How to Label a Quilt

Quilts should be labeled with the quilt artist's name.

A quilt label delivers important information about a handmade quilt. Quilt making is an American-based art form and the resulting quilts are often passed down from generation to generation. That colorful hand made patchwork bedspread at the family cottage should bear the name of its maker and the date it was finished. Since the label will need to last for several generations, its construction and design must be able to withstand many washings and should be resistant to fading.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Ink jet printer
• Fabric covered computer paper
• Fabric pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Design your label on the computer’s word processing program. List the name of the quilter, the date the quilt was finished and the city and state the quilt was made in.

2. Print out the label on the fabric covered computer paper, using the ink jet printer.

3. Draw a rectangle around the label with the ruler and the fabric pen. Cut out the label 1/4 inch past the rectangle outline.

4. Pin the label to the back of the completed quilt. Thread the needle and push the label edge under with the tip of the needle at the pencil line. Take a tiny stitch with the needle and thread. Continue pushing the edge of the label under with the needle and securing it with tiny hand stitches until the entire label has been attached to the quilt back. Knot and cut the thread.

References

• “Photo Album Quilts”; Wendy Butler Berns; 2008
• “Circle Quilts”; Colleen Granger; 2011