Need help with method for marking dark quilt for hand quilting
 

I am a fairly new quilter and need help with marking a quilt top. My quilt top is mostly very dark fabrics. I can't see markings even with white to hand quilt, because then the white marking don't show on the light fabrics. Can I mark and quilt from the lighter back? Thanks in advance for any help.

You can certainly mark & quilt from the back if you like, however my hand stitches don't look as nice on the back as they do on the top. Everyone finds different tools they prefer for marking, and just a word of caution - in the past I have used a yellow chalk-o-liner and had great success, however on the puppy quilt the yellow did not come out when the quilt was washed. I'm hoping that as time goes along it will fade, but do a test before marking your whole quilt. And good luck & love to see your finished quilt. Also WELCOME to the forum.

i have marked dark fabrics with a sliver of soap.

A few days ago someone here said they used crayola washable makers and they worked really well and washed out when the quilt was washed. Others said they also had used them and liked them. I just bought some last week but have not used them yet. You could try them on scraps to see if they work for you.

I use artists water soluable crayons I have a light grey and dark grey which seem to work on all fabrics just make sure it washes out ok or you can damp sponge them out - I always check each new fabric

Sew Line pencils would work for you as well. They come in lots of colors, so you could get white for the dark fabrics and blue for the lighter fabrics. Whatever you use, don't use much of it as you want it all to come out.

Thanks for all the tips! I learn so much on this board.

I would use a white chalk pencil, such as made by Sewline, Bohin, or F&P. These are what Kimmy Bruner recommended in her Craftsy class. She says that you can get the chalk off easily with a microfibre cloth.

just don't use a chalkoner! I marked just the spine of a feather with a blue chalkoner wheel. The blue stitched right into the spine. It did lighten some..but never came out. Luckily I was quilting with a grey thread, so only visible to me and my friend. not her son.