Do I need a label?

 Imagine this scenario.  You have just spend an incredible amount of hours creating a heirloom quilt for your new daughter-in-law and son.  They live in Hawaii so you decide to ship the quilt to them.  It arrives in tact and they enjoy this quilt for many years before deciding to move back to the states.  But alas, in the move the quilt is lost.  How will you ever get it back?

Hopefully this will not happen to you.  But others have had quilts stolen or lost.  And don't forget death.  What happen to the story that goes with your quilt when you die?  Was it made for a special occasion?  With special fabrics?  When did you make it.

Many antique quilts have survived the years but their story is lost and we can only guess the history.  Don't let this happen to you.  No matter how small, your quilt needs a label.
 What do I put on this label you ask?

At the minimum you should put who it is for, who made it, and the date.  But don't stop there!  What about the reason you made it?  Where you were living?  Did you make it from fabric that your babies wore?  Did you make it to remind you of a certain place.  All of this information can be included on your label.

What about tying the label into the theme on the front of the quilt.  You could include a quilt designs, or a motif.  You could make an extra block or embroider a border for your label.
 How do I make the label?

There is no set of rules on how to make your label.  You can make the label out of leftover fabric from your top or back.  It doesn't matter.  If you are going to use pens, use permanent pens and be sure to heat set them before you attach the quilt to the label.  
 How do I attach it to the quilt?

Most people will cut a rectangle (but again, why stay in the box, make yours a circle) or shape and double-turn the edges.  Then using a whipstitch (or your favorite stitch), attach the label to the back of your quilt.  Others will add the label before the entire quilt is quilted, making sure some of the quilting catches the label.  This helps prevent theft (yes, unfortunately this has been a problem in the past).
 Now am I finished?  Well, I could say yes but wait.  You went to all this work to make this quilt, what about a bag or cover for it for when it is not hanging or on a bed.  This could be another tool for recording additional information about your quilt.  Pillow cases are easy and a popular quilt storing item.