric using a pigma micron pen (they come in lots of colors and several sizes and you can buy them at Michael's or your LQS) and a light box. Sometimes I sew a fabric border onto my label with fabric left over from my quilt front.

I have a quilt journal that I started about 3 years after I started quilting. I went back and documented all my quilts. I write all about the quilt, what inspired me to make it, when I started and finished it, who it was for, where I bought the fabric, the finished size of the quilt, etc. I add pics of the quilt and one with the recipient. Sometimes I also include pieces of the fabrics. It is fun to go back and look at how my tastes have changed, how my quilting has improved, etc. I recommend a quilt journal to everyone.

I always embroidery name, date, and anyother info,

I usually use preprinted labels that you can write on and cut it out a quarter inch larger from the edge. Then I take a piece of muslin the same size and place them pretty side to pretty side and stich a quarter inch around edges..Then take a small pair of scisccors and cut an X across the middle of the muslin side which makes it really easy to turn it right side out and have a nice finished edge that you do not have to turn under when hand stictching it on to the back...The cut into part does not show through after you press it back into place and then stitch it onto your quilt..Try it out, you will be pleased

Perfect timing for me- I'm ready to sandwich a quilt for our reunion on the 1st. Was wondering about a label. Thanks for the help!!!

Barb

I have done it lots of ways but the one I like best is writing on the back with a permanent marker. If I mess it up then I sew a label over the top to hide the mistake.

I usually only bother with a label if it is going to be hung in a show or has some special meaning for me.

This is how I label mine. I embroider it and use the same fabric as the back and put it in the lower right hand corner.

(I scratched out my last name here)

Dawn- I like that- simple but effective.

Looks like I need to pull out the embroidery unit for my Rose and see what I can come up with.

Thanks!

Barb

I have made labels using leftover scraps from the quilt and paper pieced a miniature block off to one side from one of the quilt blocks on the front. I hope that I am making sense? :roll:

Susan

That's a unique idea. I love it!

It takes a little bt of time, but well worth the effort!

Susan

What a neat idea, I didn't hink of that.

I hope you are able to try it at least once.

Susan