Someone PLEASE help!
 

OMG! I think I'm going to have a heart attack! I just finished a queen size, hand quilted wedding quilt for my son and his bride. It took me over 6 months! It really turned out beautiful, BUT, I can not get the blue chalk lines out. I always wash my quilts before giving them away, and the quilting lines have always washed right out. Not this time! I used a "Blue washout Pencil." I have it in the washer right now for the second time. This time I used detergent and Oxyclean. Any suggestions? I'm really worried! :shock: Thanks for any help you can give me.

Oh dear, so sorry. I hope I am wrong - but I read somewhere recently that the blue washout pencils are meant to be washed with water only. Using a detergent is a no-no. I'll try to remember where I read that...

Try non bleach stain remover goodluck

I had this happen with the blue chalko liner and a water soluble graphite pencil. However, it wasn't that the blue and graphite didn't wash out of my quilt but the blue chalk and graphite had embedded in the quilting thread. The blue was hand quilted the graphite machine quilted. I never did get the blue all the way but gifted the quilt anyway. The graphite I washed several times. First plain water then detergent and oxyclean. I also let the quilt soak in the washer for a while. Finally I went at it with a soft bristle toothbrush. I don't think I got it all the way out but it faded to the point it was not noticible except by me. The blue one I gave it to my mom so I don't know if it eventually washed out. I don't think it did. The thread is much more "pourous" for lack of a better term, then fabric. I think the powder just clings to all the microscopic fibers sticking out all over on the thread and because it is sunk down in the fabric, water and detergents just can't get to it.

Is there a brand name associated with your pencil? You say chalk, so I'm not sure exactly what pencil you used.

I know that blue markings from the blue washout *pen* can be removed with vinegar, but these are not related to chalk.

whatever you do, don't put it in the dryer. The heat tends to set stains.

Oh no! I hope you can get it out!

I like the idea of making a test quilt sandwich, marking it, washing it the way you washed the quilt, then trying various things to get the marks out. (The test quilt needs to have the same fabrics as the real quilt.)

Here is a link to one thing I had never heard of that gets good reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Shout-Wipes-12...dp/B000FE0PC4/

If you still have the packaging or name of the manufacturer I would look them up on the internet and contact them via e-mail to see what they suggest for removing the marker. I'm sure they have received messages from others with the same situation and probably have the best solution. Good Luck.

My guess is it's the EZ blue washout pencil:
http://www.amazon.com/Pencil-Washout...dp/B0018N932Y/

Blue and yellow seem to be two colors that quilters run into problems with when it comes to chalk......

I had that happen once, and I sprayed all the lines with Spray n Wash, while it was still wet from the first washing, and the marks came out.

Ok, just wanted to thank everyone for all the suggestions. The blue chalk marks are from a "Blue Washout Pencil" (that's the actual name). If I remember correctly, I bought it at Walmart. I will never use these chalk pencils again! In the past I have used sidewalk chalk, and I will be going back to it when I start my next quilt. I came up with a concoction that seems to be working. In a spray bottle I mixed about a cup of white vinegar, filled the rest of the bottle with water, and added a good squeeze of Joy dish soap. I sprayed all the blue marks and rubbed it with a bar of Ivory soap. I let it soak in cold water. I am now going to wash in Tide and pray it comes out. This will be the 4th wash and each time it has gotten lighter. Hopefully, this is the final wash ! I will keep you all posted! (PS the marks are on white and light yellow boarders!)

Oh, I sure hope it all comes out!!!!!

I heard Mr. Clean Erasers removes even pencil marks; however, I have never tried it yet.

I use a bar of Fels-Naptha. Get it at walmart about $1.00. DAMPEN the corner of the bar and gently go over the marks. It'll come right off. I use this for any stain. Hasn't failed me yet. Hope this works for you

It also happened to me only I used a green chalk. After several washing s it still didn't come out. Luckily they were stars that I had quilted on the borders and throughout the quilt. I decided to go over them with yellow chalk and made it look like I stitched them in yellow. I never use chalk anymore. Good luck!

Well I hope that the markings have come out.

I try to be careful with those disappearing or washout markers- i used one of them to mark the center of an embroidery project years ago. The marks disappeared, but came back several times. Granted, i may not have removed the marks with plain water, i dont remember, but it is so frustrating when you trust that they will perform as expected and then dont. I hope that this comes to a positve conclusion for you.

