Spring QAL Day 3—Borders
Posted in Quilting
First I was ahead, now I’m behind. This weekend was quite unproductive, so I didn’t finish Friday’s assignment (the borders) until tonight.
There’s nothing too interesting to talk about here… just your basic, mitered-cornered borders.
A label
Since day 4’s assignment (backing) went up today, I’ll talk a bit about it, even though I’m not done piecing it (although it will look quite a bit like Chris’ piecing since she is doing exactly what I was envisioning from the start)…
I have a confession to make: I think I like designing labels almost as much as I like making the quilts themselves. My first quilt was label-less, but since then, I’ve designed somewhat similar, typographically-inspired labels for my finished (and nearing finished) projects.
I think the decision of what info to put on a label is a very personal thing. There are no rights and wrongs that can be blanketed across all labels. A label on a quilt made for commercial sale will probably have a focus on your brand and business, while someone who only makes quilts for themselves and family/friends will make labels that focus on the reason the quilt was made.
Right now, mine kind of straddle those two approaches. I haven’t made any quilts to sell, but I don’t discount the idea that I might move toward that, so I have a personal brand. But at the same time, I like answering who, what, why, when and where with my labels (as much as is possible) and giving my friends and family something that shows I made this especially with them in mind.
I’m planning on keeping this quilt (my first one kept), and I wanted to memorialize the fact that it’s a QAL based on someone else’s pattern. Also, it’s made using a single collection (plus some Kona), so I decided to say so. I chose the size based on my planned piecing for the back (5″ including seam allowances, because I am using spare charms on the back). Here is my label:
It’s made by printing a design onto printable fabric (June Taylor Colorfast Printable Fabric, to be precise) and sewing it into the piecing like you would any other fabric. When I used it on the bargello quilt, I mentioned that I have some worries about its complete color-fastness. Since I am keeping this quilt, and will surely be washing it after using it outside, I’ll be able to give a better report on that soon, I hope. Also, it doesn’t let go of pin holes very easily, so you might be careful. I think it’s something to do with whatever chemicals they add to make it printable (or, stiff enough for printing). I think the fibers will relax and the holes will disappear once washed, but the dark outline around the Just Wing It selvage is from the needle holes, not bad tension or something.
Advice, please? Have you had any luck with spray-basting? This seems like a small enough quilt. I have only pin-basted in the past, and on the bargello I know I didn’t pin enough, but if I do pin enough on this project, I feel like they’ll really get in the way of the quilting I want to do…
How’s your quilt progressing? What is your take on labels?
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