Thread: Marking your quilts

Thanks for all of your comments. I ironed the Frixion & it came out. It doesn't say that on the instructions. It just says friction removes it. I'm also going to try the soap slivers.

I like the dissappearing ink pens.
Of course you do have to do the quilting before the ink dissappears.
I also like the purple wash out pens.

I, too, use a plain old mechanical pencil with #2 lead on light fabrics. I have been using the Bohin white mechanical pencil on light fabrics and really like it alot. No issues with either of these washing out. I hand quilt - usually in a hoop - and generally mark as I go. The #2 pencil doesn't rub off or disappear but the white definitely does if rubbed with fabric or hands. Glad you got the marks to come out.

Originally Posted by NJ Quilter

I, too, use a plain old mechanical pencil with #2 lead on light fabrics. I have been using the Bohin white mechanical pencil on light fabrics and really like it alot. No issues with either of these washing out. I hand quilt - usually in a hoop - and generally mark as I go. The #2 pencil doesn't rub off or disappear but the white definitely does if rubbed with fabric or hands. Glad you got the marks to come out.

ditto, i use a mechanical pencil too. no problems yet with it not washing out. i hand quilt in a hoop. it does get a little hard to see it on dark fabrics, but it still works. when the quilt is done, it gets thrown in the washer, and it all comes out.

I have used chalk, but it doen't remove easily for me, also have tried the colored pencils, don't like them, can not get rid of the lines afterwards. I like to use the Dritz dual purpose mark8ing pen, blue on one end and purple on the other end. They also come in just the one colors for the total pen, all blue or all purple. The blue must be washed out with a damp cloth sometimes more than once and sometimes that goes through to the backing, so check that. The purple dries in the air, and don't mark all of your quilt at once, because the air will dry the pen color out before you complete your project. I haven't tried this yet, but plan to on my next quilt using an eraser pink large one like students use or the eraser on a pencil. This should mark things and would be easily brushed off. I don't know if this will work or not, but definitely plan to give it a try. Good luck!!

I am of the old mechanical pencils school. In a class I took a long time ago, that's what the teacher advised us to use. At the time, I thought it was a strange thing to have on the supply list. She's a past winner at Paducah, so I figured she must know what she's talking about. I've never had any trouble with the markings coming out. The lead is so thin, it gives you a tiny line, and by using the mechanicals, the line doesn't get any wider because your point doesn't get dull.