I use pencil lightly all the time and erase it with a plastic white eraser. These can be bought in an art store.

I like the water soluble pens best. For marking on darks, I use chalk especially sold for marking on fabrics.

Years ago at Malvern Quilt Show I asked a well known UK hand quilter - Sandi Lush - what she used because I could see coloured pencils beside her. They were watercolour ones - the type you use to colour in a drawing and then go over with a wet paintbrush to achieve a watercolour painting. Found some in my local stationers and they are very good. Lots of dark colours for the light fabrics and vice versa. I always wash my quilts when finished cos they're always grubby by the time they're finished and the lines just disappear even those where I've been heavy handed. They are soft and need sharpening often. I've been happily using these ever since and have never tried the air disappearing or the water soluble markers.

thanks for the hint. My daughter left some of these at home. I'll try them on my current project. :thumbup:

Oh, I still have my chalk blocks from the early '60's when I was in high school home-ec. Recently some friends were going through my 'handy box' that I keep my most and most recently used notions and the comments were a chuckle. Oh, Lord, how old are these old scissors?? and look at this tape measure, but when they saw the chalk pencils with the 'broom' on the end and the big chalk blocks that I's whittled edges to a shapeness, it was a hen session out of Disney Movies. But, I haven't used pencil, Maybe if you use it on the backside. I know the notions can be expensive. Once I decided to chunk all my junk and buy new things.....I went diving in the trash when I got back home. Money is the root of all my reasoning, I think.

I too have had a problem with pencil. I've been using tailor chalk now and it works wonderfully well. Comes in different colors and already has an edge.

I tried pencil and it didn't erase or wash out. Never again.

thanks so much for all the suggestions. i have a baby quilt drying on the side of the playpen now...i fear i may have just completely ruined it and hope that the windex works! or the mr clean eraser...or a super big prayer!!