turner0106

I'm hand quilting and while looking for chalk came across the Miracle Chalk for quilters. Has anyone used it? does it hold up good? The lady at one of the local fabric shops said she hated chalk and sold hers and said I would also.

Like I said I'm hand quilting and need an easy way to mark the templates on my fabric. Using any type of marking pen is very time consuming plus back breaking. I am open to all suggestions.

Thanks
Diane

Hinterland

If you're looking for a white marker for dark fabric, I've been using the Clover white marking pen on my latest quilt. I marked the grid back in November and it still shows. If I'd used chalk, the marks would be gone by now. This marker comes off after you iron or wash the quilt.

I'm interested in what others have to say about miracle chalk, though.

Janet

NJ Quilter

Not sure if the Miracle Chalk is what is used in the Pounce Pad??? I didn't have much luck with the Pounce but read that if you 'brush' it over your templates instead of 'pounce' it works much better. I use a mechanical pencil with #2 lead for lighter fabrics and a Bohin mechanical penicl with a white chalk/lead for dark fabrics. I also use the thicker mechanical chalk pencil/leads of different colors. Don't remember the brand but they are readily available at JoAnns. I've never had any issues with any/all of those products washing out. I also have evolved to 'marking as I go' instead of marking the whole top at once. Both the chalk and the pencil have a tendency (at least for me) to wear off with handling when quilting large quilts. And it's far easier on the back!

alisonquilts

I've become converted to using the skinny chalk sticks in the mechanical holder (http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Quilting.../dp/B001UAJ7C6), but I have had a couple of cases where the chalk has not entirely washed out. I tend to be pretty heavy on the chalk - a more sparing approach would no doubt be better. I also tend to mark as I go, so I cannot comment on how well these would last if you did the whole top at once, but they do last well if you mark half a dozen blocks at a time.

I have not tried them for handquilting yet.

Alison