Wedding Quilt
 

I am planning on making a wedding quilt where people sign their name in a block that I will add to the quilt. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to do this? Should I make the quilt first, or have the blocks for people to sign and then make the quilt later. How do I assure they don't sign in the seam allowance? Would appreciate any suggestions as I have never done this before.
Also, glad for any suggestions as to how to set this up at the wedding site or should I mail the blocks ahead of time?

Plan out a template mark the seam allowance or cover with tape ( time consuming) Maybe just make the quilt ahead of time if there is time. Make sure to use the correct type of marking pen ( not sure what one that is) sharpies leave a pretty mark on the face if used! ask how I know that!!

What about using painter's tape around the edge - tape it to a piece of card stock. Depending on the size maybe use a 4 x 6 card to tape it to.

I have heard (haven't done one myself) that people make a template with a window just a little smaller than the size of the finished block. That is placed over the fabric square. If you have a piece of very fine sandpaper to put under the block it keeps it from moving. You can draw the placement of the block on the sandpaper so that it is in the right place. Make a few so that several people can work at once. Maybe hinge the template to the sandpaper so that the block is just placed in the middle and when it is closed everything is perfectly placed. Hope this is clearer than mud!!! Ann

I did this for my son's wedding last summer. The centre white square (for the guests to sign) was framed by slate gray (colour of bridesmaids' dresses). I took that part only with freezer paper pressed on the back to give the block stability while signing. I set up a sample block on a small stand as an example, with the pile of blocks and several Pigma pens for the guests to sign. They had to keep their messages in the white and no one wrote on the gray. I then took the blocks home, removed the freezer paper and finished assembling the blocks. We used the blocks instead of having a guest book.
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I have done this before and there will always be someone who will write outside the lines. I used Freezer paper and iron it onto back of the fabric. I used Sakura Pigma pens that you can find at JAF (or at least online).

Yes, my best advice..... do not have them sign a quilt that is already made. There is always, some drunk,kid or smart you know what that will mess it up. I have seen it done. Ruined all that time and work by someone who thought it could be undone. Someone on here suggested a "paper frame" around a signature fabric. Tape it down so they can't write outside the line and make lots of extras for mess-ups. That way you can pick and choose the best and ignore the rest.

Yes, absolutely do not make the quilt first. Make lots of extra squares to write on. Even people trying to do the right thing will mess up occasionally. Iron the squares onto freezer paper to give stability. The paper frame is a good idea, if it can be properly placed around the square, but I'm not sure how that's done. I would leave more than the desired 1/4" so you can trim the squares later to get rid of any fraying and to best frame the signatures. Do some laundry tests first with the pens and fabrics you want to use. And have someone nearby while the signing is being done to give instructions. I think a signature quilt is a wonderful idea and it can become a family heirloom. Best of luck and be sure to post it when it's done!

I have used this method for years and have posted it here several times. I take file folders and draw and cut out a "window" 3/4" smaller than the block to be signed on the front of the folder. That gives you your 1/4" seam allowance and a scosh more. I mark around that window so it is clearly marked on the inside of the folder back. I then cut a piece of fine grit sandpaper the size of the block and glue it over the marked square on the inside. I make several so people don't have to wait very long to sign a block. I always ask someone to man the table so that they can instruct people if they need it. I used to use fine point Sharpies, but if someone leaves the tip of the pen on the fabric too long, the ink will bleed into the fabric. I now use Pigma pens and don't have that problem.

Once you have the signed blocks, be sure to press them with a hot dry iron to set the ink before sewing them into the quilt.

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I made one for my daughter when she got married. I made all the blocks before the wedding and assigned my niece to go around to each table with a basket of blocks to sign (and/or leave a message). I brought several pieces of sandpaper to put below the signature blocks to use when signing (it keeps the fabric from sliding). My niece told everyone not to write within an inch of the outside edge (and she was there to supervise). Be sure to have several pigma pens available and purchase a large tip (#8) to get a nice bold signature. Do not send the blocks out unless you are prepared to send pigma pens too and then you have to deal with people not getting back to you. After the wedding I did seek out the people who could not make the wedding to get blocks from them. Good luck, it is such a nice idea and so much fun to see what people either wrote (or drew) on the blocks. We did have some very creative blocks. After the wedding be sure to dry iron all the signatures to heat set. Good luck!

