I get many e-mail questions about my label tutorial so I thought it would be best to give some more info. Hopefully I'll answer many of the questions here. If you have more questions please leave them in the comments & I'll do my best to answer them.
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Earlier this year I ordered new labels that match my logo. {Bottom Left} I was in a hurry and didn't follow my own directions. As a result I really don't have enough space around each label for a 1/4" seam allowance. Lesson learned... follow your own directions!!
A few weeks ago I decided to design a new label with enough space and ordered the labels on the bottom right.
My new labels are 4" x 6" and I can get 63 from one yard of fabric. Because of how Spoonflower's "yard" is set up I designed the label and then rotated it 90°. If I hadn't I would have ended up with 60 labels and a bunch of partials.
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I often get asked for templates. I've made 3 free templates that you can use to make labels.
They are over on Flickr. When saving the file make sure to download the original size.
The first is best for ordering a swatch. It will give you four labels 4" x 4" with seam allowances. Each finished label will be 3.5" x 3.5" when you piece it into a quilt back or turn the raw edges under for applique.
The template file looks like the image above. Use any design program to add what you want for your label inside the squares. Stay a 1/4" inside the grey lines as 1/8" from either side of the line will be sewn into your seam allowance. Cut the labels out in between the lines as shown below. The light grey is dark enough to be seen but light enough that it doesn't show in the seam allowance.
The second is best for ordering one yard of the same label. It will give you one label 6" wide x 4" tall with seam allowances. Each finished label will be 5.5" x 3.5" when you piece it into a quilt back or turn the raw edges under for applique. You will get 63 of this label from each yard of fabric.
The third is best for ordering one yard of 3 different labels. It will give you three labels 6" wide x 4" tall with seam allowances. Each finished label will be 5.5" x 3.5" when you piece it into a quilt back or turn the raw edges under for applique. You will get 63 total labels, 21 of each design from one yard of fabric. Use this to create labels with different colors or artwork.
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So what information should be on a label?
Your Name
A way to contact you
The name of the Quilt
When you made it
Who quilted it
...and if it's a gift add who it is for.
I put my name, blog url, email address, address & phone number on all labels.
Then I hand write the name of the quilt, date etc. after I've made each project.
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I suggest piecing the label into your backing whenever possible. This is for 2 reasons.
2. It is very hard to remove a label that has been quilted through and is a part of the backing. While we wish everyone was honest & nice... sometimes quilts get lost or stolen and people remove the labels as a way of hiding who made it. As you can see below removing this label would ruin the quilting in that entire section of the quilt.
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You can make more than just labels for the back of your quilts.
I made these small labels for when I make bags or other projects that don't have room for my labels above.
You can also print your logo or a design to incorporate into a project.
I printed my logo without any other information on a few pieces of fabric. I sent one to
Joan before market and she made me this amazing bag.
It even has a miniature fast forward strip on the back of the bag.
Joan did a "bag interview" with me on the phone.
Long straps or short?
Lots of pockets or not a lot?
Our conversation revealed to me why she writes amazing bag patterns. She thinks of everything!
My bag has a lot of pockets including one with a zipper where I can stash my wallet.
Another cool thing you can do with Spoonflower is print things BIG. I printed my logo really big and sent it off to
Angela. She quilted it and the result was my sign in my booth at Quilt Market.
{Of course she was looking at another camera!.. oh well!}
Here is a closer shot of it done. I love the result & plan on hanging it up in my studio.
I hope this inspires some of you that have been e-mailing me to take the plunge! If you have any questions that aren't covered here leave them in the comments & I'll do my best to answer you.
*note*
This isn't a sponsored post. I don't work for Spoonflower & have never gotten anything free from them... they probably don't even know who the heck I am. I just print my labels there & like the result. I know that there is product on the market that you can use to print labels at home... but I've never been happy with any of the ones I've tried.
© 2011-2022 Julie R. Herman. All rights reserved.
No part of this tutorial or pattern may be reproduced without written consent of Jaybird Quilts.
