Labeling your quilt!

[QuilterLynn]

We had a guild speaker yesterday who specializes in collecting antique (1700-1900) quilts and she was so adamant about labels because of all the quilts she has with no history attached.

The opposity was true with one that was made in the early 1800's, given to a son and then on to a grandson and then on to another generation in the 1920's! With each gift, an additional note was attached in the actual giver's handwriting, describing the relationship of the giver to the givee. Marvelous!

If we will at the very least put:

OUR NAME
OUR CITY/STATE
DATE

on our quilts, then all the records available in all the databases all over the country/world can be used to research the history of the quilt. :idea: :idea:

So why do I have unlabeled quilts in my house? ops: ops: ops:

Inexcusable! Especially now that thanks to Sharon Pederson, we can program it into our machine (if we have a machine that'll do it) and put at least that simple info on each and every one!


That's my job for this weekend!

How about you?

Lynn :?: :?: :?:

[Margo]

You can check out the TQS PROJECTS link to see how I create labels with my computer and printer!

learn/projects/

Or check for my now out-of-print book through Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Book-...277&sr=1-1

[QuilterLynn]

Margo, do you have any feedback on your label's washability? (maybe you address that in your link above, which I watched too long ago to remember since I wasn't doing it that way) tee hee Yes, the mind is slowly going.

I've read recently (I think on comments under Sharon's label video) that some printing just doesn't withstand a 'used and loved' quilt life.

[Margo]

Lynn, that's really a hard one to answer, partly because there are so many kinds of inks on the market these days, and the tests I did for my book are outdated.

I can tell you that generally, black ink will be more permanent. Most colored printer inks will just wash out or severely fade when washed, so if you want permanent colors you might want to add color with acid-free fabric markers or fabric paint. There are lots of brands on the market.

Treating the fabric with Bubble Jet Set before printing will definitely make the colors (from both printers and markers) more permanent.

I have a quilt that I made in 1992 and it's been washed a lot. The label is still readable, but has faded some. Of course it's so worn that the fabrics are fading too!! :lol:

For more questions about printer inks, you might want to contact Jeannie: community/my-profile/jeaniesa

[Margo]

Personally on the 2 quilts I've actually finished I added my makers mark and the year(s) of making into the quilting design. It won't wash out 8) but it is not very extensive in it's information - particularly since I devised my makers mark before I got married, but it is something.
(I think it is visible on the blue quilt on my profile)

[Margo]

I have a quilt made for me as a wedding gift by my great-grandmother. It has no label, but since she gave it to me, I know who made it, when it was made and where it was made. It's now old and worn, so I plan to replicate it. What I'd really like to know is the name of the pattern she used. Or, was it her original design? I've never seen another quilt with the exact same design.

So, I'm suggesting that we also put the pattern name and credit the designer on the label, when it is a non-traditional uncommonly known design.

[Margo]

Nancy, maybe if you post a photo for us, someone will know the pattern or we can search our resources to see if we can find it for you.

[Franceslovesfabric]

Margo,
Does Jet Set work for other inks besides HP inks? I have an Epson and I want to print a lot of pictures to piece the back. (Sorry if this shows up twice, my computer showed it there at the same time as the last two posts went up, but when I went out and back into this forum, it wasn't there)

[Margo]

Frances, according to my bottle of Jet Set, it works when printed out with any ink-jet or bubble jet printer. Labels made on laser printers have never been color fast.

You might want to check out some of Caryl Bryer Fallert's info about Bubble Jet Set: http://www.bryerpatch.com/faq/bjs_q&a_page.htm

This info is by the manufacturer: http://www.cjenkinscompany.com/category_s/19.htm

[Margo]

Francis, if you are running Epsom's Durabrite pigment inks through your epsom printer you shouldn't need to use either jet set or bubble jet, the pigment inks set without a mordant, just let them dry for a couple of hours then heat set (iron) them and you are good to go.

[Margo]

Thanks for the info, Rosemary! The inks are changing so fast with technology that it's hard to keep up!

[Margo]

if in doubt, print off a test piece, say 6"x4" (by altering your paper size settings), leave it to dry for a couple of hours, iron it, then give it a gentle swish in some warm water. If it doesn't run you've probably got pigment inks which don't need a mordant, if it does run, you've got dye inks which do need a mordant ie jetset or bubble jet. I got the info from my friend Ruth Brown of StoneCreek Silk when she was writing a book on the subject and is now available.

[Lorchen]

By the way, that book by Ruth Brown is excellent!...... (Not related in any way to her)

[Lorchen]

Nancy, maybe if you post a photo for us, someone will know the pattern or we can search our resources to see if we can find it for you.

Hi Margo,

I will, but I'll have to photograph it first. For years, I've searched the internet, books and magazines with no luck. I've found several patterns that are very similar (e.g., hearts & gizzards), but none are exactly the same. The pattern even stumped an AQS quilt appraiser. She just thought that it might be a variation of the hearts & gizzards pattern.

[she-quilts]

I admit to being the label nazi, with all the kindness that I can muster!! :P

With my new longarm, I've been finishing my tops at record speed! (practice!) But I won't show them until they are finished & washed. AND.... I won't bind until the label is on a corner first to get stitched down with the binding. So.... labels are made, binding is put on, (and then I was rescued by my quilting neighbor who has taken home 3 quilts and hand-sewn the binding on the backs!!!), so soon I'll be able to post 4 more quilts.

On baby quilts, I tend to make embroidered labels. Otherwise, I mostly use pigma pens and HEAT SET THEM WITH MY IRON FOR 2 MINUTES!!! Sometimes for a special quilt, I print it out with a nice font in a Word Doc and trace it with my pen and my lightbox.