newquiltmama

I am planning to make a wall hanging for my son's teacher that is having to retire at the end of March. It is unexpected and for medical reasons. So I wanted to make a tree and have different color fabrics for the leaves. And then I am going to let the kids sign their name on the leaves. What type of markers should I use that won't wash out or fade? I am planning on using the raw edge applique technique and thought I could wash it when I finished sewing so it would ravel out a little. Any bits of advise??? Thanks!!

Teri

gramajo

Micron Pigma pen. Press the leaves to freezer paper before having the kids sign to stabilize the fabric. To make it easier, press the whole piece of fabric to the freezer paper. Then draw the leaves on for the kids to sign. I wouldn't cut out the leaves until they're all signed.

Peckish

I agree - gramajo has given you very good advice! This is exactly what I would do.

Scissor Queen

I find Pigma Pens hard to write with. For kids I'd definitely get ZigWriters. The tips are more like Sharpies. They're archival and you heat set them so they don't wash out.

newquiltmama

Awesome tips, thanks so much!!!

Do I keep the freezer paper on when I get ready to sew to the background fabric?

QuiltnLady1

I would take off the paper after the leaves are signed. If you use the micron (and they are the ones I have used), the wider points are easier to use. Whatever you use, be sure and heat set them. I did an autograph quilt years ago and missed heat setting one and it pretty much washed out.

Tartan

I have the pigma permanent pens and they make a nice fine line but they can be a little hard to get a clear dark line. I think I would try a sample leaf with a regular permanent fine tip shapie. Sign you own name, stitch it down to a background square and wash it like you plan to do the wallhanging. If it comes out well, I'd go with those. One word of caution, lots of supervision with any permanent marking pen.
As others have mentioned, I'd use large square pieces of fabric with freezer paper ironed to the back. Draw on many leaf outlines on the fabric squares for the kids to sign in. If they goof some up, there will be others to try. You can cut out the ones that you can read and sew them on.

nycquilter

another idea that I did once with my Sunday school class as an in-service/outreach project was to iron fusible web onto fabric squares, trace members' hands and then cut them out and use the hands as leaves. Also, you could use gelly roll pens as well. They come in many many colors and average about $2 for each one.

newquiltmama

Does heat setting consist of just running the iron over the signed fabric before cutting apart to sew to my background??

sassey

I made a memory quilt for my mil I used regular sharpie perm. markers I forgot to heat set it was washed and dried several times and did not fade at all