Ok, total quilting newbie here. I went to Joanns the other day in seach of marking pencils and was totally confused and overwhelmed by the selection. They had at least 4 different white marking pencils, 3 graphite ones, etc. etc. I couldn't even tell the difference between the different graphite pencils.
I have NO IDEA. The prices ranged from $2 to $12. I didn't get anything b/c I cannot afford to spend a dime on something that's a waste.

Is that $11 graphite pencil worth it? Do the ones that say they come off with water, really come off with water?
There was one that says it comes off with water or ironing. Anybody used that one? (I didn't write down the brand, sorry!)

What pencils do you use? What brand, specifically?

I am looking for something to mark dark fabrics, and light. What works best for you?

Hi, I use what they call a chaco liner. It is filled with white powder (you can get different colors) and it can be used on most fabrics and brushes off when you are done. I also have Roxanne Pencils that work very well. there is also a purple marking pen that disappears after a few hours. All of them work well for me. Marge

I have the disappearing marking pens.
I also have some marking pencils in different colors, but I always seem to break the lead on it when I use them :(

Be VERY, VERY careful when using blue chalk! It has been known to not come off. Always pre-test your fabric when using chalk. I just took a custom quilting class and the instructor swears by using school chalk and a chalk sharpener. She said the cheaper the better. I'm going to buy some. Now, if you are using stencils, I highly recommend the Pounce Pad & loose chalk refill. Very easy to apply. You can get white, blue, and grey chalk. I use white for dark fabrics and grey for light fabrics and I steer clear from the blue. I guess you'd say I have Blue Chalk Phobia because I've seen what it can do. Nita

I use the pens that disappear when wet. If you don't get the area done right away and come back to it later, the marks haven't vanished like the disappearing ones do. If my material is dark I use white chalk. Regular lead doesn't wash out, I have really old quilts that still have some marks on them. Make sure you cap the pen, they dry out easily.

My dh bought me the vanishing makers by dritz, they are supposed to vanish in 24 to 72 hours, I'm here to tell you that will all of the fabrics I've been using it starts to vanish in about 30 minutes and is completely gone in a hour. Strange thing though... It's back the next day... So that's a "I don'a like it!"

I have been using Crayola Washable Markers, and I use them real lightly (they are the fat markers and it would be better I think to use the skinny ones). But a friend of mine says washable crayola crayons are the best. Keep in mind they still sell the kinds that aren't washable (though who knows why?) so make sure to get the washable ones.

I have used pounce in the past for multiple uses (that's the white shaker calk) and I simply can't stand the chalk dust feeling on my hands.

My husband also had this yellow quilters thing, it looked like chalk but felt a little waxy to the touch. It's supposed to rise off, but it didn't. Not only that it turned my thread yellow! Eeek! I'm still hoping the washing machine will get it out. I hope you find something that works for you. :wink:

I use a bounce when I am using stencils. I only chalk in a small area at a time. I learned the hard way when I had to re-bounce over some that had rubbed off. I use water-soluable pens (blue barrel) for marking most anything else. I always had a hard time with dark colors and the bounce takes care of that. I use colored pencils also IF I know my seam will cover them just in case they they don't wash out.

I dont know why I didn't think of using washable markers. I use them to make marks on fabric when I am making diapers. duh. Of course, I don't care if they don't come off the diapers, so I never really looked to see whether they had. I will have to make sure, but I think I'll start there.

Has anyone used the white refillable automatic pencils that Fons & Porter have? I've been eyeing that but hesitating to spend the money without info.

Linda