Make A DIY Quilt Label
What is a Quilt Label
A quilt label is an important element of each of your quilts identifying you as the maker. Quite simply, a quilt label tells the story behind your beautiful quilt. A quilt label may include other information of interest about the quilt too, such as the occasion it was for. A DIY Quilt Label may also include more personalized details that will be important as your quilt is handed down over the years.
Download your Free DIY Quilt Labels
Why Make A DIY Quilt Label
A quilt label is the only way to identify the quilt as yours. Whether you gift a quilt or use it at home on the sofa, every quilt you make should have your name on it. You are the creative maker behind your quilts, and it is important that your name be included. This DIY Quilt Label tutorial will show you how to personalize your quilt labels easily.
My focus here is to make it simple and personalized. If adding quilt labels become a major chore, chances are it will not get done. So here are some easy ways to get your quilts labeled with your own personalized DIY Quilt Labels.
How To Make Your Own Preprinted Quilt Label
One of the easiest ways to make a DIY Quilt Label is to write the details you want to convey onto a block of fabric. Preprinted panels of quilt labels are available in most quilt shops. Choose what you like, fill in the blanks and you are finished. Then sew the fabric label to the back of your quilt. You can decide whether to add it before or after quilting as both methods can work well.
While effective, this method can be a bit boring and doesn’t leave much room for personalizing your label.
How To Make A Personalized DIY Quilt Label
Here is a simple way to make your own personalized DIY Quilt Labels for each of your quilts. The difference with this method is that you can customize the look for what you need. Perhaps you want to add more details about the quilt or share the story behind it. Or you may want to include a special message for the recipient that will be reread over time. Making your own DIY Quilt Label gives you complete control over the design.
Using these downloadable PDF quilt labels, you can easily customize labels for every quilt. One page of labels includes a preprinted message and a place for you to sign your name. The other page also has some outlined motifs that may be colored in with fabric markers. Both style labels give you an opportunity to personalize your labels.
Plus you’ll also receive a page of postcard quilt labels. You can read how to make a mini quilt postcard and drop yours in the mail today!
How Do You Print A Quilt Label
Tips for Printing Personalized DIY Quilt Labels
There are some important steps to keep in mind when printing your own DIY Quilt Labels. First, use printable fabric sheets and an ink jet printer. For the best results, set your printer properties to ‘Best Quality‘. This will allow more ink which gives you a better quality printed label.
Do not use transfer sheets as they are not permanent. The recommended printable fabric sheets are 100% cotton and stabilized to feed easily through the printer. Secondly. for writing on your label use a permanent marker that will not wick or bleed as it will make the writing difficult to read.
Once the labels are printed onto the fabric sheets, let it dry for 15 minutes or so. Then heat set the ink from the back, pressing with a warm (NOT HOT!) iron for more permanency. Sometimes the printable fabric sheets may have a bit of a curl at the edge. If this becomes a problem when feeding the sheets into the printer, simply give it a light pressing on the back side. This will smooth out and straighten the edges, making them easily fed into the printer.
Once this is complete, write the details you want included and sign your quilt label. Then I heat set the quilt label again, from the back. Once it cools, it may be trimmed if needed and prepped to be sewn onto your quilt back. Additionally, pressing a warm iron on the quilt label back can also help if you find the paper difficult to peel off. Then the paper will be easily removed.
What Should Be on A Quilt Label
Personalize Your DIY Quilt Label
You want to include the important details about your quilt on its label. Obviously, your name and date should be included, and think about what else would be meaningful. One of the most appreciated things you can add is a message. It enhances the personal nature of a gifted quilt. It is also nice to leave an area for you to physically sign you name. Adding a signature is a very personal touch.
How to Write on A Fabric Quilt Label
Preferably a fabric ink marker is best suited for writing on quilt backs or labels and are available in lots of colors. Pigma or Micron ink pens work great, too. The advantage with these pens is they come in different size tips. That gives you more control in how the writing will appear on your quilt label.
The easiest method I have used is signing my name and date with a sharpie directly on the back of quilts. Sharpies are permanent ink so the writing lasts, but the written lines are not going to be crisp. The ink tends to wick a bit and you will see some bleeding along the edges. That was okay on what I was working on at the time. Fortunately, the batting kept the ink from bleeding to the front, so there was no problem there. But I don’t recommend this method for quilts that will be gifted. A more professional finish is much more appropriate.
If you decide to color in any clipart on your label, a sharpie will work if there is a fairly thick outline. That dark outline contains the ink from the sharrpie so there’s no bleeding. I’ve also use the sharpie fine points with very good success.
How to Add A DIY Quilt Label to Your Quilt
Where should a quilt label be placed
There is no hard-fast rule about where your quilt label should be placed. Generally, quilt labels are attached to the lower right corner of your quilt back. But for a special quilt with printed photographs that was made as a departing gift, the label was actually part of the central image on the quilt front. What is important is that your name is placed somewhere to be seen.
How Do You Attach A Quilt Label
Once my DIY Quilt Labels are completed, I sew a simple binding around the edge to finish it off. Then I apply a piece of Lite Steam-a-Seam 2 on the back of the label. This helps to hold the label in place while I hand stitch it to the quilt. It also secures the label more permanently with a final steam after the quilt label is sewn in place.
DIY Quilt Labels come in all shapes and sizes. As long as the important details are included, you are good to go. Labeling your quilt can be fun and is a perfect way to finish your project. Give these downloadable PDF Quilt Labels a try for you next DIY Quilt Label.
Truly enjoy reading your tips and ideas. I am a beginner quilter so appreciate all of your excellent ideas.
Thank you.
Thanks Jeannine, I’m glad you’re finding helpful information! Let me know if you have any questions.
Lea