Veterans, could you comment on your quilt labels? Is there a "traditional" location for the label? What do you always include? Is it embroidered or can one use the ink pens for quilting? Is a regular "permanent" sharp-point marker ok to use? hmmm If I've left something out, please comment anyway?
Thank you!!!

I almost always place my label on the right hand side, bottom, on the back of the quilt. Is that as clear as mud!! I have done both types of labels, embrodered and with cloth markers ( usually usearchival ink ). I include the date the person it is going to , who it was made and quilted by ( me ), and usually the reason for the giving.
Hope this helps.

I don't think there are any rules for how you make your label... no quilt/label police here :D:D:D
I put mine on the lower right corner too... don't know why though LOL

I always did lower right. I am re-thinking that.

You can put a quilt label anywhere on the front or back, I guess the most common place is a lower back corner. I include quilt name, who it is for, made by, and the date always and then feel free to add any additional info. A number of different ways to "write" the label can be used however a sharpie or other permanent marker normally used for paper is not the best to use for your label. It will sometimes bleed and eventually fade when washed. There are pens made to write on fabric, one being the Pigma pen. I'm sure others will chime in on what they use--in the end it is mainly up to you what you include and how it is written.

I have a friend who has been quilting forever, or so... she always uses a permanent pen to write her name on the quilt backing and then places the label over her name. That way if something happens "unexpected", it will always have a way home. Also, Alex Anderson suggested tucking some extra fabric from the quilt in behind the label in case of repairs need.

Since my quilts have always gone to family or close friends, I don't put a label. I just put bj and the year in the lower right corner of the border, on the back.

I place my label in the back left hand corner. I think it is a personal choice because I am left-handed.

I put mine in the lower-right-back corner, and I embroider the info by hand. It looks a little basic, but for some reason I prefer it to a pen. I have a very old sewing machine that doesn't do embroidered letters!

I guess I'm a little different than most quilters. I put my label on the front, bottom right hand corner. That's where most artists sign their paintings so that's where I label my quilts.

No rules. Sometimes on the back, sometimes on the front, sometimes in a block on the front. Whenever possible, I put the label on before quilting. That way it is much harder to remove. I use a Pigma Pen for the writing.

Back lower left corner, usually, because it's easier for me to applique it down in that position somehow. I usually print my labels out on my inkjet printer using regular fabric which I adhere to a piece of freezer paper cut to printer paper size. If these are allowed to thoroughly dry - as in days or weeks - before washing, they seem to hold up fine for me.

Jan in VA

I put my labels on the back lower left corner! I use the computer to make my labels using the packaged computer fabric. There are some great sites on the internet to print for labels.

Like others have stated, I don't think there's a right way or a wrong way.

I personally like to hand embroider my labels and use fusible bond to attach them followed by tiny stitches around the perimeter.

On the bottom, could be right or left.....

I no longer make labels. I use a pigma pen and actually write on the quilt. Hey, painters sign the fronts of their paintings, why can't quilters sign the fronts of their quilts. I also write on the backing who, what, when, where and why. I sew a small square of plain fabric into the backing and then write on that.

i know a quilter who cuts her binding strips, puts them together, presses them and then writes down the strip a whole story sometimes about the quilt...then attaches the binding to the quilt...it is really cool to sit with one of her quilts...realize there are words along the binding, find the beginning and start reading it....
for me most often i just make a label either with thread or ink and place it where it works on that quilt usually on the back. i have also written whole 'stories' to go with quilts...for the game quilts i printed out game instructions and incorporated them right into the quilts then added my name and date to one. i have written on the front of quilts at times and one quilt i (quilted) the label...meaning i started at the beginning of the quilt, quilting it and wrote the quilt story as part of the quilting. it does not matter how you label your quilts it is only important that you do label your quilts!

I always did lower right, too, as that is generally where quilt shows have requested it be placed. But I have usually oriented it the same as the quilt; that is, the top of the label is faced toward the top of the quilt. Then I saw someone's quilt label that was faced what would look upside down while the quilt was hanging, but when you flip up the corner to read it, it was just right! I'm doing THAT from now on - especilly for wall hangings!

I would like to start putting labels on my quilts, i did baby quilts for each of the 11 grandchildren, and are starting on college quilts (2 girls in college), I would like to know, what kind of labels do you all use? I used to sign and date the right hand corner bottom of the baby quilts, but would like something more permanent.

Game quilts? can you explain these? and what a wonderful idea to write along the binding!!

I found a tute for printing with an ink-jet printer, directly onto fabric. Does this really work? It opens up all possibilites if it does! Who has tried this?