I am so sorry! I cannot even imagine how you must feel! I wish I had words of wisdom regarding the blue pencils but I do not. I pray with all my heart you get them removed. Will you let us know the final outcome.

I know the blue marking pen that disappears with water, if it has been on the fabric a long time or will not wash out use a tablespoon of banking soda to a quart of water and let stand. I do not know if it will work with the marking pencil. Good luck.

Colored chalk has dye in it for the color. I think each batch of colored chalk gets more or less color then other batch. Different workers, using up the rest of the dye, equipment clean out, who knows.

I know what an awful feeling it is to see those lines. Good luck I hope they come out for you.

Upsetting, incredably upsetting. No suggestions, but please let us know how this last mixture works out.

This was my mothers method...must have worked...didn't know they still sell it. Thanks

Hope by now you have it all clean! I don't have a remedy, but just a thought...if it survived all these washes...you can bet it is going to hold up for years to come!

Oxy-clean is my standard answer. So all I can do is offer a hug ((((((((((ankegram)))))))))))))

Ihave sprayed shout on the markings and left soak in then wash with detergent
my marks have always come out - i have one marking pencil that blead to the backing
it washed out fine
good luck hope this works

Praying it comes out

Like someone else said. Shout! I had a pink chalk marker that not only didn't want to come out of the fabric it stained my ruler and my plastic sewing machine foot. The fabric I used Shout and most of it came out. I am going to find a bar of Fels Naptha and keep that around too.

I'm so sorry this has happened.. I have used shout with good results as well. I would contact the manufacturer as they probably have had this problem with other quilters. Best of luck to you and let us know how you make out.

I had the same problem with my very first queen sized quilt...after many treatments & multiple washings (5 or 6), all cold water & no dryer, it finally came clean...and yes, it was embedded under the thread. After soaking with a mixture of dawn dishwashing & oxy and gently scrubbing with a toothbrush under the stitching, all was well. Hang in there and keep working on it...wishing you the best!

I'm so envious of you for being able to sew with your hands, i'm not able to hold the needles. I think if I went through all that and it wouldn't come out I would KILL SOMETHING!!!!!! lol
I sure hope you can get it out, maybe you could say you made it that way. but ty for the thread, i will not use the blue on white.

I had a LA class and the instructor recommended "Sew Clean" from Bear Thread Designs.

If you live in a very warm climate as I do in AZ In the summer it is advised to not leave your marked quilt in the car because the high temp is enough to set the bluemarks.

My go to stain cleaner is 2 tbsp hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp regular Dawn dish soap, and 1 tsp baking soda. Mix together and apply with a soft toothbrush. It is the best stain remover and removes set in stains that Shout won't touch. It also works on colors. You might want to try this if the other suggestions don't work. Oh, it is also good for removing blood and grease. Good luck. :)

Getting out markings
 

I use SOAP, not detergent to get out many stains that the detergent doesn't touch. Fels or Castile SOAP in bar form is terriffic. Wet the cloth, wet the soap, rub the soap onto the marks. Work the soap into the stain, then wash....take a look before it goes into the drier. If it is gone, then dry it, gently.

I can definitely sympathize with you. I made my daughter a queen size DWR greens, cream and mauve quilt several years ago and prewashed all fab. thinking all would be o.k., and when the quilt needed to be washed, one of the greens faded on different parts of the quilt. I have rewashed many times and tried everything to get the bleed parts out, but to no avail. The quilt has never been in the dryer. Finally just gave up on it. But since then I found on Nancy's Notions (haven't used it yet) so I have no idea if it works or not, but it is a bottle of solution called "Marking Pencil Removal" by Quilter's Rule International. it says it will safely remove marking pencil marksfrom all types of sewing projects without phosphates- the following types of pencil marks can be removed with this- Berol, Very Thin, EZpencils. General pencils and graphite leads, (Note yellow pencil markings may take several applications to remove). I just copied all of this information from the bottle label. - after spraying this solution on the item allow 15 seconds to pentrate, then remove with a clean damp cloth. The Label says it is for Hobby, Crafts, Sewing and Quilting. You might want to order some of this and see if it will work. I have no idea, but I wish you the best of luck. When things like this happen it is so disheartening and upsetting. Let us know what happens. Gerbie

I am not sure if they still make the Ivory flakes, but that is a wonderful soap for removing even ordinary pencil marks. If all else fails you can rub a bar of Ivory on the blue marks and then put the quilt back into the washer to rinse.

My best to you in this new adventure!

I agree with sharoney