So I am making the hexagonal Baltimore Album blocks in parallel with my DD's quilt (which I hate - acid green, acid yellow and black and white - EYEWATERING) and I decided to do the border strips in black and whites. Real pretty - BUT - I am having a terrible time trying to find a non permanent marker that will show up. I tried yellow but the marking pencil is so soft the lead keeps breaking. I tried silver and still can't see it. I can baste the lines in red, but still the same problem - how do I see what I am basting???? I don't want to resort to actually creating a template to stick on the fabric because when I hand quilt, it will be a pain to manuver but I am running out of ideas. Help!!!

Love your blocks!!! I have a blue marker I got from Joann's that comes out with cold water. I think it was less than $4 and should work ok on that. Do you have a joann's close to see if they have any?

I do actually but won't the blue be too dark?

At my LQS I found a chalk marker in white that has a rotary wheel on it to mark dark fabric. If you have one close, you might call them to ask if they have anything.

I've used a sliver of soap. (Ivory, just because that is what we use) BUT---it's hard to get a thin line.

Clover's Tailor's Chalk will make a really thin line. Available at Joann's.

And those Clover Chalk Wheels (mentioned above) are really versatile.

@quilt1950
I never thought of using soap, but that's a great idea. At least you'd sure it would wash out.

But I wonder if it produces a thick, waxy line that would be harder to hand quilt through. I'm going to have to try that next time.

Did you just slice off a piece from a bar to get a sharp edge?

That is going to be a stunning quilt. What kind of quilting design are you trying to mark? If is is just straight lines I would use masking or painters tape. You could even cut designs out of contact paper stick it where you need it. Quilt around it and move it to the next location. I have done both many times. Marking is always a problem. That is why I prefer wholecloth quilts or cheater's that I just quilt around the motifs.

I don't hand quilt, so I can't answer that question. I just save the slivers from used bars.

Sewline has a pink which I have been told works very well on dark fabrics and comes out easily.

http://www.sewline-product.com/

I just want to say to be very careful with all the marking tools on the market today. Not all come out. Especially yellows and reds. I know people have had problems with those rolling wheels ones and some of the chalk ones (if they contain any type of wax). Be sure to test on your fabrics - it'd be a shame to bleach some of the blacks. I actually had that happen on a dark green XMas quilt using a chalk tool that was supposedly made for quilting...but when left on more than 2 weeks, it bleached out everywhere I had a line!

It's gonna be a beautiful quilt! Can't wait to see it quilted :)