Adding a quilt label to your quilt is the finishing touch. How many old quilts are going around anonymously because the quilter did not add his/her name, where and when the quilt was made?
Labels are available for purchase that already have a border printed as well as a design. You can simply add your details using a laundry pen. Using a laundry pen is also useful when you have a light backing fabric - simply add your details directly to the backing fabric. Take care that it doesn't go all the way through to the front of the quilt though!
Personally, I prefer an embroidered label as it is more permanent than ink. I have quilt labels available for embroidery machines in the store.
It is also possible to print your label to fabric using special printer fabric that is widely available. I use printed treasures. EQ Printables are also a good brand to use.
Where to place the label?
I like to make a label that I can add to the binding of the quilt i.e. place it in the corner. Simply cut a square, fold it in half to make a triangle and include it in the binding of the quilt. I believe that this will make it more permanent, than adding a hand-stitched label afterwards.
What information to include?
- Quilter’s name
- When the quilt was made
- Where the quilt was made
- Patchwork by, and quilted by if different to the first point
- Pattern name if you used someone else’s pattern – remember the copyright rules of usage
- Special message if it is a gift
- Care instructions
Competitions and exhibitions
When a quilt goes to an exhibition, there are a great many other quilts there too. You want to make sure that your quilt is returned to you, so I would include the address as well as the other details for this quilt.
It is nice to know that the quilt was made for a particular exhibition. Later, you can also add a label if you did well in the competition.
Happy quilting!
