Quilt Label Tutorial with Electric Quilt 8 + Finished Quilt Showcase

5/2/2026

My local guild, Maple Grove Quilters, is hosting their quilt show this weekend—and it’s always one of my favorite events of the year. This group is filled with incredibly talented quilters, and I love spending the day catching up with friends while admiring their beautiful work.

As this year’s show approached, I realized something: I really hadn’t been quilting much over the past couple of years. Between moving—and sorting through, organizing, and gifting a large portion of my 35 years of quilting supplies—my creative time had taken a back seat.

So I made a decision.

If I wanted quilts to enter in the show, it was time to pull out those unfinished quilt tops and get them completed.

My original plan was to keep things simple with pantographs. But along the way, I decided to stretch myself and incorporate some custom quilting as well. Was it perfect? No. Was it fun? Absolutely.

To speed up the finishing process, I also tried something new—attaching my bindings by machine after watching a few YouTube tutorials. That alone made a huge difference in how quickly I could complete each quilt.

And finally, on Sunday, I wrapped everything up by designing labels for each quilt—all created in Electric Quilt 8.

In this post, I’ll share my finished quilts, their coordinating labels, and walk you through my label-making process so you can create your own.

Join Me at the Quilt Show

The quilt show is happening May 2nd, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park.

If you’re in the Twin Cities area, I’d love for you to stop by! You’ll see an incredible collection of quilts created by members of Maple Grove Quilters.

Admission: $7
Raffle quilt tickets will also be available (yes—it was designed in Electric Quilt 8!)

Maple Grove Raffle Quilt designed by Kari Schell

Rise n' Shine Quilt Label Tutorial

For each of my labels, I chose to feature a block from the quilt itself. It’s a simple way to create a cohesive, professional look that ties everything together.

Some of my quilts were made from patterns, while others were designs I created in Electric Quilt—sometimes in earlier versions of the software. Rather than hunting down old project files, I found it faster to simply draft (or redraft) the blocks in a new project file.

My Label Design Process

Here are a few tips to guide you:

When coloring your label, choose fabrics that coordinate with the quilt rather than trying to match them exactly.
Set up the block in a horizontal quilt layout using a single block sized at 20" x 20".
Add a 1" border around the block.
On Layer 2, include text such as the quilt name, your name, and the completion year.
Add the design to your Sketchbook to save it.
Under Print & Export, export the image at:
- Size: 8" x 8"
- Resolution: 300 DPI
- Turn off both “Outline Patches” and “Outline Blocks”
Save the image to your computer.

Be sure to watch the video for a full step-by-step walkthrough.

Printing Labels with a Laser Printer (What to Know)

Since I had six labels to print, I arranged multiple labels on a single sheet using EQ Printables.

These sheets are designed for InkJet printers—but I no longer have one, so I used a laser printer instead.

Here’s what I did:

Inserted the exported label images into a Word document
Resized them to fit multiple labels on one page

Pro Tip: Leave at least ½ inch between each label to allow for seam allowances. And always test print on regular paper before using your fabric sheets.

Labels Arranged on a Single Page in Word

Now, a word of caution.

Electric Quilt recommends using an InkJet printer for a reason. When using a laser printer:

Print one sheet at a time
Allow the printer to cool between pages
Avoid overheating (you don’t want to melt the backing sheet!)

I also noticed that the toner sits on top of the fabric, making the labels feel a bit stiff. There may also be issues with colorfastness, as some rubbing occurred during handling.

Because of this, I would not recommend this method for quilts that will be frequently washed.

Quilts and Matching Labels

Here are the quilts I completed for the show, along with their coordinating labels—all designed in Electric Quilt 8.

For each label, I drafted a block that either appears in the quilt or was inspired by its design. My goal was to keep each label simple while still creating a clear connection to the quilt.

Transparency Friendship Star Quilt

Transparency Friendship Star Label

Transparency Friendship Star Quilt (94" x 94")

This is an original design created in EQ8 and previously shared in a free webinar. I began with a traditional Friendship Star block and then built a layout using that same block repeated at multiple scales.

By layering smaller versions within the larger design and carefully choosing the colors, the quilt creates a transparency effect that adds depth and visual interest.

Rise n' Shine Quilt

Rise n' Shine Label

Rise n/ Shine (49" x 49")

This pattern is by Julia Papa of Sunflower Hill Designs. The quilt top was pieced many years ago, and it felt especially satisfying to finally return to it and complete the quilting this year.

Irish Eyes Quilt

Irish Eyes Label

Irish Eyes (46" x 46")

This quilt was inspired by a design created by Irma Gail Hatcher, which I first saw when it was featured as one of the finalists in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine’s “Discovery: A New World in Quilting” contest.

After drafting my own version in Electric Quilt, I later developed custom quilting designs for a “How Do I Quilt This?” tutorial for Art & Stitch.

In 2026, I finally brought all the elements together and finished the quilt.

Hearts Galore Quilt

Hearts Galore Label

Hearts Galore (74" x 90")

After winning a collection of heart blocks at a quilt retreat, I designed this quilt in EQ8 to showcase them. I paired the heart blocks with large triangle units to create a layout that appears to be set on point—but is actually constructed in a horizontal setting, making it much more approachable to piece.

Jo's Little Women Signature Block Exchange Quilt

Signature Block Exchange Label

Jo’s Little Women Signature Block Exchange (32" x 41")

For many years, I participated in a Jo’s Little Women group at a local quilt shop. One year, we exchanged signature blocks, and this quilt became the perfect way to preserve those memories.

I designed the layout in EQ8 to highlight each block while maintaining a cohesive overall design.

Whim Wham Stars Quilt

Whim Wham Stars Label

Whim Wham Stars (28" x 28")

This small quilt features a block from my published Whim Wham Stars pattern. It’s a great example of how a single block can shine in a smaller project.

Happy quilting.

Kari

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