Printed Quilt Label Tutorial *Updated

Greetings !  I've a new tutorial to share with you on this National/Worldwide Quilt Weekend....

But first....
  Many thanks to the gracious ladies of the New Quilters on the Block Guild in Candor, NY for hosting my "Show and Tell" this weekend!    This lovely and talented group of women meet twice a month to share their love of sewing with one another.  They have semi-annual retreats, regular classes, and you can tell they all love to sew.  Lots of smiles, yummy snacks, and plenty of eye candy at this very relaxed meeting.  It was a special time -- Thank you ladies for inviting me to share my love of quilting with you!  I had a fantastic time.

Inquiring minds want to know...  Do you struggle with getting labels on your newly completed quilts?   I sure do... I write one by hand, grumble because my handwriting is sloppy and/or the pen ink smeared, my lines weren't straight, there wasn't enough room for all the details... YOU name it and I have an excuse for the delay of the label.

So a few months ago I decided "No more excuses" for not labeling a quilt. A computer generated label allows me to get the job done quickly and easily (and it looks neat and tidy). 

Here are the steps:

• Design a label on a computer program that you are familiar with.  I use MS Office "Word" to prepare my labels.  In the example below I prepared 3 labels for a single run.
• Use an 8.5" x 11" sheet of freezer paper (if you don't have a sheet cut an 8.5 x 11 sheet from freezer paper in your kitchen drawer).
• Use a 5" x 11" piece of muslin (or whatever width works for your specific label).
• Place the muslin on your ironing board (if there is a right and a wrong side to your fabric, place the right side down).
• Place the shiny side of the freezer paper squarely on top of the muslin (on the wrong side of the muslin).
• Using a DRY iron, press the freezer paper to the muslin -- the shiny side of the freezer paper will stick to the muslin (and slightly to your ironing board too -- don't worry it peels right off).
• Now, place the prepared freezer paper/muslin combo in your INK JET printer and Print the label as you would print it on a piece of paper.  Be sure to run it through the printer so the muslin side is printed.   I normally run a plain piece of paper through first, to be sure that the positioning will work on the muslin run.

• Once you run the freezer paper/muslin through the printer let it sit for a couple of minutes while the ink dries.   
• Once the ink is dry, peel the muslin from the freezer paper.  
• (Be sure to save the freezer paper for another set of labels (it is re-usable)).
• Now, to set the ink, use a steam iron and press the printed muslin label(s).

*** Note:  If you are going to be applying this label to an everyday quilt (one that will be washed and dried often), I would recommend these extra steps to set the ink even more... ;)

• Soak the printed muslin in a bath of White Vinegar.   Give it 5 - 10 minutes in a shallow layer of vinegar - laying flat in a baking dish
• Remove the printed muslin and rinse in cold water (this removes the vinegar and its smell)
• Allow it to dry 
• Allow to dry flat - OR - 
• Throw it in a hot clothes dryer - OR - 
• Dry with a hair dryer - OR - 
• Press with a DRY iron.

•  OK -- now you're ready to square up your labels.  Leave 1/2 inch or more of "white" space around the entire perimeter of the label.

•  Next turn appx 1/2 inch of all 4 corners toward the center of the label and press with steam
• Once all 4 corners are turned, pick two opposing sides and fold them toward the center so the raw edge is flush with the edge of the turned corner (see next two pictures).

•  Don't steam your fingers ;)

• Now flip the label, pin it to the back of your quilt, and stitch in place with your favorite Aurifil thread.   
• I find that Aurifil Mako 50Wt Cotton thread in color #2000 works perfectly with muslin fabric -- and, as you know, it glides through your needle and fabric with ease!  Love that thread.

Many of you know that I try to avoid glue and glue based products, so, although you can fuse or glue this down... I jut pin it and stitch it ;)

Well that's all for tonight - lots of other fun stuff to share with you soon -- I always appreciate your feedback and thoughtful comments.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Happy Sunday!

Hugs,
Karen