To Quilt Label, Or Not?

‘Maker unknown’. Those two words bring dread into the hearts of quilters. All that work put into a quilt and we never know who made it, when and why. Was it a gift for a special occasion, or made for pure enjoyment? And how should it be cared for? And if it was to be lost, how would it be returned to its rightful owner?

There is one word to answer all these questions. A label provides future generations with a record and guarantees that the information on your quilt remains accurate. Information to include:
The Name of the Quilt
Who made it, when and where.
For whom it was made and the occasion.
Date of completion or presentation
Instructions on how to wash & store the quilt.
Always use 100% cotton fabric, prewashed and ironed.
The design possibilities are endless. It can be simple or elaborate, a plain piece of fabric or pieced, handwritten, rubber stamped, embroidered or digitally printed. Use a spare block from the front of the quilt or make a pretty border.

If you’d like to design your own label, we have some great tools for you. To write on your fabric, try the Zig Permanent markers. A great tip is to back the fabric with a piece of Freezer Paper – you can even draw guidelines on the freezer paper that will show through to your fabric. The freezer paper backing makes it much easier to write and draw on the fabric.

If you don’t want to design your own label, we have 3 great books for you: Iron-On Transfers for Quilt Labels, 50 Nifty Iron-on Quilt Labels, and the follow up; More 50 Nifty Iron-on Quilt Labels. Barbara Baatz Hillman has done the designing for you. Just heat the iron, choose your label, and press away. You can then colour in your label with crayons or Fabrico Markers (instructions included), embroider away, or fill in the relevant details and secure to your quilt.
Creative Tips: Another fun way with labels is to use vintage lace edge doilies with enough clear space for your information to be written or embroidered with DMC threads. Try incorporating a leftover block or small piece of the patchwork into the label.

EQ Printables are fabulous for making very personalised labels. You have the choice of all the available fonts on your computer and many design options including using Powerpoint, Electric Quilt 7 or even Photoshop. A lovely photo of you and the recipient on your label will make your gift even more personal. Or include a photo of the quilt. The packets of fabric are already treated to go through your domestic printer so you just have to let your imagination go.
If you’ve put all that work into your quilt, it deserves a great label.