This is one of those projects that you can begin at anytime, continue to add to and watch it evolve. We started saving tags and labels several years ago when the labels were kind of itchy. As I would carefully pick out the stitches to remove them I noticed that many were fun and quite decorative so I decided to put them aside and wait for creative inspiration. Several years of collecting has led to an assortment that reflects our changing styles and even echoes the play clothes the kids preferred when they were young. It ends up being a memory box of sorts.
I have old labels that I’ve sewn into special gifts and the name tags that we sewed onto the kids clothes for camp. I recently came across the labels my favorite aunt sewed into her beautiful sweaters. I enjoy seeing those old pieces of satin labels among the GAP and Old Navy brands. I originally planned to sew the tags onto a piece of fabric and make a pillow, but I knew I wasn’t quite finished collecting them and by stitching or gluing them to the background of the shadow box I can add to it at any time.
I’m pretty certain that sewn in clothing labels are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. More and more clothing companies are printing their brand names directly on the clothing. I’m glad because we no longer have to put up with itchy tags, but I will miss the artistic creativity of many of the labels. I think before long they will go the way of wooden thread spools and Bakelite buttons.
If you want to make this simple display you'll need a shadow box frame found at most frame shops. Begin gathering your tags. If there are cut edges you can tuck them under and iron them. Start laying out different arrangements to see what works best next to one another and then begin attaching them with a very thin film of fabric glue. Press firmly and evenly so that the label dries flat and smooth. Let dry for a day or two. Replace the glass on the front of the shadow box and it’s ready for display.
Wooden spools...yes, especially the old-timey ones which were dyed green or orange for the company.
Posted by: Molly | 03/18/2011 at 02:46 AM
Janet I too have been saving labels and I am going to make a quilt out of them . You sew them on squares. It was really cute I saw one made many years ago.
Posted by: Yvonne simon bagley | 09/14/2011 at 10:30 PM
Oh Yvonne, that sounds so pretty. I love all the clever and beautiful labels and I'm not sure if they'll be around much longer. The manufactures are getting better about printing the info directly onto the clothing instead of itchy tags. They really can be a piece of art.
Posted by: Janet | 09/15/2011 at 08:03 AM