Welcome from Michigan.

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

Welcome from Chicago! If it makes you feel any better, I've been quilting for 20+ years and marking is still a huge weakness and frustration for me. I've never found a method that doesn't have some drawback. Even basting isn't as bad for me as the marking.

I sandwhich my quilt first and then put it in a large hoop. I start in the center and use a stencil and a .5mm mechanical pencil to mark with. Then I quilt that area, move the fabric over one hoops worth and repeat. I quilt from the center out in circles around the center part where I started. Marking has never bothered me or given me trouble with the hoop on. I love hand quilting but in the interest of saving time I am now doing long arm quilting too.