Sewnoma

I don't label my quilts. I've bought stuff to make labels, even designed some on Spoonflower and ordered samples...but when it comes time to do it...I just don't.

I've thought about it, and I have come to the conclusion that I just don't like labels!

I don't label anything else I make. When I make a stuffed animal or a wall hanging or a sculpture or a painting or a throw pillow, I don't stick a label on it saying when it was made, who it was made for, what year, what city....nope. I just make it and give it. I don't even usually sign paintings or drawings - only time I have that I can think of is when it was something for a class that had to be handed in. I HAVE scribbled messages to the recipient on the backs of things like canvases before, but nothing formal like a label, more like a casual note. If I have a special message I want to accompany something I've made, I make a little card or tag I can pin or tie onto the item with a bit of yarn.

It's not that I don't think I'm an artist (I do) or that I'm not proud of my work (I am)...I just don't like labels on my creations.

I don't necessarily dislike labels on OTHER people's quilts - not trying to say other people shouldn't label their stuff all they like or that there's anything wrong with it. I just don't really like them on my stuff. Personal preference.

I think maybe if I were shipping a quilt off to be in a show, I might label it so it wouldn't get lost. But I'd probably try to make it something I could remove later. And I don't really foresee myself doing that anyway - my quilts are more "drag around and make forts out of it" type quilts rather than show quilts.

gramajo

But their ancestors won't know.

joe'smom

I find the notion very romantic, that we are labeling our quilt for someone 200 years down the road who finds it in a dusty attic, so they know something of its history. That's why I do it. Granted, most (if any) of our quilts won't be that one, but . . . just in case!

purpleleaf

This is actually what prompted me to ask - my husband is on my case about labeling. And I blew him off until I thought about the quilts that we have around the house that my grandmother made (we know more about those because her daughters recognize some of the fabrics as dresses they wore and can approximate when they were made based on those), but my husband has some gorgeous ones that his great-great grandmother or great-grandmother made (or possibly some quilts were made by one and some by the other), but we know very little about the quilts, and I would love to have a label on them!

purpleleaf

If anybody sees this far down - just curious how you'd label a quilt for a soon-to-be born baby girl. I was thinking I could put the last name of the parents, as in "baby girl Smith" or something...but they're not married and have different last names so I don't want to assume anything. Not sure.

Boston1954

Some of the earlier ones got away, but now I do all of them, in case someone a hundred years from now is interested when it was made. I put the number, the name I gave it, who it's for, my name and place I live. I sew it on the back, after quilting.

suern3

Erin, I have the same situation coming up and the same question, but didn't want to add it to my previous lengthy response. The shower is Saturday. The quilt is done and no label. I just think it makes it more special for the baby and parents but can't think of how to do it. Maybe ask the momma if I can have it back briefly after the baby comes. Probably will just let it go, though.

adamae

When I hand quilt a quilt, I will sew my initials or name somewhere and the year. I try to not let it be obvious.
Recently bought a stencil...am going to try fabric paint on it and fill in the pertinent info..

Patrick's Mom

I never label my quilts. I like to cryptically meander my initials and the year into the lower right corner. Someone in the future will be fascinated with their discovery.

quiltingbuddy

I think I would name the quilt and put that on the top of the label then write "made for a precious child" or "special girl" and then continue with made by, etc. I would definitely put a label on it though.

I always label the ones I make for gifts but around my house if I make a quilt I am usually on to the next one before I get to the label. Bad habit I know.