Signature quilt advice

[Ruth C.]

I need to put together a project---a thank you for a fellow volunteer. This will involve 4" white squares that will be distributed to many high school and college students, now spread far and wide. When I've done this in the past, it was for a smaller group and I could distribute fabric pens. This time I'm going to have to rely on each individual.

Does anyone have any suggestions for treating the fabric (either before or after) so that they can sign their names with regular ink pens, ball point or sharpie, mail them back to me, and I can make them "permanent"? Or just rely that they would be permanent?

Any and all suggestions will be most appreciated!! Thanks! Jill

[Ruth C.]

Hi Jill,
What if you had them sign in pencil, then you could trace over the signatures in the the pen you prefer. Or in the letter of explanation, in bold letters write PLEAS USE such and such a pen with black ink. Good luck. Volunteers are a precious comodity. Cheryl

[Ruth C.]

First press the back of the signature fabric to freezer paper. Makes it easier to write on the fabric. Cut the squares half an inch larger on all sides than you will need them to be. Then create a window with freezer paper that is the size you wish the signature to be and press that on the front. That way no one will write in the seam allowance. With the extra fabric, you can center the signatures as needed. I would go with asking people to use PERMANENT SHARPIES. They can be had at Wal-Mart and they are on everyother corner. Good luck and start early, people do procrastinate. Betty Ann In Coooool Florida

[Ruth C.]

Today, almost all young folks have access to PCs and scanners. Why not have them e-mail their scanned signatures to you? It's a lot easier than making and mailing fabric squares, quicker than snail mail, and you won't waste fabric. Then, you can resize (if needed) and print the signatures in whatever colors you want onto printer fabric sheets (purchased or made yourself, using Bubble Jet). You can even add borders and other artwork, if you like.

I'm glad you asked the question, because it's giving me some ideas for a family siggie quilt.

I collected fabric signatures at my retirement party and at the installation celebration for a new priest at our church. So, I used the treated fabric and freezer paper method with pigma pens. I was lucky enough to have volunteers man a table to collect the signatures at the entrance to those parties.

Good luck,
Nancy

[Patti P.]

Nancy what an excellent suggestion! I was just going to relate that no one paid attention to my instructions when I did this and I got alot of ink pens and stuff written in the seam allowance.