Quilt Along #22 – Quilt Name Tag
It’s Wednesday again and time to learn something new on the Free Motion Quilt Along!
Way back in May I posted a question to Facebook asking for suggestions on things to learn. One of the most requested topics was how to create a name tag for the back of your quilt.
Of course, there are millions of ways to create a name tag, and yes, many are far simpler than the method I’m teaching today. This is simply my favorite method of creating a really unique tag for those extra special quilts so let’s learn how it works!
Now one little step that unfortunately had to be cut out of the video due to length was the tips about marking the tag with your information.
When writing on fabric, it’s always good to test and make sure you’re working with a pen that won’t bleed or smudge when either wet or dry. Personally I use Micron Pigma Pens and find the 3 point to be a very nice size.
You’ll want to take a minute to heat set this ink with a hot, dry iron to make sure the marks are totally set in the fabric and won’t run when they get wet.
If you’re worried about the pen or marker you plan to use, simply run a test! Mark a square of white fabric and get it wet, then mark another and heat set and get it wet. See how things react and experiment to see what works and what doesn’t!
As for the information you choose to write on your tag, most quilts can be tagged with just the quilt name, date completed, and your name.
If you plan to show your quilt, you will need to include a lot more information such as address, phone number, website, and email address.
If you’re worried about making all this information look really good, simply type it all up in a Word file and print it out on a sheet of paper. Use a lightbox or glass door to transfer the typed words onto your white fabric.
So that’s it for this week! I hope you’ll find some time this week to pull out fabric, make a small name tag, and ensure you’ll get credit for your quilts for years to come.
Instructions for Linking Up Your Blog:
1. Write your blog post. Publish it on your blog.
2. Copy the link of the specific blog post. This is not just the link to your blog itself (www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com), but the link to the specific post: https://freemotionproject.com/2012/01/quilt-along-2-quilting-in-rows.html
3. Click the blue link up button above and paste your link into the box.
Keep in mind that you’re posting your progress from LAST week on THIS week’s post. This way you have time to watch the lesson, play with the ideas, then post your progress to the next quilt along. I hope that makes sense!
Let’s go quilt!
Leah Day
Hi Leah,
Here are my questions for tomorrow: 1. Does paper piecing help creating wonky modern quilt designs?
2. I relate modern quilting to stippling. It can be crazy but having a plan and structure does help quilting stippling easier.
Shouldn't we approach the modern quilt piecing or wonky quilt piecing the same way. If we do make mistakes we shouldn't make a big deal about it. But having a plan in place always helps.
cheers,
Malini
I have found that i like to embroider my labels. Here's a link to the latest one i did (yeah, it's been awhile since i last quilted…):
http://areyoukidding-wendy.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-quilt.html
I used my "lightbox" (aka, back door that's mostly Glass) to copy the computer-printed label onto my fabric, and just embroidered the heck out of that baby! =-)
I used to have a lady with an embroidery machine make my labels for me, but she moved, so i had to come up with something, and i figured, what the heck! I enjoy embroidering, i don't have to worry about ink bleeding and/or setting, and i think it turned out cute! =-)
Love your 365 quilt behind you in the you-tube video! It came out so nice~ So glad to have got to see the finished quilt
Godspeed,
mary
Why don't you ladies just print your label directly on fabric? I have been doing this for years and they come out beautifully! And in color too! Just use an ink jet printer and then iron the label to set the ink. They look great!
Thanks for encouragement, Leah. Nw I have to figure out how to bind the quilt (I'll check your postings) and if you "block" your quilt (I read that somewhere). In reference to the question about having areas of the quilt with dense quilting and some that aren't so dense. In my learning to FMQ on this modern quilt, I quilted densely (1/4") but when I got to the border, I got lazy and and did some giant meandering…oops…the border looked all wavy and wasn't flat…so, I just went back and quilted it heavily (using a neutral thread so it wouldn't be so obvious). Of course it won't win any awards BUT the border now lies flat and ready for the binding. So, lesson learned. Thanks for doing this project, it helped so much to have a real thing to work on – gave me a goal because I got lazy with the "little squares".
First I love yor site. Thanks so much for all you have shared. Here are some elementary questions 1 how do you knot your thread? are you using a signal thread or a double thread?
You might also want to add a Pinit button from pinterest for those of us using iPads so we can easily share your site on our boards.
I'm not quite done with last week's homework yet but am working on it!
One kind of labels I've made are from various "Practice Pieces" of paper piecing – OK, it's done, but I don't want an entire quilt of … !" Put a border on it write whatever and sew it down.
Sometimes I get in a rush, and if they are going to be donated quilts, I'll write the info with a Laundry Pen, adhere it to Steam-a-Seam 2 lite, cut with pinking shears and fuse it. (I make a lot of quilts – labels take time.
Another time I made multiple generic quilt labels on the computer on Avery Label (for mailing) with name of quilt, by .. my name, and left space for a date and quilt name, and printed that, then did the fusing thing like above.
BTW, thanks Leah, for the gorgeous book!!!
I just finished my most professional looking label, thanks to your tutorial!
Great lesson. I am an avid quilter who thinks the label is the "pain in the neck " stage . Very few of my projects have labels. I am always thinking I will hand embroider or hand paint them do I end up with no label at all. Your method is simple and do-able. I have taken several of Sharon Schamber's classes and agree that her method of turning curved edges is the way to go. I also like her quilt basting ideas. You are careful to give clear concise directions including full explanations. If there was a medal for on line quilt instructions you would 'bring home the GOLD'. ! Keep it up, lady ! Your friends here are applauding for you and smiling! 🙂