does anyone label directly on the back of the quilt with a special fabric pen? if so what might the longevity be, and what information do you include.

i have done a few this way with a pen i got at a quilt shop. but nobody seems to know quite how long the ink should last. it is marked as archival so i assume it is safe for fabric over the years. but how many times can something be laundered and still be readable?
any ideas??

I have read that the latest trend is to write the info on the back of your quilt with the fabric pen but then to also make a label like we always have and attach that over the pen info.so it is double labeled

I don't think my method is what's recommended, but I just sign BJ and the date finished on the back down in the binding, usually close to a corner with permanent, fine-line sharpie. My quilts all go to friends or family, so figure that'll do.

I use the pens I bought at a quilt shop (pigma) to write on the back of my quilts. My granddaughter is 4 now and i made her a quilt for her first birthday wrote a message on the label attached it to the back of the quilt and it still looks as good as when I did it. She drags that blankie everywhere, my daughter has to wash it almost every other day. I think she 'll wear the quilt out long before the writing wears off LOL :lol: :lol: :lol:

i'm not sure it is a good idea to use a sharpie. i don't think they are archivally safe. as i have said before i am a bookbinder in my real life and i have seen much old paper, which was made of rag, that was damaged or destroyed by the use of inks which contained acid. i can only assume that cotton fabric would be at as great a risk as rag paper.
please does someone have the low down on this issue.

I haven't got the lowdown so to speak, but I use Pigma pens on a separate label which is attatched to the bottom corner before binding. My oldest finished quilt is 15 years old and the lettering is still perfectly readable, if that's any help :D

What sort of thing do you write on your labels? I've had some made up that just say 'handmade for you by Enola'

I also use the pigma pen that I bought at a quilt shop. Sometimes I sign directly on the back of the quilt and sometimes I make a separate label. I usually just write Made With Love by (name) and I always put the year.

I usually put the name of quilt, my name, year finished ( don't put the start date cause it can take me years to finish and thats just plain embarrassing :lol: ) Bit of info ie Hand/machine appliqued/pieced etc and any special care instructions if needed, ie Hand wash for wool batt or hand applique, oh yes, and who it was made for.

I try to do this at the time of binding cause I know that if I leave it untill later, it's very unlikely to ever get a label :lol: I'm the Queen of procrastinators, I've developed it into an art form :lol:

Oh, a wee tip I just remembered, if you iron the fabric you wish to write on onto frezzer paper, it stabilizes it and makes it much easier to write on.

I agree with you Shelly. I always iron my label to freezer paper than write. I'll put who its to, if for a birthday I'll write like happy first birthday Kerri a little note on it just for her (like grandma loves her little Kare bear, her nick name) and the year.
For a new baby I' ll put their name, day of birth, weight and inches and signed by me.
More or less I put a personal note on the back no matter what the occasion. I made a feel better blanket for one of my granddaughters when she had to have surgery.

I actually used a white square of fabric and attached it to the back of the Americana Wallhanging that i made my mom. I used a fabric pen I got on sale at Wal-Mart.

Oh, the label said:

Happy Birthday Mom
I love you
Heather
October 4, 2007