Labels on quilts.....
 

When you put a label on your finished quilts do you put it on before you quilt it or after. If you put it on before you quilt it how do you keep from quilting through the middle of it.

If you put it on afterwards, what method do you use to sew in on?

Last quilt I finished (the Pittsburgh Steeler) I put the label on and then quilted it. Of course, ended up with quilting on the label. I'm about to finish another quilt and haven't decided how I'm going to attach this label.

Thanks!

I put my label on last. After it has been quilted and bound. I add the label and then wash it. I just sew it on with silk thread like I do when I hand-applique. HTH

I put it on after the binding is finished. I use a blind stitch like I do with the binding.

I've put labels on the back and then quilted them. No one will be taking those labels off. It work's either way.

I usually put mine on after the quilting.

I blanket stitch by hand the label on with contrasting pearl embroidery thread. It's the only hand stitching on my quilts, so my family better appreciate it - of course, they do. Non family quilts get a blind stitched label.

i put mine on last, but more important.... what do you put on the label.... please put as much info as possible... I tell students to write the label to their great-great-grandchildren. No one will know who 'Nana' is... full names, with maiden name, dates, for whom (more full name)... quilt name (if applicable).... occasion (if applicable)... just think of your favorite quilt... what would you like to know about this quilt... did your grandmother make it or did she make it with you mom and aunts when they were young... did the lady next door quilt it for her? was it for a wedding anniversary? someone's wedding or birthday? give the info you would like to know....

This is how I do mine as well. I don't care that it has been quilted through because it means that the label is secured. I truly believe it is a personal choice though!

I made a quilt for my niece in Florida.I embroidered the date I made it how many hours Where i lived and thier wedding date and where they were married. I did this in the sleeve. They loved it.

I use a double sided fuse. Cut fusable piece smaller that label, tuck under edges and fuse to quilt corner after quilting and before binding. Put on binding, then I hand quilt the binding on, going around the edges of label as I stitch binding. I also take a permanent fine line pen and put the owner's name somewhere on the quilt in very tiny lettering. That way, if someone takes the label off, they still have a way of claiming it.

the good part about putting it on first is that the quilt's identity would be difficult to remove

I put my labels on after I quilt. I secure the side and bottom edges when I put the binding on and then I slip stitch the top and the other side by hand. Prior to attaching the label, I always turn the extra fabric under and on the edges that aren't secured by the binding I do a straight stitch. I like the looks of it.

I've attached a pix so you can see what I mean. . . .

Somewhere, I heard to put the label on before you quilt and then it cannot be removed very easy incase years have gone by or it is taken by the wrong person. I thought this was a great idea.

I sometimes put the label on AFTER quilting but BEFORE binding. That way the label can be stitched in with the binding on two sides and can't be removed easily. Cut a piece of fusible web the same size as the label, stitch around the edges, RST, slit the back and turn. You can then press your label onto the quilt before handstitching it on and it won't move.

I usually use a contrasting block (6 to 8") and hand write "TO... with love from..." Then I add the date made and the reason the quilt was made. (Happy Birthday, Anniversary, Christmas. Or, Just because I love you!) I feel silly putting my full name on the block because most of my quilted items go to family, but the few I have given quilts to say that they appreciate the label block. They will always remember me! When finished writing (with a laundry pen), I incorporate the block into the back of the quilt. right in the middle! I will sometimes embroider, by hand, some flowers or something on the corners. Then the quilting goes right over the label. However I have only done SITD quilting. I will get a frame and get brave some day and do something else.

I do after!!

I haven't done a lot of quilts and when I first did the gd quilts, didn't realize that they needed a label. I embroidered on the front of the quilt who it was to and from. The last quilts I did were for gs and did make a label and added it on after it was quilted. (IMHO) The idea of quilting the label on I think is fantastic. It won't come unsewn as likely as the slip stitched ones do.

I machine embroidery my information directly on the back of my quilt, before it is quilted. This way the information is always there. Quilting through the information does not distort it. It probably gets down to whether or not you want that label to last as long as the quilt does.

I put it on after quilting and binding are complete using fusible bonding tape on the turned under edges, then do a blind handstitch around it.

Thanks everyone!!! I love the idea of attaching so that the binding catches it. I'm going to use that from now on.

You guys are the best!!!

On quilts for children, I always put them on and quilt over them. They tend to get lots of washing and lots of love.

On wedding quilts, I put them on last. The last one I made has had the label removed because of a divorce. I don't want to feel like I am jinxing a marriage, but the last bride loved the quilt, just not the guy. I hand stitch them on.
Jan

It's personal preference. If you sew them on afterwards, they can be removed. Is that important to you? If you want them on permanently, you quilt through it or fuse it on. I want it on permanently (I'm the artist after all), so I've switched to fusing after quilting. I put my name, date, city and state on my label. It doesn't include other details.