I have tried those washable pencils, the erasable pencils, the brush-out chalk, the tailor's chalk and even the water soluable markers and they all come out fine...before I do the quilting. But once that needle and thread cover the marks, there's a trace amount still seen of the marking tool, especially on the lighter fabrics, no matter what I try. (Don't worry, for the most part I try this out on scrap fabric--it's only affected two quilts). So, my question is, besides a Hela marker, is there anything out there that's foolproof for any of you??

I use the type that disappears when you pass an iron over it. Works great for me. The color I use (and the only one I use) is white.
JulieM

Haven't used markers much - tried the blue that disappears but it disappears long before I have finished quilting so I lose the lines! Will keep checking this thread for ideas. There are sure to be great ones because our quilters are great!

There is no "one size fits all" marker for quilts. I have discovered over the years that what works for another quilter doesn't always work for me.
One absolute rule is to always test before marking.

About the disappearing marker. You probably got the one that disappears in the air. Requires really fast quilting. There is another felt tip marker that must be washed out. Not spritzed but emersed in water to make sure it is totally out of the quilt.

I've tried the felt tip marker that needs to be immersed and it does wash out well but the marker stains the lighter quilting threads I sometimes use. I've never tried the marker that needs to be ironed out. If it's white, what do you use on white fabrics? I like the disappearing markers on darker fabrics with darker threads but the creams and whites just don't work well. I've even used monofilament thread but it still doesn't always wash out from beneath it. I do know that my Gram always swore by the tailor's chalk but that doesn't always work for me like it does for her. Next time I'm in Joann's I'll look for the marker that irons off, I know where it is so I'll give it a whirl but the others are just driving me nuts.

I have depended on this board to "find" the best marking system and the only one that a majority like is the chacoliner chalk roller. I've yet to try it - haven't had to mark in a while, but I will soon and it's a mixed light/dark quilt so I plan to buy two different color markers. I did use kid's washable markers (at first, and even now) I find I'm most comfortable with thick lines. I've heard yellow doesn't come out and no colors come out if ironed. I used tons of Shout. But I'm ready to move on.

I got fustrated with all those pencils as they wouldn't mark very dark so went to a thin marker and I was always off because of the bleeding. I found that the gel pens work well.

A quilting teacher told us that she uses children's washable markers. Of course, she starches instead of steam ironing and starches the quilt top well so whatever you use, you are marking on the starch and when you wash the quilt the marks come off with the starch. That's the technique I use and it works wonderful. Of course, test a sample on your fabric using starch then marker.

This is my favorite also. Its made by Clover.

Were do you get these markers at?