5 Ways to Incorporate Messages into Your Textile Projects
Some stitches are purely decorative. Others? They carry whispers, sass, and love in every loop. Whether you’re gifting a quilt to your best friend, making art for your wall, or whipping up a tote you’ll carry every day, sneaking in a personal message makes your work unforgettable. Think of it as the secret ingredient that turns “oh, that’s nice” into “I love this — and I’m never letting it go.”
1. Sew Into the Back of a Quilt
If you’re going to hide a note, hide it in plain sight. Go bold — choose a Quilt Tattoo® base color that pops against your backing fabric, then stitch together a phrase that’s only from you and just for them. Every time they flip that quilt over, they’ll be wrapped up in your words as much as your stitches.
2. Making a Quilted Piece of Art? Leave a Note on the Back
A quilt that hangs on a wall can hold its own story. On the back, leave your signature, the date, or a few lines about what inspired the piece. It’s like slipping a handwritten note into a frame — unexpected, personal, and just a little bit romantic.
3. Keep Drinks Distinct with Stitched Coasters
Next quilt-and-gab night (or book club… or cocktail hour), make it impossible for guests to mix up their drinks. Stitch a different illustration, saying, or tiny motif into each coaster. Functional, memorable, and guaranteed to get a few “where did you get these?” moments.
4. Slip One Into a Gift Pouch or Notions Bag
Even the tiniest makes deserve a moment of magic. Stitch a Quilt Tattoo® into the inside flap or base of a handmade notions pouch, zipper bag, or gift wrap. Whether it says “hands off my scissors” or “you’ve got this,” it’s the kind of surprise that turns practical storage into a keepsake.
5. Add a Pop of Color and a Sassy Note to Homewares
Hand towels, placemats, even pillow backs — these are the everyday objects begging for a bit of personality. A pop of color and a cheeky phrase stitched in can transform something purely functional into something delightfully you.
Your fabric already tells a story through its color and pattern. Adding a message turns it into something even more personal — a piece that speaks in your voice long after it leaves your hands. Whether it’s heartfelt, cheeky, or somewhere in between, your words will be stitched into their everyday life — and that’s the kind of “forever” that no store-bought piece can match.
