If I want a 'design' I use a plastic stencil and trace the design with #2 mechanical pencil for light fabrics and a Bohin mechanical pencil with white lead for dark fabrics. Many times I'll just do 'echo' quilting and use a ruler and draw lines with the same pencils usually 1/4" away from the seam line. I usually have no issues with either of these pencils washing out after quilting.