Although Vic's quilt isn't my first, I haven't ever added a label to the ones I've made. I didn't think it was necessary, bearing in mind that they haven't gone to anyone so I haven't felt the need to add a label. Plus they have all featured on my blog and Facebook accounts so dates were not going to be a problem. However, when Vic asked me for something for her quilt, I wanted it to be personal for her to remember me by - let's face it, the quilt will be here longer than I will - and to add the date as she might not want or need access to my blog to remember when I made it.
Pinterest is a wonderful resource for all manner of things and quilt labels were no exception. I took a long time looking at the how and what but nothing struck me as being 'right'. Does that make sense? I wanted something that reminded Vic that she was loved and that the quilt had been made with love by me. So feeling a little crestfallen that I hadn't been able to find anything suitable, I went out for a walk.
Usually, I have at least one dog with me - I dog sit during the day for friends - but today I didn't have one but my friend, Carole, did. Anyhoo, during our walk, I mentioned the problem I was having and suddenly I got it! I am sure some of you will have been in the situation when you have had to say something out loud to someone else or just out loud in order for you to understand it or work a problem out. I don't know what it is but talking to myself or most often, the dogs, helps my thought processes. Just by telling Carole what I wanted to do, gave me the light blub moment and the idea hit me.
When the kids were little - and occasionally now even though they're big! - I would wait until they were leaving the house with friends - especially with friend's for maximum effect - put my arm around their neck and give them a big kiss on their forehead. As a family, we don't do grand gestures very often, hugs as and when but its taken for granted that we love each other so we don't say it. Sad, maybe, but that's just us. We know that we love one another - even when we don't feel like we do - and don't show it very often. So this was the basis of my personal touch quilt label.
I have, on occasion, put GBSWKoF in my Facebook posts to my girls or as a reply to a comment they've made. It's a family 'secret'. Everybody knows what it means without having to say it and it makes them smile so this is going on my label along with the date. Vic will understand what it means and, hopefully, smile and remember me when she sees it.
I spent some time this afternoon, creating the design and perfecting the look until I was happy with it.
My plan is to sew the letters, message and date using a simple running stitch, unless I can see something different on Pinterest. I have a hoop and thread and have worked out how to add the outlines to my material.
I wanted to create a heart shape but knew that the cotton material I used in the quilt would fray unless I could hem the outline. Hemming curves sounded too difficult so I have opted for a piece of felt. Ironing a piece of freezer paper onto the wrong side of the felt stabilised it sufficiently for it to go through my printer and I now have a very feint outline of the heart and message I can use to sew (see photo left). I realise this is cheating but it is a long, long time since I did any cross stitching/embroidery so need all the help I can get. I am pleased with the final design so will start this, probably Thursday when I have no dogs to walk and/or play with.
So I have now finished the label and have attached it to the quilt. I checked out the embroidery stitches on line and realised that I could use a very small running stitch to complete the letters. Once I had done this, there was quite a large empty space in the middle. I looked up a design of lips puckering - looking like a kiss to fit the 'theme'. However after unpicking my satin stitches for the 3rd time, I knew I was in danger of putting holes in the label so had to come up with a different design.
I raided my stash of craft materials and found a piece of red felt. I cut the shape of the lips out, used some ordinary red thread and stitched them onto the label using the small running stitches again. I am really happy with the finished label and hope Vic is too. She doesn't want to see it until I have finished the quilt, so these posts won't be posted in 'real' time.
I then set to and was able to machine sew the patchwork to the throw. It went a lot easier than I was expecting but I guess a new needle and the correct tension on the machine helps significantly! I have left the opening alone so that I can get my hand inside it to help me lose the knots on the embroidery thread - don't judge me!! Using the very small stitches and whole bag of patience, I stitched the label onto the quilt through both the patchwork and the fleece. I need to 'anchor' the two sides together. Although the quilt is not very heavy, I would feel better about it. So I have also made the decision to use the shape of the label to anchor the corners and middle of the quilt. I was going to do a random pattern, but I couldn't do it 'randomly' enough so have gone for each corner and the middle. The label is in the bottom left hand corner.
I have finished the quilt today and have it ready for Vic for when she comes home. Finger's crossed she likes it, otherwise I have a new throw for the settee...... Update later. :)
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