Machine Embroidered Quilt Labels – Two Options

Do you do labels for your quilts?

I have to admit, it’s not something I always get around to doing.

Whether you are making competition quilts, quilts for the home or quilts that will be gifted, labels are always a nice little addition. Depending on how much information you put on your labels, it provides you with cherished information that you may not remember years from now.

When I have remembered to make quilt labels in the past, I would traditionally use a permanent fabric marker and write the details directly on a piece of white (or light) coloured fabric before affixing to the back of my quilt. Over time, most writing does eventually fade on the most well-used and loved quilts.

Using a Machine Embroidery Design

There are lots of pre-made machine embroidery designs available. When using a Janome Embroidery machine you want to make sure that you purchase JEF designs.

I found this cute design which I set up using the Janome AcuEdit app. I personalized it with my own name by using the fonts that come with the app.

Once the file is set up on the app, it is sent via wifi to my machine, the Janome Skyline S9 Indigo.

I love how the large screen clearly tells me how much time I have left on the design, when to do my thread changes, and even what stitch I’m on.

And are you mesmerized watching your embroidery machine stitch away? My two year old daughter loves to dance along with the stitches – often telling the machine to “go faster!”

In no time, I have a beautiful quilt label. I used a tear-away stabilizer under my white quilt cotton. All I have to do now is trim the fabric and turn the edges under before I sew my label on to the back of my quilt.

Machine Embroidered Quilt Label in Your Own Handwriting

A cherished recipe in one’s own handwriting is  kind of extra special.  I feel the same way about traditional, handwritten quilt labels. It’s like an additional personal touch.

The Janome AcuSketch app let me create a machine embroidered quilt label WITH my own handwriting!

I used my Apple Pencil on my iPad but you can also draw with your finger or another tablet compatible device: Janome has a stylus pen especially for our iPad apps – ask your local Janome Dealer. Part # JASTYLUS.

Editing tools in the AcuSketch app allow for the design to be tweaked just right. And once it is ready, it can be sent over to the AcuEdit app for further editing.

I decided to add a few more embellishments to my handwritten label.

Using one of the numerous Anna Marie Horner deigns that comes pre-loaded with the Janome Skyline S9, I created a frame for the quilt label text.

With that done, I let the machine do the rest!

I let the entire design run through and then decided to let the handwritten text run through again, smoothing out my handwriting a bit and making it stand out more.

Finally, I trimmed all the extra threads with embroidery scissors. Aren’t the little scissors with blue handles which come included with the Janome S9 cute?

Decisions, decisions

Now to choose which one of these final designs to use on my finished quilt?! I love both of these designs.

Which would you choose??

A) The pre-made design

B) The Handwritten Design

Do you make labels for your quilts?
What information do you usually include on there?

Please note that if you have the Janome MC15000, everything Trina shows in this post above applies equally to the Janome MC15000. Yes, you may stitch your quilt label in a different hoop or you may use a different embroidery where she used those flowers, but as both the MC15000 and Skyline S9 are WIFI models, these apps may be used for both machines.  Ed.