i use a chacoliner chalk pencil from Clotilde's i have had much more luck with chalks for marking if the chalk is not going to work for what i need i use a plain ole #2 pencil...what ever you try you should always test an inconspicuous corner first to make sure it is going to wash out. different fabrics seem to (hang-on) better than others. i ruined a quilt one time using one of the blue water wash-away markers. when the quilt was washed the blue went right through, into the batting and backing...and 3 washes later...still blue streaks...so now all i use is chalk or a pencil...and i always test.