kojotutorial: fabric labels

 

I know I've been talking about making fabric labels for my sewing projects forever, but I finally did it!  And I love them!  In fact, it's a little like my shirring infatuation earlier this summer- I can't stop, y'all.  Diaper bags and teacher totes and teeny skirts and changing stations... they are all just crying out for labels!

I loved this idea to use fabric pens at lady harvatine, but since I don't quilt (and thus my labels have to have finished edges), I had to modify their directions a bit.  Here's what I've been doing to make these little gems:

1. Print out label templates or models (you'll trace these, so make them dark/bold).

2. Using a fabric pen, trace your template onto muslin (or some other fairly sheer) fabric.  If you want a block of color in the background, trace your square or rectangle first and color it in, then (after the ink is dry), trace the words on top of the block.

3. Stitch around the edges of your label.  This contrasting (or matching) stitching gives your label an extra pop of color as well as some extra texture (which I love).

4.  Your rectangle of fabric that you use to make your label should be a little more than twice as tall as your logo.  Iron this rectangle in half, right sides in.  Stitch up the edge, being careful not to overlap your seam with any of your logo or stitching.  When you're finished, turn your tube of fabric right side in and iron flat, showcasing your logo.

5.  Finished!  You're ready to sandwich the raw ends of your label into the inside edges of your next sewing project.  Or finish off the raw edges and sew directly onto your project.  Admire.  Sew some more.  Label some more.  Brilliant!