my granddaughter wants to have peaple sign on pieces of material at her wedding instead of a quest book and then i make her a quilt with them. have know idea what pattern to us what kind of pen should they sign with should i put some kind of stablized behind the ones they write on any and all heip needing

Pigma pens work well when heat set and come in many colors. There may be something that goes with her wedding colors.

Ironing fabric to freezer paper makes it easier to write on.

One suggestion- people sometimes sign within the seam allowance. I'd cut the squares quite a bit bigger than the actual finished size and maybe put a freezer paper frame around the area where you want them to sign. Possible you could run the frame paper through your printer before cutting and include a message or instructions.

I made a quilt for my daughter also. We had the size of strips to be signed, backed with freezer paper ironed on, and on the front I would recommend use masking tape to cover the seam allowance so no one will write in them. You can use the pigma pen, but sometimes they are "scratchy" and hard for people to write with. We used an Identi.Pen we got from Michaels website. Her colors were pink and brown so we got brown pens. We got extras, and sent the fabric and pens to grandparents that couldn't come and that way they had their signatures also. You will have to decide if you want only a signature, or if you will have space for a little something said.

I agree with Bin, and would just add tying a string to the pen so folks don't walk off with it. I did a "going away" log cabin for a co-worker and it turned out great! Wish I had a picture of it.

I knew someone who made a quilt top first, then had it be signed at the reception. It was beautiful, everyone got to appreciate it at the wedding, and no one wrote in the seam allowance!

I made a 'signed' quilt also - I took the blocks to the wedding before they were sewn all together - one thing you MAY want to keep in mind is to let the people know ahead of time so they will be able to think of something to say - less time consuming that way.

It's not quite the same, but...

A good friend of mine actually sent blocks to all of her guests for them to decorate and sign. They knew what her colors were, and most stuck with that plan. Many of them were not washable (paper on the blocks - one actually cut up the invitation and turned it into a beautiful block), so she made a really gorgeous wall hanging with the unwashable ones, and put the others on her bed.

I don't know how close to the wedding you are, but it's an idea!

I attempted this for a friends 50th and forgot to put the seam allowance on(was just getting into quilting at the time..ambitious me)..any suggestions as people used up most of the strip to write on..

A lot of work, but could you applique them onto something else?

I think this is a wonderful idea! And, binthepink, the quilt you did for your daughter is just the perfect size. What a wonderful treasure you created for her and your SIL.

This only works if people actually remember to do it and send them back. I had a not-so-favorable experience with this method.

Thank you Marcia. I have been trying to think if there was anything else, and all I could remember was we had a scrap at the wedding for the people to practice writing on because if they hold the pen down too hard the ink will bleed some. We did the pieces instead of a finished quilt because if something like that happened the piece could be replaced right there, and also then we knew how many spots we needed when we made the quilt. But it's whatever works for you. My daughter does really love it and it hangs right in her entry.

We did this at Christmas this year, had everyone sign a bleached muslin square. I like using pigma pens, they won't run, and will stand up to lots of washings. go to http://www.quilterscache.com/ and search for friendship stars or blocks, and there are some that will work for this

I just did this for my mom's 80th. I used the pigma pens but the larger 05 size, not the 03. I drew in pencil the seam lines and people still went outside the lines! LOL I ironed freezer paper to the back for stability. You do have to heat set the ink with a hot iron.

I used a simple 6" block. If you just want signatures, specify that. We have lots of wonderful sentiments on hers, but then they signed, 'love Joe', etc. Right now we know who they all are, but I made a chart for her with exactly who signed where. The drawings were great too. Mom loves it.

I was at my niece's show, and one of the guests had pigma pens and squares of fabric for us to sign, draw a picture or whatever. However, there was a heart drawn on the square and you were required to stay within the boundaries of the hearts. When my niece was married several months later, she was presented with the quilt - the hearts were appliqued to the quilt. My mother, who was at the shower, at passed away, so it had even more meaning to my niece. The woman who made the quilt entered it in the local guild quilt show and won best of show!

great quilt.