Probably a silly question.... but would washable markers even be worthy of taking my time to see if they will wash out of my fabrics. I am looking for something to mark pretty patterns with so that I can quilt them onto the fabric... have tried pencils and they dont seem to work very well, I am afraid of stretching or poking the fabric with them. I am afraid to try anything else, would hate to ruin a quilt top just to try something and I have seen tons of things people say work.... lol.... help me please before I ruin something.

Yes! I've read the Crayola Washable Markers are good to use. I've already purchased a pack, but haven't used them yet. They do say to test first all the colors you think you may use. However, I have heard one color doesn't wash out too well on all fabrics, and I believe that's yellow. So test it if you decide to use it, first.

Personally, I've always used the Blue Washout Markers you get at JoAnn's, Hancocks and the LQS. I've had no problems whatsoever. They've been good to me :)

Hope this helps!
Debbie in Austin

experiment with scraps. let some sit for a week or more, do they wash out?

I do applique and use the Crayola washable markers. I've never had a problem with them. I prewash all farics first, mark with the marker and when finished, I soak it for a short while in a cold water wash, let it nearly dry and then press face down on a folded towel. NO marks!

OH YES. Yellow does not wash out, turns brown.

I understand that you shouldn't iron it before you remove it. Becomes permanent.

I had some trouble with the blue and purple, but I ironed first (trying them on white scraps, not a real project). I think they are worth testing!

I have heard horror stories of the marks coming back later.

I use pencils like the Crayola washable markers (Crayolas are not available here but other brands) for dark fabrics and it works fine for me. No problems at all with removing. A friend had big problems with the blue marking pens - they washed out after finishing the quilting but a year later the markings came back in in brown shade and were not removable.

I use chalk pencil for quilting, I used a quilting marker, blue, on my last quilt and it didn't wash out.

There must be something different in the way some products are being used from person to person. That is the only explanation as to why they work for the majority, but not for a few. I can only say I've been quilting for years, and my Mom and Grandma before me, and yet none of the quilts that had blue markers used on them have had the marks return. I often wonder what the difference was. Some have said it has to do with ironing, which could be true. Also I've heard all fabrics must be prewashed, which is not true by me (I don't prewash, only test). I've heard some people don't wash their quilt, but 'spritz' the marks with water and expect that to remove all marks forever. Spritzing only pushes the markings deeper into the batting to return at some point. It does not REMOVE them from the quilt.

You see, I think there are so many variables involved when people have problems - and stories get told. But, it's so hard to say what caused it one time and not another, as we don't know what anyone else really did - and they may not know themselves. I only know I don't prewash. I never touch marks with an iron or TX summer heat. I mark heavily. I do not 'spritz', I WASH. And I have no problems. That, I can say, has always worked for me :)

Hope this helps someone :)
Debbie in Austin