Answer #1: Label my quilts? Oops! I missed that step on the last few, and more before that...
That earned me a lecture.
Answer#2: When I do remember to label, I use a square of muslin folded into a triangle sewed into the back corner of the binding.
That answer earned a blank stare, so I thought I'd share a short tutorial. I don't claim to have come up with this method. I've seen it in various places and I don't remember where I saw it first, but I really like its simplicity. The simpler it is, the likelier I am to do it!
Start with a square of muslin or other light colored fabric and fold it in half diagonally, right side out, to form a triangle. Press to get a crisp folded edge, and write whatever information you want to include on one side. I usually include the name of the quilt, name of the pattern and designer, who made the top and who quilted it, and a date. If it's a gift I might add a message to the recipient as well, or note the occasion.
The size of the square depends on how much you want to write on the label. I usually err on the larger side and trim down if needed after I have written what I want to include, leaving at least a half inch beyond any writing, and keeping that bottom point nice and square (90 degrees).
Tuck the triangle into one corner of the quilt, on the back, matching raw edges.
Pin the label in place. Pin and sew your binding to the front of the quilt as usual. As you sew around the quilt to sew on the binding, the raw edges of the label will also be sewn to the quilt.
Turn the binding to the back and sew it down as usual. You can also hand stitch the folded edge of the triangle to the backing if you wish. (I say if you wish, because if you sew a triangle like this to both top corners of smaller quilts, they can be used as little pockets to slip the ends of a hanging rod into.)
There you go. A nice, tidy, easy label.
