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A quilt label is one of the most important finishing touches you can add to a quilt. It preserves the story behind the piece — who made it, when, and for whom — turning a beautiful object into a lasting record for future generations. A label is a separate piece of fabric that is stitched onto the back of the quilt, and can be written by hand, printed on inkjet fabric sheets, or embroidered. It should include at minimum the maker's name, the date, and any relevant dedication or provenance.

If you have quilts that are unlabeled — whether family heirlooms or collected pieces — it is never too late to add a label. Even incomplete information is far better than none. Write down whatever you know: a name, a rough date, a place, a family story. If you are uncertain about a detail, note that too. Future generations will be grateful for any context you can provide.

This page covers the materials and methods for making a fabric label to attach to your quilt. For a comprehensive overview of quilt label traditions and best practices, see the American Quilter's Society guide to quilt labels.

Label Fabric

The label itself is made from a separate piece of fabric that you write or print on, then stitch to the back of the quilt. The fabric you choose matters for both legibility and longevity.

Plain Woven Cotton or Muslin

A piece of tightly woven, light-colored cotton fabric — such as muslin or quilting cotton — is the simplest and most traditional choice. Pre-wash and iron it before writing. A smooth, light surface gives the best results with archival markers.

Inkjet Paper-backed Fabric Sheets

These are sheets of fabric bonded to a paper backing so they feed through a standard inkjet printer. They allow you to print text, photos, and custom designs with precision — useful if you have a lot of information to include, want a consistent look, or are making multiple labels at once. At $2–6 per sheet, fitting several labels on one sheet helps reduce cost.

• Jacquard Inkjet Fabric Sheets
• Simplicity PhotoFabric

Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully, particularly for heat-setting after printing.

Archival, Permanent Markers

When writing by hand on a fabric label, use archival-quality, permanent markers to ensure the writing lasts.

Recommended

• Sakura Micron — 5mm tips and larger work well on fabric. Thinner tips may be too fine for reliable results.
• Sakura Gelly Roll — Not officially sanctioned by Sakura for use on fabric, but used successfully by many quilters.

Use with Caution

• Sharpie — An oily-looking halo can develop around the lettering on fabric over time.

Fonts for Tracing

Bold fonts with clear, open letterforms are easiest to trace onto a fabric label. The label maker at the bottom of this page lets you try different sizes. Below are samples at 20pt.

Print Your Own Label to Trace

Choose a font and size, fill in your label, and click Print. Tape the printout to a window or lightbox, lay your label fabric over it, and trace. Once done, stitch the finished label to the back of your quilt.