I've used washable crayola crayons and markers, both of which I use very lightly so at not to sink the color very deep in the fabric (I do have things that were "crayola washable" that stained because of my daughter's intense coloring, mostly I think on the rags I used to clean the intense coloring). I don't have any trouble washing it out when I do it lightly as I mentioned above, also I would say 90%+ of the things I'm drawing for end up in the seam allowance anyway.

Maybe write a little on a sample and then wash it? Oh and don't forget crayola sells both washable and stuff not labeled as washable! When you do a test sample don't forget no pretreating, because you wouldn't be pretreating an entire quilt...

colored pencils have a waxy like substance in them. I have seen quilting projects where they use them to color on fabric, and they are supposed to stay in the fabric after washing. Also, one brand may have more of this waxy pigment in them than others. I would test them out on each and every fabric you are going to use in the quilt first.

From experience with crayola markers and colored pencils getting on the girls clothes (which happens A LOT!!) I found a trick right here on the handy dandy internet. If you run the area under cold water if washable marker/pencil or warmest water fabric can tolerate with permanent marker/pencil until the water runs clear...then use cotton balls to saturate the spot with denatured alcohol. The alcohol evaporates as it dries, taking the remaining color with it. I know this sounds like a feet with a quilt...but...they have gotten these things on sheets, blankets, comforters big comforters (they like to draw while laying on their beds) I use a clean white wash cloth to saturate the area with clear water then do the alcohol thing. It has yet to fail me. I do however do a test area in an non-noticable place to make sure of color fastness before I treat the colored spot. I would hate to have comforters and such with big white or faded spots in the middle!! This works absolutely Wonderfully on their outfits!! I've gotten black sharpie out of a white shirt with this method!!

Wow! Thank you so much for the tips.

I didn't think about the waxy substance at all.

I think I'll just use chalk pencils. They are thicker and I don't like them as well.

Tonight I'll post the pictures of the finished baby quilt top. Then off to quilting!!

Mary Jane
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mary Jane, I had a wise woman of 9 boys tell me this tid-bit...use straight pine sol to remove any crayons...and, it works. As far as using crayon (kids) on a quilt, I'd opt not for their is wax/dyes in them. (We use crayones to make kid project batiks!)Even some chaulks of kids carry a greasy substance in them. When you put much work in such art, you deserve the best:))So, endulge!:))I do quilt w/a gal that uses reg. #2 lead pencil lightly to mark. She used a fabric eraser to remove the marks if they show later. This is a great subject for their are so many ways to mark quilts and I like to hear what others are doing too. Thanks, Skeat