How to Make a Quilt Tag

Quilt tags or labels usually include the name and location of the quiltmaker and date completed.

An important part of North American pioneer history, handmade quilts require many hours of work. Antique quilts with intact tags or labels are coveted becuase they provide valuable information about who made the quilt, where and when it was completed. Experienced and novice quilters are encouraged to include this information in a handmade quilt tag. The tag can be affixed to the back of their quilted creations to help document the evolution of quilting for future generations.

Things You'll Need

• Completed quilt
• Quilt tag template or pattern
• Fabric marker
• Piece of muslin (plain for embroidered label or pretreated for computer printed quilt tags)
• Piece of white fabric
• Sewing needle, thread
• Sharp scissors
• Pins

Instructions

1. Choose the method for making the quilt tag. Traditional methods include embroidering or cross-stitching in a small corner on the back of the quilt. Modern quilters have a choice of using these methods, handwriting their labels or tags using permanent fabric marker, or printing a computer-generated tag onto specially treated muslin.

2. Choose the style and size, and consider the information to include on the quilt tag -- free patterns are available online. The quilter's name, date completed, place completed and recipient of the quilt are basic facts included on the tag. Additional information can include the name of the quilt pattern, and the individual who pieced the quilt if different from the quilter.

3. If you embroider or use permanent fabric marker to create a quilt tag, begin by using temporary marker to sketch in the design and information onto a small untreated muslin square. Print out a computer quilt tag onto purchased pretreated muslin, or prepare your own muslin square using a commercial formula available at craft stores.

4. Trim the quilt tag to the desired size using a fabric cutter, ensuring a half-inch border around the words or border. Remove paper backing if there is any. Cut a matching sized square of white fabric to back the tag and sew the muslin (face-down) and fabric together with a quarter inch seam. Use a sharp scissors to cut an opening in the white fabric.Turn the tag right-side out.

5. Iron the quilt tag to remove any wrinkles. Pin it in place on the back of the completed quilt. Using white thread, carefully sew the edge of the white backing of the tag to the quilt. Do not sew through the front of the tag, but around all four sides of the tag. Tie off thread and tuck in behind the quilt tag.

Tips & Warnings

• Plain muslin can be pretreated to accept printer ink using a commercial liquid formula, or the pretreated muslin can be purchased in sheets. Muslin that has been treated should allow any type of printer ink to set and not bleed into the quilt.

• Test your printed label or tag prior to sewing it onto the quilt to ensure that heat from an iron or water will not cause the ink to bleed.

References

• quilterscache.com: Labelling Your Quilt
• May Your Bobbin Always Be Full: Quilt Label Tutorial
• Quilttags.com: Qulttags