All about my GUEST BOOK quilts

Lemme, tell you about my guest book quilts.

What is it?

A guest book quilt is an alternative to having an actual guest book.  What are you going to do with that book?  Are you ever going to look through it?  Where are you going to put it?  This book of names and message of people who came to your wedding, baby shower, retirement party?

If you had these sweet signatures and lovely thoughtful messages on a quilt however……  Well, that’s usable, and warm, and comfy and soft and….. (I could go on all day, but you get my point).

The process

Order a guest book kit here and choose all your own fabrics that will match your colors, style, etc.    There are different sizes and styles to suit any size gathering.  You set your squares out at your gathering along with some fabric markers.  Check out this board for setup inspiration.  Direct your guests to sign the squares for a quilt.  It’s best to make an announcement about this and not just have the table set up.  You should have some kind of instructions at the table as well.  For instance, you don’t want your guests signing close to the edges of your fabric squares.  This way when you stitch your squares together, it won’t cut off any of their precious words.  Also, ask your guests to sign on the right side of the fabric since that is the side that will show on your quilt.

Where do I get the fabric markers?

It’s important to mention that if you sign your fabric squares with anything BUT a fabric marker, the writings will smudge, fade, or become somewhat unreadable.  You must use a fabric marker.  Fabric markers will not fade.  They are meant for fabric and will survive a good washing.

With each quilt purchased, I send out two fabric markers.  This could end up being not enough for you.  If you have 3-4 guests surrounding a table, you’ve gotta dilemma on your hands.  Having not enough markers could result in guests not signing at all, or feeling rushed, or worse, your guests pulling out a pen/marker/sharpie from their bag and signing that would bleed all over your quilt.

I can’t speak for all markers, but I can speak for the one’s I have used for years and have washed over and over again.  I know when someone uses something other than a fabric marker on their quilt, it bleeds.  Period.  If you use a fabric marker, it does not.  Here are my favorites that I have used:

I sell these in my own shop.  You can add them on to your quilt order.  I haven’t had these bleed yet.  They are a bit better for price as well.

Uchida fabric markers – This is the kind that I’ll send with your quilt.  Black.  I’ve been making guest book quilts for 6 years.  Not a single bleed when this marker is used.  Here they are in color if you prefer.  Also, they come in skinny as well, aka fine point.

Tulip fabric markers – I really like this brand.  They are just a little more pricey, but they are a bit smoother than the Uchida.  Here is the color pack ( a little more cost effective ).

FYI – One more thing when it comes to writing on your quilt squares:  it’s not easy to write on a piece of fabric that sits on a hard surface, but if you put that fabric square on a piece of cloth, like a tablecloth, the writing is much smoother.

Options

Every quilt can be added messages to.  Maybe you want your wedding date or last name, or all the names or a picture or vows, poems, whatever it is that you are wanting, it can be done.  There are options for this in the quilt listings, they are called ‘message blocks’ or ‘custom messages’ .  If you have a particular font, I can usually match it or get close, or you can just let me know you want something cursive or titling or whatever it is you are thinking.

One last thing, maybe you already bought squares at a fabric shop and you just need somebody to sew them together for you and turn those squares into a quilt.  If this is the case, contact me with the size of your squares, the amount of them and the size quilt you are wanting and I’ll get you a quote.  Many times, your local fabric shop will sell a fabric bundle called a ‘layer cake’.  These are perfect for sending to me for making you a guest book quilt.

If you are on this site for quilt making and not quilt buying, I apologize for the disruption.  My regular posts of my obsession with making quilts will continue next time.  Too-da-loo!

Shop guest book quilts here.