Some friends and I are contemplating making a friendship quilt. Does anyone have any suggestions for what type of marker/pen to use for the handwritten messages? Is a Sharpie adequate? I have a prayer quilt that was made when my son was born. I don't know what was used to write on it but it faded badly after just one wash.

Thanks

I like to use Sakura brand pigma pen for fabric but, about any pen made for fabric should work.

What babyfire04 wrote, any fabric pen will do the job. You can even get different colors, now doesn't that sound like fun!

Sharpies tend to bleed. Micron Pigma or Fabrico is what I usually use.

You can also use ZigWriters. They're archival, acid free and don't bleed. They're cheaper than Pigma Pens and you'll find them in the scrap book department. The ZigWriters also come in a good variety of colors and tip types.

Always use Micron Pigma-never had a problem. It is what I use on my quilt labels, too.

This is the same brand as the Micron Pigma.
Ironing freezer paper to the back stabilizes the fabric when writing. Also press with an iron will set the ink.
I have read man review and these pens get the highest recommendation by quilters.

I did not know that you could use Zig- I have lots of those that I bought for paper! Thanks!

That's how I got the idea...when I did both hobbies at the same time. Love the choices of fine or thick and all diff colors.

pigma. sharpie does make markers specifically for fabric they are called stained.

Like others, I use Pigma pens. Early on I made a label for a quilt with a Sharpie, and the ink bled and made it look fuzzy, plus, over time and not as many washings as you would think, it faded A LOT.

I've used Pigma pens to write on a piece of muslin with a Spirograph and put a square of that in my son's eye-spy quilt, which has been washed often, and it isn't faded. But heat set, and if you use colors instead of black, I suggest washing a test fabric a few times. It seems like some of the colors, but I don't remember which ones, were more prone to bleeding and transfer to other fabrics with a washing.

Thanks for the info. I've just bought a Fabrico pen and it's perfect - I want to do a family tree quilt, so am going to write the names onto fabric leaves.