I've done it before onto the treated fabric pieces you can buy at the quilt shop. I did a whole letter to someone on fabric and it came out nicely.

I usually print my label out on injet printer any info I want to include then use pigma pen to sign my name. Apply to lower right corner

Great idea... I think I will consider attaching mine upside down as well. I think that makes sense to flip it that way... even if you are sitting on couch and tried to read it that would be easier to read! =)

I'm so thankful someone posted this. I've been searching all morning for the woven labels that you can purchase for your handmade items. I've yet to find a single place where I can buy any labels. Several years ago I purchsed some of these, but now you have to make your own. the problem i have with this is, that my printer is an ink jet printer, if the item gets washed, the label will fade. Can anyone point me in the right direction where I can actually purchase some premade?
Thanks
Gina

I machine embroider (1) the name of the quilt, (2) who it was made for, (3) my name, (4) the date finished and (5) the city and state I live in. I place the label on the lower right corner of the back and stitch it along with the binding. Then I hand stitch the two sides that are not caught up in the binding.
I think that the person who also writes the info on the quilt itself under the label (in *case* something happens to the label) has a very good idea, what with all the thefts of quilts and the changing of names and labels to take credit for work not done by the thieves. What a sorry statement of the society we live in now.

Your label is part of your personal history. Put as much information as you want--I put lots--with at least your name, the date and the location. I use Pigma pens on muslin. I border the muslin rectangles with a fabric from the quilt and put it on the lower left hand side of the back. But there are no rules. Do what you feel comfortable with. Just be sure you get that label on there!

froggyintexas

Gail-r from the board here did a label for me and it turned out very nice. Maybe she still does it. I've seen her in the classified section a few times.
:D

I use a printed quilt label and put it on the back bottom right side. Since I am making Baby quilts for the great-grands (none of whom are born yet), I sign my "Nona" name, along with my full name and date the year I finished it. I always include "I love you very much". Each of the Mothers of this next generation will get to pick from my stash of Baby quilts. I know that all of my children and spouses have saved the quilts that I gave each of their children. All have been well used, some of which I have redone three times. That's exactly what I have hoped.

I always do mine on the top right. I figured they can be cozy under the quilt and glance at the quilt label, especially the quilts that I give my sisters, grandkids, brothers-family. For very special I hand embroider for most I use the Pigma pens , sometimes I will include a saying, Bible verse, beside all the other info. as to who,why and when.

I bought some pre-made labels at my LQS that are printed on good quality muslin. They have cute sewing machines and different designs around the machines. You can color them with brush tip dye pens. They're kinda big..about 5.5" by 4.5" but very nice. They come six to a package, all on one piece of fabric so you can hoop them for embroidery if you want. The design is by Lonna Nachtigal and the pattern publisher is Block Party Studios, Inc. in Nevada, Iowa. There's no website shown on the package. I haven't used them yet, but will soon.

I've also seen fabric on a bolt that had pre-printed labels ready to be signed.

I'm glad to see this discussion and I have a question on labels too: Has anyone sort of hidden the label? I'm thinking of placing the label inside a sort of flap that buttons closed so that you can open it up and see the label or leave it closed and have everything matching on the backing. I'm thinking of this 'cause I want the quilt to be reversible. Think this would work?

Hi, I was wondering where you buy the Pigma pens? I have not heard of them. I made a label using my injet printer, on a quilt I made for our granddaughter in college, but the label didn't hold up. (Lots of washings). I would like to replace it with a better label.

I see the pigma pens in the scrapbooking section of a hobby store.

Only one thing to add. Sew your label on the backing by machine, before you sandwich the quilt. Pre plan, of course.

I haven't used them yet, but I just ordered them online from Amazon.com. To find them, I searched their site for "Pigma pens".

I posted earlier about some pre-printed labels I found at my LQS. There was no website shown on the packaging, but I opened them to use one and there it was: http://www.blockpartystudios.com
They have all kinds of pre-printed labels and fabric panels. I like the one that says "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house."

I started ink jet printing my labels last year and have decided that is what I like. I also want to learn how to put designs on them, but so far all I do is write information. :)

My understanding is that if you want the computer printing on labels to last, you need to pre-treat the fabric with a product like Bubble Jet Set (search for it online) and then after printing, use something like Retayne to set the ink.

Even when using a pen, it might help to "set" the ink by ironing the label after it's made.

My friend gave me about 250 labels with my name embroidered on them for my birthday a few years back. Extra - special quilts have this sewn on the back, bottom right hand corner.