I love finding vintage quilts with labels. Knowing the name of the person who made a quilt and when it was created makes it feel like so much more than something old that has survived through the years. It was made by a human, and that little bit of documentation gives me a way to connect with the maker through time and space.
This connection is one of the reasons I label my quilts. The other is that I genuinely love the time spent creating and stitching. A quilt label is usually the very last thing I make in the quilting process. After spending so much time designing and sewing my quilts, I want their labels to feel like they belong to them.
I usually include the name of the quilt pattern, my name, the month and year it was made, and a motif that relates to the quilt design. I hope that someday, long after I'm gone, someone might find one of my quilts, read the label, and feel that same connection.
For my August Aurifil Artisan Slow Stitching Challenge, I drew and hand embroidered labels for two of my three Mary Golden Quilts, pulling colors and bits of inspiration from the quilt it would eventually be attached to.
Garden Variety Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Cover Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Supplies
- 6" embroidery hoop
- Fabric (see notes below)
- Frixion pen or other erasable marking pen
- Size 24 chenille needle
- Embroidery Thread (see notes below)
- Aurifil 8 weight cotton
- Aurifil Floss
- Small sharp scissors
- Pins
- Quilting ruler
- Iron
- Wool pressing mat
- Rotary cutter
- Self healing cutting mat
- Hairdryer, if using a Frixion pen
I've linked all of the items in my Amazon Storefront - Embroidered Quilt Labels List.
Fabric
I like to use a fabric that's a little thicker and has a looser weave than regular quilting cotton.
Limited Palette Cover Quilt
- I used two layers of Art Gallery Fabrics, Slub in Wild Rose. I started with two pieces approximately 10" square, and the finished label is about 6" square.
Limited Palette Garden Variety Quilt
- I used two layers of Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Speckle in Flax, a linen/cotton blend. I also started with two pieces approximately 10" square, and the finished label is just a smidge smaller than 6" square.
Aurifil Threads I Used
Limited Palette Cover Label
- Floss: Fern Green (2888), Light Peony (2437), Rose (2450), Light Avocado (2886), Dark Antique Gold (2372), Medium Butter (2130), Medium Juniper (2850)
- 8 wt: Wisteria (2566), Peach (2215), Golden Toast (2930)
Cover Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Garden Variety Label
- Floss: Dark Red Orange (2255), Light Delft Blue (2720), Rose (2450), Spun Gold (2134), Very Dark Grass Green (2890), Medium Orange (5009)
- 8 wt: Pumpkin Spice (2395), Victorian Rose (2445)
Garden Variety Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Hand Embroidering the Quilt Labels
I like to stretch both layers of fabric together in a round embroidery hoop so they're drum tight, then draw the design directly onto the fabric with a Frixion pen. The ink in these pens disappears with heat.
I didn't plan every stitch or thread color ahead of time, but simply started with the drawing and aded color and texture as I went. This is one of my favorite parts of slow stitching. There isn't a right or wrong way to do it.
I like to use a size 24 chenille needle. The tip is a little sharper than a regular embroidery needle and the eye slightly larger. Aurifil embroidery floss and 8 weight thread are my absolute favorite threads for hand stitching. For these labels, I used a combination of simple stitches including back stitch, chain stitch, French knots, and wrapped back stitch.
I love to use 8 weight thread for lettering. It's about the same thickness as three strands of embroidery floss, but I find that it doesn't tangle as easily, which makes the process so much more enjoyable.
I used 8 weight for both the heading and the smaller lettering on the Garden Variety label. For the Cover Quilt label, I used floss, changing the number of strands for the larger and smaller letters.
When I'm finished stitching, I remove any visible Frixion pen markings with a little heat from a hairdryer.
Attaching the Label to the Quilt
I find the center of my embroidered area and decide how much space I want to leave around the perimeter of the stitching. I make a small mark at the corners and edges, fold the fabric to the back at those marks, and press. Then I trim the excess to about 3/4 -1".
I like to place my labels in a lower corner on the back of my finished quilt, about 1 1/4" from the inside edge of the binding. Once I have the label pinned in place, I attach it with a simple running stitch. The thread goes through all layers of the label, the quilt backing and batting, being careful not to stitch through the quilt top.
And that's it. A little stitching at the very end of making a quilt, to document who created it, what the pattern was, and when it was made. Maybe someday that small bit of information will carry meaning and connection for generations to come.
Garden Variety Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Cover Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
If you'd like to make your own Mary Golden Quilt you can find the pattern for HERE. The pattern includes several sizes and two versions - the Limited Palette Version and Mix and Match Version.
I also have quilt kits available in my shop HERE.
Garden Variety Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Cover Version of my Mary Golden Quilt Pattern
Enjoy!
I hope you love making your hand embroidered quilt labels as much as I do.
I’d adore seeing your Embroidered Quilt Labels! Share your photos on social media using the hashtag #RemiVailStudio and don’t forget to follow and tag me @RemiVailStudio so I can celebrate you!
If you enjoy quilting projects that blend, story, texture, and tradition, please check out my my sewing patterns, fabric and notions shop, and other tutorials. I would love for you to join my email newsletter so we can stay in touch. The form to sign up is below.
Happy quilting!
xo, Tamara
I may earn a small commission from some of these items if you purchase after clicking. This has in no way swayed my recommendations for resources. It is exactly what I used in my own sewing room. I get SO many questions about these items and this was the best way I knew to make them available to you in one spot. Let me know if you have questions.