I've used many different methods for marking for machine quilting. I've used masking/painting tape for straight lines. I lightly mark on dark fabric with a Fons&Porter pump chalk pencil. I have used Glad press &seal to quilt through for occasional designs but it like paper, needs to be removed. I am slowly building my FMQ design skills. When I do that, I use the block pattern to determine a design to quilt within it. As for stencils, I buy a basic shape stencil from my LQS and use all of it or parts of it to mark the top. If you want an all over design, you can put a large print on the quilt back and quilt upside done following the fabric pattern. Some people use tissue paper and using an unthreaded needle, they sew over a drawn design and pounce through the needle marks to mark the quilt. You will need to try different methods to see what works for you. Good luck!