I made a quilt as a 50th wedding anniversary and had the guests sign their names on the completed quilt. I had them use a Micron pen

I too made a wedding signature quilt. However, I did make the quilt top and take that with me to the reception. The bride's brother (an adult) was in charge of getting people to sign/leave a message on the blocks that were surrounding the center motif as they arrived at the reception. There was freezer paper ironed to the back of each area to be signed by pigma pens. Yes, do have more than one pen available. It was a small wedding so it all worked out fine .... except for one fairly old uncle who signed the block upside down but the bride treasures that block just the same/all the more. The quilt was quilted after the wedding with wording in the outside border. The center motif matched the flowers that the bride was carrying. This is such a wonderful gift to the family that it is wonderful that you are putting forth the effort to make this for them. Don't sweat it if there are a few crazy signatures. Good luck and enjoy!

Many times, especially at wedding, the unexpected is what makes the event. Same with quilts.

I made a quilt for guest to sign at my daughter's wedding. I used the Bridal Bouquet block. I made all the blocks and then put the blocks together in strips. I asked someone to oversee the signing. That person did not understand what I wanted, nor did the guest. The people all wrote messages to the bride and groom. Years later it is nice to look back at the messages so that was not a real negetive. However, that made it more difficult for me to put the strips together and quilt. It doesn't matter if you do blocks, strips or the whote quilt. Just make sure you communicate what you want the end results to be.

I made one of these for my granddaughter's wedding. I cut the strips 3 x 7. I cut an index card 2 1/2 x 61/2, centered it on the strip and used a WASHABLE FINE LINE MARKER (I suggest Crayola and test before marking) to draw the section to be written on. I used Micron pen #5 and had several small clipboards. Iron freezer paper to the back of each strip to make writing easier and have someone at the table to instruct and supervise. And of course, have extras. All that being said, it makes a wonderful memento of that special day.

I cut all the blocks, ironed on the freezer paper, for my granddaughters wedding last Oct...she promised to assign someone to the table, which did not happen, and I was appalled at some adults that signed the blocks, scratched thru and started over, several kids were using them as a coloring book....I made the quilt using all the blocks, because I had cut just the right amount of blocks for the kingsize quilt, did not have any extra....they were happy with all of them and didn't seem to mind all the mess-ups...memories they called it, so I did my part...However the wedding was beautiful.....lesson learned, make sure you have an adult at the block signing table... because kids were not supervised at this one...and some adults don't know how to spell...sad!!

To everyone who has made one: Were your signatures permanent after it was washed?? I've got all my snowball blocks paper-pieced, and am trying out different pens now. Just wanted your opinions on how your pens held up through several washings.

Great ideas! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

I am putting my daughters one together now. I ironed the squares to freezer paper. Put blue painters tape around where I did not want anyone to write. We had them in a box on the sign in table. Did not work out too well. I had to announce during the reception to please go sign a block. Then we got quite a few but I don't think everyone signed. But her quilt will be about a queen size so not too bad. I have 5 inch squares and I put a 2 inch boarder around each square then sewed them together in rows. I only have a domestic machine so I will only sew half together so I can quilt easier then put the 2 half's together after it is quilted. I also pieced the back. My daughter had gone shopping with me before the wedding for accent fabric. Well we got a lot of accent fabric so I decided that she picked it so I would make the backing with it. lol And I had a few extra signature squares I could not fit on the front so I put them on the back.

I have done 3 of these so far and have the blocks ready for another one for a wedding in October. I found that making the blocks first really helps keep folks from writing in the seam allowance. I also took a block to Hobby Lobby and had them make a picture mat for the block, going into the block 1/2" all the way around to preserve my seam allowance. I ironed freezer paper to the back of the blocks and taped the block into the mat. Worked great - you can see the finished quilt here: http://farmquilter.blogspot.com/2015...-quilting.html

One thing, you do not want to quilt over the written words, so be mindful of how large a space you leave for the signatures. The blocks I made for the October wedding are here: http://farmquilter.blogspot.com/2015...y-goal_31.html I really like that pattern - easy to do in the bride's colors and the area for signing is large enough without being too big for no quilting besides SID.

cindi, The wedding signature quilt that I made was a wall hanging so it has not been washed. However, I have used the pigma pens on other things and as long as you iron them to make them permanent, they should be fine. Whatever pen you end up using, read the directions so you know whether it can be made permanent and how to do that. You might even try washing some samples before using the pen on your blocks. Good luck with your quilt.

I was at a wedding 2 years ago the groom's mother is from another state and she set up the table at the reception with 5" white squares and instructions not to write within 1/2 of the edge. All the pens were there, no one stood there telling us what to do but it was announced during the meal and dance. I need to ask the bride how it turned out. I love the idea!

Press all the signed blocks with a hot, dry iron to set the ink. Then sew the blocks together.