Coming to a Fiery Finish

This morning I was halfway around the binding for To the Rescue when I needed to stop. The tomatoes are calling out..."Please fulfill our lifelong dream of becoming Spicy Tomato Chutney!" And who can resist their call?

So here's where we left it:

Since I neglected to take a picture of the flaming border last time, here you go...one quilt border burst into flames.

Also, it's time to create a label so that this can be on its way to little Grayson. I'm going to show you a way I learned when I took Dawn White's "Going in Circles" class back in June. This isn't exactly what I learned from Dawn White, but it's pretty close.

My way starts with creating a label in Photoshop Elements, but you can use whatever image editing software you're comfortable with. 

When that's done, I print the labels onto printable fabric. My preferred printable fabric is this one available from Amazon.com. I've used Printed Treasures in the past but found it frustratingly difficult to remove the paper backing. This stuff is much better.

Today I'm using the 100% cotton poplin variety, but it also comes in a 100% cotton twill, which is a heavier weight. It's good for making quilt blocks.

It comes in a roll 8.5 inches wide. I usually cut off a 6-inch length, and then cut it in half to approximate a 4 x 6 sheet of photo paper, since that runs through my printer pretty well. You'll also need an ink jet printer for this. If you don't have one, some libraries will allow you to use theirs. Finally, printing onto fabric tends to fade the colors, and so I always bump up the color saturation when printing on fabric.

Once you have your label printed, trim it to the size you want. Be sure to allow yourself at least 1/4-inch around the edges for your seam allowance. (A little more is better.) Today I'm going to make a circular label, and so I've selected a very technical quilting tool in the form of a lid from a plastic storage container. Yes...we're talking state of the art here.

Just lay your label inside the circle to estimate how much of a border you'll want. Just eyeballing this, it looks like two inches all around will be plenty. Then, sew a border onto your label using whatever fabric you like. (The border is my addition. This can also be done without a border using just your printed fabric.)

Now center your very technical quilting template around the main part of the label and mark a cutting line.

Check to be sure you've given yourself at least a 1/4-inch seam allowance...

and then cut on the line.

Now you're going to want to do the same thing with a piece of fusible interfacing. I like the Pellon mid-weight fusible. It's what I use to back my embroidery pieces.

You'll see that it has a knobby side...

and a smooth side.

The knobby side is the fusible side, and so you'll want to sew that to your quilt label with the smooth side down against the right side of your label. The knobby side will be out.

Once that's in place, clip your curved edges. I clipped mine about every half inch or so.

Then, very carefully cut a slit in the fusible (not the label) so that you can turn your piece inside out. Give yourself some room to maneuver...I gave myself about two inches.

When you have it turned, use a stylus or some other tool to give yourself a nice smooth edge.

When you're satisfied, give it a good pressing. By turning it with the fusible side to the inside, it will fuse to your label and give you a nice heft for sewing to your quilt.

And there you go! One nifty quilt label...quick and easy to do. Sew it to your finished quilt and your project is complete.

This post has been edited to say that quilts expected to be subjected to repeated washings should have their labels treated with a product such as Retayne or Synthrapol to prevent the ink from fading. To do this, follow the directions on the bottle. In this case, I put a small amount of hot water in a bowl and added 1 teaspoon of Retayne. Then, the label should be soaked for 20 minutes. After that, blot as much moisture as possible from the fabric using a few layers of paper or cloth towels, and then press it flat again.

Smitty thought he would die of boredom waiting for me to finish this blog post.

The tomatoes are sounding frantic in their quest to become chutney, and so I guess I'll get going on them. They'll be in hot water very soon.