I am not sure what order to go. I bought the chalk and the pattern. I know I put my backing down on the floor then my batting then my top and pin all together but do I mark the pattern I want to quilt onto my top before making the sandwich? I have never drawn a pattern on before. TIA for the help :D

I sandwich mine first so I don't mar any of the markings when basting. But my situation my be different because I use pencil rather than chalk and I thread baste instead of pin. Maybe someone else can give more info about using chalk with pins . . . . Good luck!

Thank you anyway! :D

I would sandwich first so that you don't erase your chalklines while pinning :D:D:D

I like to mark first, because it is easier to wrestle just the top. I put a piece of screening under to hold the top in place when marking. But I quilt on an old fashioned board frame and don't baste. I think it depends on how you are quilting and what your space limitations are that determines the best way to mark your quilt. Many mark as they go to minimize erasing the lines.

Good luck on whatever method you use!

I pin it all over first. Then I mark as much as I will be doing in an hour or so. I also use chalk and recently a friend told me that a toothbrush will help to get the chalk off when done.

I mark the top first with pencil and then pin.

I have done this as well with pencil. It helps to startch your top first. 2 reasons, first helps make the fabric stiffer for marking and second you are marking startch so when you are done and wash the quilt all the pencil marks come out no problem.

However, with chalk I sandwich first then mark only as much as I quilt in one session. I have found too many times that any marking done to far in advance is just a huge waste of time because it rubs off and is gone by the time I get to that section. I quilt with a lap hoop and I have basted with needle and thread and other tops I simply pinned with safety pins. I recommend only marking what you need for each quilting session after you have sandwiched and basted by your preferred method. Please post pictures! :)

Your friend is right! I have an oversized extra soft toothbrush I keep right by my quilting area. The toothbrush works great, just make sure it is a soft one.

I would sandwich and just mark the section I was working on when using chalk. It dusts off easily the more you handle the quilt. I would NEVER use a pencil to mark a quilt. Pencil lines are harder to remove. I have use water soluable marking pens but again I only mark the section I am working on and then remove the marks as I go.