I took a hand quilting class from a woman who has been hand quilting since she was a child. She showed us a couple of the new items to mark with, and then said as for myself, I use a No. 2 pencil. It always washes out, and when I am sewing, it already starts to go away. That's on light fabrics. On darker fabrics, she uses tailor's chalk. I have tried the No. 2 pencil, and she is absolutely right. It works beautifully. As far as the tailor's chalk is concerned, I have not bought any yet, because I have a sewline marker with white chalk. I want to use that all up before I buy anything else. I would recommend the No. 2 pencil, however.