When do you mark quilt lines on your quilt tops?
 

If you are marking quilting lines on your quilt top, when do you mark it? Before basting or after?

I hand quilt. I usually mark after I put the quilt in the frame, because I'm anxious to get quilting. However, with my last quilt I marked crosshatching before I sandwiched the quilt - it took more patience than I thought I had, but it looks straighter than when I marked in the frame.

Janet

I usually the top before I put the batting and back on as I find it smoother to mark on.

I'm another hand quilter and have marked at various times - before sandwhiching; after basting; not at all if I'm doing ITD or echoing. I find it easier to mark as I go most of the times so the markings don't rub off with all the handling.

I mark mine before the batting. I lay it out on my board and have a nice hard smooth surface to work with.

If I'm making a very small quilted item (such as a wallhanging, tablerunner, etc.) I mark before batting and backing. If I've got a quilt in my machine quilting frame I usually mark as I go.

This is the method I use as well. Seems to make the marking process so much smoother when there is less bulk.

Lately I have been putting the design on tissue paper and pinning to section I am working on.

I tend to mark as I go - I'm a handquilter

How do you like this method? I've seen demos but...