Signing and Dating Quilts
How often have you admired a quilt and wondered who made it and when it was made? If you're anything like me, frequently once I sew the last stitch of binding on the quilt, I declare it complete -- without a name label. Now that I have a collection of many quilts, when I made them has become a blur that I wish were different. And I remember all of the quilts I have given away with no identifying mark. You can prevent that by signing and dating your quilt. Fabric markers make it a simple and quick. Or you can create a label and stitch it onto your quilt. Get creative with your quilt label -- you've spent hours creating your heirloom, allow future generations to appreciate your work by name. Here are some tips for marking your quilts: a) Include your complete name -- first, last and maiden name. Tracing quilts through families becomes easier if all names are included. b) If your quilt was a community project, include the names of everyone who participated. c) Record the entire date when the quilt was completed -- month, day and year. Adding information about events surrounding the quilt also give the quilt a sustaining history -- the birth of a baby (specifically named in the label), marriage of a couple (named in the label), a son or daughter going off to school…..you get the idea. d) Specify where the quilt was made -- city and country.
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