I just finished a quilt(queen size) that I put together for our school which is having a fund raiser spaghetti supper on the 13 of this month. I am a fast quilter. I put it on the frame on a Thrusday and by Sat. at 10:30 I had it finished. The kids put penquins on blocks that were 8x12. I went around the outside of the block and around the penguins.In regard to the marking. I use the Ultlimate marking pencil , if you mark it very light you will not see the markings and it will wash out after the first wash.