Make a Personalised Garment Label from Fabric Scraps

A handmade label gives a sewing project a small signature. It can show your name, a phrase, the garment size or even the date it was finished. Using leftover fabric keeps the label connected to the garment, while also giving tiny offcuts a useful second life.

This project suits almost any sewing level. A beginner can make a simple folded tag with a permanent-ink pen, while an experienced sewist may enjoy adding woven lettering, appliqué or decorative stitching. The method works for dresses, shirts, skirts, bags, children’s clothing and handmade gifts.

For Australian sewists, fabric scraps are easy to collect from many sources, from Spotlight remnants and Lincraft offcuts to pieces bought at a Melbourne or Brisbane fabric market. Lightweight cottons are especially practical in warm climates, while linen scraps suit relaxed summer garments and wool remnants create labels with a more tailored feel.

Choose a scrap with the right character

Start with a piece that is stable enough to hold its shape. Quilting cotton, cotton lawn, linen, denim, chambray and lightweight canvas are all reliable choices. Very stretchy jersey can work, but it may need interfacing to prevent the label from twisting or curling after washing.

Consider the garment’s fabric and how the label will feel against the wearer’s skin. A soft cotton label is suitable for a T-shirt or children’s top, whereas a firmer canvas tag may be better inside a coat. If the garment is made from fluid rayon or silk, choose a light label so it does not pull at the neckline or side seam.

Wash the scrap before cutting if the finished garment will be laundered. This is particularly useful with cotton and linen, which can shrink. Australian tap water and washing routines vary between regions, so follow the care instructions for the fabric rather than assuming every scrap will respond in the same way.

A label can match the garment or provide contrast. A floral remnant inside a plain navy dress creates a hidden detail, while a black-and-white label looks crisp in a colourful handmade shirt. Save especially attractive scraps in a small envelope or box so they are ready for future sewing projects.

Prepare the wording and label size

Decide what the label needs to say before cutting. Your name or sewing brand is enough for a personal wardrobe, but “Made by Josie”, “Handmade in Yorkshire” or a short phrase can make a gift feel more individual. A garment size, fibre content or care symbol may be useful when making clothes for children.

Keep the wording short because small labels quickly become difficult to read. For a finished label around 2 cm by 5 cm, one line of text is usually clearer than several crowded lines. Write the words on paper first and test them inside the garment to check the scale.

There are several ways to add lettering. A fine fabric pen is quick and affordable, embroidery creates texture, and an inkjet fabric sheet allows you to print a neat design. Iron-on transfer paper is another option, although it should be tested on a scrap because some products become stiff or crack after repeated washing.

If you like the look of a shop-bought woven label, recreate it with narrow satin stitch or backstitch. A sewing machine’s lettering function can produce a polished result, but hand embroidery has a relaxed quality that suits slow sewing and visible mending projects.

Build the label in layers

Cut two matching rectangles if you want a double-sided label. Add a small seam allowance, or make the pieces large enough to fold in half with the raw edges tucked inside. A finished size of about 2 cm by 5 cm is a useful starting point for an adult garment, but proportions can be adjusted to suit the design.

Fuse lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric if it feels thin or unstable. For a softer label, use woven fusible interfacing; for a firm tag, choose a slightly heavier variety. Press from the wrong side with a pressing cloth, following the product instructions and using the heat setting suitable for your fabric.

Add the lettering before closing the label. Mark a faint centre line with a removable fabric pen and keep the text away from the edges. This leaves room for stitching and prevents the letters from disappearing into a seam allowance.

For a folded label, stitch the long sides with right sides together, turn the tube through, and press it flat. For a flat patch, place the two rectangles together, sew around three sides, turn, and close the opening with a slip stitch or narrow machine stitch. A pinked edge can reduce fraying, although it is less durable than an enclosed seam.

Choose a comfortable place to sew it

The back neckline is the traditional location for a garment label, but it is not always the most comfortable. In a low neckline, a side seam or the inside of a waistband may be a better position. For trousers and skirts, place the label on the centre-back waistband so it helps identify the back of the garment.

Pin the label in place and try the garment on, if possible. Check that it will not sit directly under a bra strap, rub against the neck or interfere with a zip. This small test is especially worthwhile for children’s garments and lightweight tops worn in Australia’s hot summers.

Sew the label securely using a narrow rectangle, a line of topstitching or a few neat hand stitches. Match the thread to the label for an understated finish, or use a contrasting colour as a decorative detail. If the label is attached to a delicate fabric, place a small piece of interfacing behind the area first.

For a professional finish around a garment opening, coordinate the label with the rest of the construction. For example, the techniques in this rolled hem tutorial can help create a tidy edge on lightweight dresses, skirts and blouses where every internal detail is visible.

Make the finish durable and personal

The best homemade labels balance appearance with practical care. Avoid thick knots at the back, long loose threads and bulky layers that can catch during washing. Trim thread tails closely and secure hand stitching with a small backstitch.

Test a finished sample before adding labels to several garments. Wash it according to the garment’s care instructions, then check whether the ink has faded, the fabric has shrunk or the interfacing has lifted. A test is particularly important for printed labels and pieces made from dark or heavily dyed fabric.

If you are sewing a fitted dress or a special occasion garment, use the label as part of the design story. A tiny scrap from the original fabric can echo a feature such as a contrast yoke, pocket facing or tie. This works beautifully on patterns with multiple style options, including the Virginia dress review, where small changes can give the finished garment a distinct personality.

You can also record useful information on the label’s reverse side. A date, pattern name or fabric source helps when you return to a successful project later. This is handy for sewists who buy fabric at Sydney markets, Perth independent shops or online Australian retailers and want to remember a particular fabric supplier.

Compare label-making methods and keep a small kit

Different techniques suit different fabrics, time limits and levels of detail. A pen is ideal for a quick everyday garment, while embroidery gives a label a handmade heirloom quality. Printing is useful when you want several identical labels for a small collection of clothes.

Method	Best for	Equipment	Finish
Fabric pen	Quick labels and simple wording	Fabric pen, scrap fabric, ruler	Casual and fast
Hand embroidery	Personal gifts and heirloom garments	Embroidery needle, thread, hoop	Textured and decorative
Machine lettering	Repeated labels and neat branding	Sewing machine with lettering function	Precise and polished
Printed fabric	Detailed names or small motifs	Fabric sheet or transfer paper	Graphic and consistent
Appliqué	Bold initials and playful designs	Small fabric pieces, fusible web	Colourful and dimensional

Keep a small label-making kit with pre-washed scraps, lightweight interfacing, fabric scissors, a ruler, removable marker, embroidery thread and a few needles. Storing these supplies together makes it easier to finish a label before the garment leaves the sewing room.

A custom fabric label can be simple, but it adds useful information and a sense of ownership. Whether it is sewn into a linen top for a Queensland summer, a wool jacket for a chilly Hobart morning or a handmade gift exchanged at a local makers’ market, the detail helps the garment feel complete.

Practical details for a reliable result

• Pre-wash the scrap and test any pen, ink or transfer before cutting the final label.
• Keep lettering at least a few millimetres from the edges so it remains readable after sewing.
• Use interfacing when the fabric is thin, stretchy or prone to fraying.
• Place the label where it will not rub against the neck, waistband or underarm.
• Record the pattern, fabric and date on the reverse side for future reference.