Erica's Stitches

I'm much better at signing my samplers than I am my quilts, still they are not all signed. The easiest way is to add initials and/or the date into the sampler. I prefer to use all 3 initials, but sometimes, for design reasons or to fill the available space I'll only use 2 initials.  No matter how I stitch it, M always takes up space. Sometimes I even have to go over one or backstitch. I have finished many samplers by adding a quilted border.  Then they will have the details magic markered on the back.  These won't be washed so I don't need to worry about the marks disappearing. 

I'm bad.  Adding quilt labels isn't always my highest priority.  I've discovered that it's easier to quilt my initials and the year into the quilt.  But, I don't always remember.  So, for this quilt, I made sure to put my initials into the first corner I quilted. I wasn't always like that.  For my first big quilt I made a nice label with all the relevant information written with a fabric marker and appliqued it on to the back . After a few washings you can barely read my name and the date (1999-2000).  A few more washings and the details will be gone. I suppose the ink jet labels I see might be a bit more durable but so far I haven't gone to the trouble. I went through many of my quilts this morning.  I enjoyed seeing them again and seeing how they have been wearing.   Most don't have any information but about 1/3 of them have quilted initials and the date. It turns out that I like seeing the date more than my initials.  So...