Finishing with a flourish - how do you 'sign' your pieces?

[kmummy77]

Hi All,

I have often tried to discreetly sign my name on my pieces (with a date) so that I know when I finished things, and was wondering how others go about putting their name on a finished work. Do you use two threads or one? Do you work it into the piece or have it at the bottom of the frame? If you wanted to make it look pretty, do you have an alphabet that you use, or do you just generally make your moniker in squares?

Curious, might try this time.
Kirsty.

WIP
Angel of the Morning
Isabella's Garden
Enchanted Alphabet

[Allyn]

It all depends on the piece. I'll do any of those that you mentioned depending on the design and what it's for. Sometimes I'll just leave the piece unsigned and then I'll sign and date it on the backing paper after it's been framed, especially if I want to include a note to commemorate the gift-giving occasion.

http://www.scarletquince.com/alphabets.php" target="_blank" target="_blank

If I want the signature to be discreet, I'll kind of weave it into the bottom corner of the design and use one thread of a coordinated color.

[fccs]

I use my initials and the year, very small (usually just over one), single strand. I generally "sign" toward the bottom of the design in an stitched area if there is one, using a floss that fits in with the other colors.

[NeedleAndFork]

So far my only finishes have been items I've given away - several ornaments, and a birth announcement. I've signed each of them using a single strand of floss and backstitch to put my initials and the year. Here's an example..



On the birth announcement I did, I didn't bother putting the year, since it was right there on the announcement, but I did put my initials on it in the bottom corner just inside the border.

I don't know yet what I'm going to do about my large pieces with full coverage like my HAED - I'm still so far from done that I'm not even thinking about it yet.

[Rose]

Wow you are all so good. With all of the projects I have done and the majority given away as a gift I have NEVER signed a single piece. Maybe I should but then if they last for more then one generation no one is going to know what those initials mean anyway.

[curly sue]

Some time along the line, I began putting my initials and the last two digits of the year. I put them in the bottom right corner.

[bookknurd]

aybe I should but then if they last for more then one generation no one is going to know what those initials mean anyway.

I don't know, I think having the initials there gives your family or whoever owns it a way to share a story about where it came from.

I think this could be true especially if your signature is on the front of the stitched piece, because future generations would likely notice and ask who made it, where it came from, etc.

[rcperryls]

On most of my afghans I found an empty space somewhere on the afghan and would usually stitch "To ______ with love from (Gramma or Auntie if appropriate) Carole. I always thought it personalized it. On some pieces I have stitched my initials in the corner with the year, at least I used to. Seems like I forgot with the last few, but should I finish pieces again I think I will. Give those future generations something to wonder about.

Carole

[crosstitcher1]

I always sign on the lower right corner of the project, 3 stitches down from the last stitch of the project, like this J.C. '13. 2 stitches H and 1 stitch L.

HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

[LastingAllure]

I normally sign in the bottom right hand corner with my initials and the year. Sometimes I get creative and put the initials and date in an area where they blend in with the stitching.

For example with my Mirabilia Emerald Mermaid there were swirling beads in the garland she was holding so I put my mom and mine's initials in one of the swirly things and beaded around it. (my mom started the piece and I finished it). You can hardly notice them but it looks pretty when you do. And I just do simple back stitch letters in one strand in a colour that is in the piece.

Another example was with the letter P my mom and I did for my nan. There we put the initials (another mother daughter project) hidden within the project because it would have stuck out like a sore thumb if we had put it anywhere else.

For majority of my stitching though I will put my initials and date on the "floor" by the stitching. That way if it is noticeable it just appears to be something on the floor.

My HAED I will sign it in the stitching in the bottom right hand corner. Haven't decided if it will be just initials or is it will be my first initial and last name. I have plenty of time to think about that

[carolanne]

often in the lower right, 3 initials and all four numbers for the year. Sometimes there are variations. One time I thought I worked it into the design at bottom, and then gave it to a charity sale, my granddaughter saw it and said"That's my gramma's, there's her initials." So much for being clever.

[Angel]

This is mine


I usually do it in the lightest shade used in the design so it's not noticeable.

[Pengwenn]

I've never signed my work and most of what I've done over the years has been gifts. My dad wants me to sign the project I'm working on for him and I occassionally freak out when I try to figure out how I want to do it. I'm a long way from finishing so I've got time. It's a custom HAED so whatever I do will have to be over existing stitches.

[Angel]

You could sign it under te stitched piece on the border you leave for framing. I've done that before, so it's signed but doesn't show up at all

[Vykic37]

I'm also a bottom right corner signer. I do my initials in two colors in small block letters that usually have colors picked from the design so it matches. I have done this since my very first piece in 7th grade! I'm thinking maybe I should start putting the date as well. At least the last two digits of the year.