Quilt Labels
 

I have been quilting since about 2000. I have made many quilts but never labeled them. So, I drug about 30 quilts of various sizes out of the attic and let them lay in my sewing room for the last month. Today I got most of them labeled. My inspiration for labeling was the BH Mystery Quilts as the last 4 (5?) are quilted and bound and finished. Now my question is...do you label every quilt, table runner, mug rug and such? How do you do it? I made quick printed labels about the quilt info with printable fabric then ironed on, then my label which is made by Kirsten sewn on. Curious, do you label every piece, what info do you provide? Wish I could do a QR code but what if that goes the way of the VCR?
Thanks for any input.
Kirsten

I don't know why but I have a very hard time labeling my quilts, it used to be that I journal all of them so unless it was a special occasion quilt then that was all I would do. Now I want to make a label for every one going forward, the only thing I would put on it would be the year the name of the pattern and my name. Don't know what else to add?

i have always found adding labels to be annoying.
not the labels themselves.
i was just too lazy to hand-stitch them to the back of the finished quilt.
(i don't trust no-sew fusibles to stay put after more than a washing or two.)

it finally dawned on me to make triangular labels.
i had some printed on fabric at spoonflower.
others i have done on my embroidery unit.

they tuck nicely into the corner and are stitched down as i attach the binding.

When I started quilting I very seriously attached a label to every quilt. I designed a label in EQ to match the blocks on the quilt, added a photo if it was to be a special gift, printed it on fabric, and hand sewed it to the back of the quilt.

Then I got lazy. I haven't labeled a quilt in a very long time, and I'm not feeling guilty about it. Well, maybe just a little.

I make most of my quilts as gifts and I always label them. I put the name of the recipient, date, pattern, and my name and city, state. I normally type the label and print it on paper and then I trace it onto plain fabric and I used an indelible pen to write on the label. I usually machine embroider a design that ties in with the them of the block first and then I write the information. Finally I cut it to size and sew it to the back of the quilt. I haven't made a quilt for myself in years but I normally put the pattern, date and my name, city, state on the plain label. Years from now my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will know the names of their quilts and when they were made.

The only things I label are very special, for example my parents 50th anniversary quilt- things of that nature.
I like the idea of it but never get around to it.

I cheat. I purchased premade cloth labels that say. Made with love by my name, and town. If I think the date is important, I will add it close to the label. But usually don't. I only label quilts, not placemats and other small items.

I do labels for special occassions, but the others not. I purchased some small satin labels off the internet. They are like 1-1/2" x 2" with my name on them. All the "not special occassion" quilts I sew these on with the binding. But I still forget to do that sometimes ha ha ha

like toverly - I will stitch the date in as well if I feel that is important

I have labeled very few of my quilts. I usually get done with the binding and I am so tired of working on the quilt I just want to fold it up and pack it away. I did make a label for wedding quilts I have made for a niece and one for my son and new wife but that is the extent of my making of labels.

I've never labeled a quilt. But I use to use one strand of embroidery floss and stitch my initials and date some where unobtrusive. You really had to look hard to find it. Haven't even done that lately.

I have labeled most of my quilts. I do find it annoying just because I finished the project and don't want to take the time to add a label. My quilting teacher was adamant about labeling. She said your name, date and where you live. I've never included where I live. I must admit that the ones I have not labeled I do regret not doing so. Some of my labels are sewn on, others just "signed" in permanent marker on the back in a corner.

I make a triangle label. Using the alphabet setting on my sewing machine, I include title of the quilt (usually block name), for whom I made the quilt, my name and date (usually just the year). It’s sewn on right with the binding. I only label quilts, not table runners, etc.

The only quilts I label are special occasion gifts. I usually consider myself lucky if I manage to take a picture. LOL I have the cute/pretty labels that come as a panel. I put whom it for, by, and the date. That's it for me.

Chiming in again. As much as I don't label quilts I love my vintage and antique quilts that have at least the person's name and date. It means a lot to me. So maybe I should start!!!

Patrice, what size do you usually make these?

I also have gotten lazy about labels. One way I have done it, though, is to embroider my name and the date right on the binding using the alphabet on my DSM. You do this before adding the binding to the quilt ... being careful to put it where it will end up on the back of the quilt. I like not having to attach a label ... but I just forget to do this! As several of you have said, by the time I get to this stage, I'm just ready to be Done!

Unless the quilt backing is dark, I write directly on the back of the quilt. There is no chance of the label being pulled off or destroyed. I have quilts my mother and graandmother made for my boys that they wrote directly on the quilt and eventhough the writing has faded slightly it is still very legible. They used plain old Sharpies. I figure using the newer micron pens the writing will hold up even better.

Over time I have learned to make this process easier. I start with a 5 inch square of rather neutral/blender fabric. Fold in half diagonally. I then write on the name of the recipient of the quilt (made for) my name (made by) and the date the quilt was finished. Sometimes I will include a quilt name or the event or reason the quilt was given but not always. I have a little personal logo that I include. (a kitty face) If there is too much open space, I will trim down the triangle. I sew the triangle into the corner so it is secured in the binding. I choose to whip stitch the top of the triangle. I have a friend who does not. Either way, our work is noted as our creation. We all think our work is not that good or not that important and no one will care but in 100 years someone will be wondering who made the quilt. The answer will be in the corner. [ATTACH=CONFIG]614532[/ATTACH]

Love the corner labels. I used a bit of the binding to frame
[ATTACH=CONFIG]614541[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]614539[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]614538[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]614537[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]614536[/ATTACH]

I try and label all the quilts I give away with the name of the recipient, the reason, the date and my name. I also take pictures of all my quilts and store on the computer and in a photo album. I do not keep pattern names, fabric info. etc. for future reference as I hardly ever make the same quilt twice. I print them on my ink jet printer and sew two sides under the binding and hand sew the other two sides.

I like your triangle ideas -- they are brilliant! I make mostly art quilts and sign them unobtrusively in the border -- with a color ink that won't detract from the quilt, but that can be seen. Just my name and date. On quilts given for an important occasion I write more on the quilt backing, sometimes adding flashy beads. I think all our quilts, traditional, modern and art are works of art and signing on the front makes me feel like an artist.

I label my quilts---embroider the info I want with my embroidery machine---put the label on the back of the quilt when I add the binding. Fast&Easy

I always give my quilt a name. Not the pattern but a name that comes to mind because of the pattern or colors of the quilt. I mostly use micron pens or fabric markers to color a flower or hearts, whatever, then tuck two sides of the label under the binding. Once when I pieced the backing, I made the label part of the backing. In addition to the quilt name, I put the name of the person I made it for, my name, date, and my city and state. If it was for a special occasion, I add that too. I love making labels.

I labeled nothing in the beginning, decades ago, but in the last 10 yrs, yes, I label everything I make or sign my name on a label for a group. Say a Project Linus label, I sign my name as the quilt maker. It will help folks down the road, if your quilts end up in thrift stores etc. I know I love seeing quilts that share a bit about the maker, and maybe the reason for the quilt itself. It's your way of saying I existed at some point in time, and that you thought of others.

I put labels on all quilts that are being sent out to shows. I print the labels on fabric using my ink jet printer and then heat set them according to the package instructions.

Rob

Not a labeller. I did label the quilt I made for a widow with her deceased husband’s shirts only because her daughters asked me to make it and I wanted that in the label.

I like those triangular labels!!

It might be useful to also write where the quilt was made. Sometimes quilts get moved around from state to state.