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Has anyone ever used a carpenter's chalk line to mark a quilt?

Has anyone ever used a carpenter's chalk line to mark a quilt?

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Old 08-10-2015, 02:58 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Rebecca_S View Post
I have a quilt top in progress that I will want to mark a lot of long, straight lines for quilting.

When working with drywall or planks, if I want to mark a long straight line I will use a carpenter's chalk line, which is basically a string covered with powdered chalk that you can snap and it will leave a line. Has anyone tried this before on a quilt top? Do the chalk lines come out in the wash, do they leave excess chalk powder?
Yes, I tried this once. Don't do I! It left a mess of powder everywhere. Had to wash the quilt twice to get the marks out.
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Old 08-11-2015, 03:03 AM
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I wouldn't use blue carpenters chalk...my dh spilled some on my rug and it never came out. I would go with pounce chalk...or another method of marking.
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Old 08-11-2015, 06:27 AM
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I use a straight edge I got from Home Depot, it's basically a giant ruler for carpentry. Have had it for years and years. I use it for almost all crafts and sewing at one time or another.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-72...4006/205694615

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Old 08-11-2015, 07:56 AM
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I've used the type that's refillable . . .and used the chalk used in Pounce pads, so it just ironed off. I definitely wouldn't use a colored chalk used in construction as there's who knows what in those dyes.

My preference is still drawing on the lines by hand. I purchased a metal drafting ruler on Amazon (48" long) and added HandiGrip adhesive pieces to the back so keep it firm . . .and then mark with Frixion pens (felt tipped, not ball point). I find that works better and is less messy.

Last edited by ClairVoyantQuilter; 08-11-2015 at 07:59 AM.
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Old 08-11-2015, 09:58 AM
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Beware! Beware! Beware! I had a show quilt ruined by a long-arm quilter who used chalk that she had used successfully on many previous quilts with no removal problems. The combination of the finish on my fabric and the chalk were probably to blame. Test a sample first.
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Old 08-11-2015, 01:29 PM
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I have never tried it but it sounds like a good idea. Try it on scraps first. I have had difficulties gett several different blue marking pens and pencils out in the wash. Blue seems to me to be the worst. Try the pounce chalk and let us know.
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:24 PM
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There is a Black & Decker tool with laser lights that are perpendicular to each other that you can put down on your quilt top to square it up.
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Rebecca_S View Post
I have a quilt top in progress that I will want to mark a lot of long, straight lines for quilting.

When working with drywall or planks, if I want to mark a long straight line I will use a carpenter's chalk line, which is basically a string covered with powdered chalk that you can snap and it will leave a line. Has anyone tried this before on a quilt top? Do the chalk lines come out in the wash, do they leave excess chalk powder?
My hubby is a drywall contractor and has used the chalk like you are talking about. The blue and red DO NOT come out of his clothes. It is a grand idea tho.
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Old 08-12-2015, 04:04 PM
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Thin masking tape to sew next to, works great too.
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Old 08-12-2015, 07:33 PM
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You can use corn starch or baby powder or cinnamon in it.
I have ground my own school chalk too.
Dilute the blue with a lot of white, and test.
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