I just have to thank whoever commented on a post about using the Pilot Frixion Pens for marking designs on fabric. THEY ARE AWESOME!! I bought some at our local Staples store. I have used the red one on all colors of fabric and ALL the designs I marked came right off with a little ironing. Halleluya!! Yep, thats right...the gel just dissappears!

I heard about them in time to do some "stocking stuffing" for Christmas. The gals were excited to get them. I could only find blue and black. It's good to know there is red too.

Thank you for sharing this :D:D:D

These look interesting, so I read some reviews on Amazon. What I'm wondering is whether or not the chemicals in the ink remain on the fabric. Reviews said the ink disappears when exposed to heat, but reappears when it becomes cold. This makes it great for kids' "secret messages", but maybe not so great for marking a quilt?

Good to know, I'm looking for something to make dark fabric :-)

I will be going to Staples tomorrow, Thanks for sharing!!!

Featherweight did once. i bought some buthaven't used themyet.

Hmmm... Interesting. I have some or school and they work well on paper. I will have to try it on some scraps. They have highlighters, too!

how neat

You are right Nativetexan. I have red, blue and black. Our LQS carries hot pink, purple and I can't remember the other colors. I LOVE them!!!

So, does the ink reappear or is that just an ole wives' tale?

none of mine has reappeared.

I haven't had a problem with anything reappearing. I quilt in the basement and it stays chilly until I run the fireplace.

Going to pic some up today...I hope they are just fabulous to use! Thanks for the tip!

When I read this I had a sample with ink markings. I had marked the fabric with the date for thirty days to make sure that age didn't change the properties. I tossed it in the freezer to see what getting it cold would do and all of the previously heat erased markings have returned.

This was discouraging because I had hoped to find the perfect marking method.

Joy

Hmmm...good info...I am going to take note and get some of these...it's hard to find a good marking pen that works..thanks..

I guess if I decide to freeze my quilt that I will get the iron out and iron the marks out again. I have not had any
markings come back and it has been very cold around here.

This may sound "dumb" but under what conditions would your quilt "freeze?"..I don't know girls, but if it's so cold your quilt freezes, I don't think I'd be worried about the markings...:)..couldn't resist..:)

Shipping it back to the customer in the winter would be my concern.

Joy

Never thought about shipping but see your point...especially in areas where it's below zero....:)

My concern is about what the chemicals that are left in the quilt might do to the fabric. Even if you can't see them, the fact that the markings come back when cold indicates there are still chemicals in the quilt even after the markings have been "erased". If the chemicals are acidic, they could be gradually eating the fabric along the marked lines.

Does anyone know if the re-appearance of lines in the cold ceases after the fabric is washed? That would indicate to me that the chemicals wash out, in which case the pens would work for me since I always wash my quilts as soon as they are finished.

I'll iron my markings out again and toss it in the washer and see what happens.

I had so hoped that these were going to be the perfect marker. I did auto body design and, while I can do nothing freehand, I am very good mechanically. I was looking forward to some very nice designs to work with.

Joy

Add a note "If you should see a marking on quilted area simply touch with hot iron and it will disappear"

DO NOT USE THESE PENS!!!

On another site, a test was run with washing the test piece. The marks were able to return after washing. The chemicals do not leave your fabric.

I'll take my chances. I don't do LA and since they are for me a little marking is not going to hurt the quilt. Not in my lifetime. But thanks for the heads up!!!

I went to Staples to buy these pens. All they had were Pilot light frixion erasable highlighter. Are these the correct ones or are they actual pens?

I just put the latest project I used it on in the freezer. I'll post the result later.

Good to know. I bought one when I was amazed at the demo at the quilt show but didn't think too much ahead. I'll use it to write secret notes :)

Can you not iron them out or are they permanent when they come back?

Your welcome... They are great aren't they?

I bought them and used it for hand applique tracing and I froze, washed, dried, re froze it and not a problem. I used the black one and a very light yellow fabric.

The markings came back when I froze them, but they washed out with a light hand-washing and rinsing and even freezing again didn't bring them back.

I tested all the colors of highlighters and roller-ball style pens on white muslin and all of them washed out.

This is interesting. I guess we will each have to do a test sample on the specific fabrics we will be using in each quilt before we do any marking on them. I have spent a small fortune on pens and various pouncing powders lately in hope that I could use stencils with my LA. My eyes are aging significantly and I can no longer see any of the marks I'm making, no matter what I use. I'll look on Walmart.com and see if I can find the pens. Thanks for the info.!

Rose L

This is interesting. I guess we will each have to do a test sample on the specific fabrics we will be using in each quilt before we do any marking on them. I have spent a small fortune on pens and various pouncing powders lately in hope that I could use stencils with my LA. My eyes are aging significantly and I can no longer see any of the marks I'm making, no matter what I use. I'll look on Walmart.com and see if I can find the pens. Thanks for the info.!

Rose L

I wrote these down, will have to pick some up & play! Thanks for sharing! Hope I can find some in the pretty colors too!

Thanks, I bought some too.

I haven't been able to find these pens at staples, maybe they are always sold out when I go. One of these days I will have to buy some online.

I resorted to eBay (as usual! ;) )
The set of highlighters:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=360200063872

The set of pens:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=360224713826

No shipping charge, which makes the price a little higher than they are at Staples. They came from Hong Kong and took about 9-10 days, if I remember correctly.

I like the highlighters because even on darker fabrics, they leave a discernible line to follow. Great for marking pieces of needle-turn applique.

We were out today, so had hubby stop at Staples & I found some of the pens! Can't wait to play with them! Got a 3pk of gel pens & a 3pk of highlighters, since they are so reasonably priced! Thanks for posting about these!