I use a bounce when I am using stencils. I only chalk in a small area at a time. I learned the hard way when I had to re-bounce over some that had rubbed off. I use water-soluable pens (blue barrel) for marking most anything else. I always had a hard time with dark colors and the bounce takes care of that. I use colored pencils also IF I know my seam will cover them just in case they they don't wash out.