for fine lines I use the ceramic pencils that have a variety of lead colors--white, green, pink, yellow---they work great-nice clear smooth fine lines- when a heavier line is needed I use my chalk pencils. I've also used regular colored pencils on occasion. I've not had problems with removal (the ceramic leads are so fine often the thread covers the line anyway) but I do always test what ever i'm going to use before using it. the ceramic erases with a fabric eraser- or the one on the end of the pencil and it washes away- the chalk brushes away- or I use a damp washcloth to wash it away if I need to remove the marks before the quilt is laundered. I've not had any problems with marks still being there after my quilts are laundered- I wash and dry every quilt as soon as the binding is done.