Any one here use "the pounce"
 

I was watching a tutorial on the Pounce pad. I thought I just had to have one. So, I ordered it. Wound up and gave it as a gift. But, just traded for another one. Before I open it, I just wondered what kind of luck you have had out of it. Now, that I've got it, it looks like it might be really messy! Is it worth the bother?

I use the pounce pad when my fabric is dark and the pens can't be seen. It is messy, and if you are very allergic this could be a problem. I do not use the pounce stencils cause the pounce pad can be used with any stencil, so there is no need to buy the special ones that the pounce company makes. The pounce pad has its uses with the dark colors and I use both the white chalk and the blue chalk (though not as much).

I have it and have not used it yet.

I like it, faster than marking with pens or pencils and I can actually see the lines!

I just used it for the first time and like it better than most things I've tried. I have the iron off "magic" pounce and just use a small painting sponge type brush, works great! I made my own stencils from the Golden Threads paper by sewing thru them with my machine unthreaded. I also used the pounce on a light cream fabric and could see it just fine. I'm sure the pounce pad would work too, just rub over the stencil.

THIS MAY OR NOT BE HELPFUL ALWAYS TEST ON SCRAP<O:p></O:p>
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CHALK<O:p></O:p>
For 25 years I have done freehand embroidery work and this has worked best for me.<O:p></O:p>
I ground up different colors of chalk in my mill grinder to see what worked best [what could be seen and removed]. White chalk [baby power, or corn starch] can be vacuumed off on med and dark fabric no problem.<O:p></O:p>
Other colors can be reduced in color intense with white, the more intense the color the harder it is to remove. I just use white and light blue now, the blue is reduced with white. Blue and white chalk is at hardware stores for snap lines [cheap].<O:p></O:p>
You can use a vanishing power with a black light on any color [in the dark]. It is very good for names.<O:p></O:p>
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PAPER<O:p></O:p>
I use canary paper from an art or drafting supply.<O:p></O:p>
I tear off more than I need and trace a design with 5mm mechanical pencil, place on a piece of ¼” foam rubber on a firm surface. Then I use a small needle syringe [for shots] and poke holes into the lines at key points about 1/8[SUP]th[/SUP]” apart following the design, then I flip it over and sand off the tips with a sanding block or sand paper. I have also used a clear plastic film a permanent marker and sanded the tips, or a small stencil burner. When sanding place pattern on foam or batting, not on a hard surface, to much pressure you might tear your pattern. Mark top front with an “F” [north] so you know placement direction. This way you can tell which way your pattern is laying, and it is easy to <st1:PersonName sab="1239" w:st="on">rev</st1:PersonName>erse, or flip.<O:p></O:p>
Then I have a reusable pattern I can use over and over.<O:p></O:p>
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APPLYING CHALK<O:p></O:p>
I took a short wide mouth ball jar lid and a nail [or drill] punched a lot of holes in it. <O:p></O:p>
Took a ¼”green scrubber cut it to fit in<st1:PersonName sab="1270" w:st="on">sid</st1:PersonName>e rim on top of the lid.<O:p></O:p>
Took a scrap of velour about 3/8” larger than the lid and placed it on top of the scrubber then screwed the hole thing together onto the jar with my chalk in it. You will have to pounce a while till the chalk starts coming through good. Wipe off your pattern before replacing it so you don’t get shadows. <O:p></O:p>
I did this, years before any thing else was on the market, and still use the same ones today.<O:p></O:p>
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PATTERN MARKING<O:p></O:p>
Holding your pattern down firm with one hand, slide your chalk jar across your pattern in one direction only, you can repeat as long as you do not let up with your first hand. You can see if you need to slide again as long as the first hand stays in place. If it is wrong, vacuum it off and start over. <O:p></O:p>
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ON A QUILT MACHINE:<O:p></O:p>
I use a piece of Plexiglas about 48x20 and slide it between my batting and my quilt top. This makes a firmer surface to stencil on. Then I take my pattern stencil and place it where I want it, swipe it with powder. Slide the Plexiglas out and quilt. Then vacuum the power off later.<O:p></O:p>
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If unsure where to place your pattern on the quilt after it is on the machine try this. Draw placement lines on your pattern, north-south-east-west. [Fold in half matching center both directions]. Mark your top with an X placement before you load it on the machine. Then you have your placement mark and don’t have to guess alignment. <O:p></O:p>
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LETTERING <O:p></O:p>
I have made charts of script alphabets in different sizes 1”-2”-ect. on large sheets of card stock paper. [ years ago, with a projector.] Then I trace my words to transfer to my garment or quilt. Now copy machines are the answer. <O:p></O:p>
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I am fast at this as I have done it for years. If you think this is to long, I don’t type, I peck.<O:p></O:p>
I am just saying…..I hope this helps someone.<O:p></O:p>
Phyllis <O:p></O:p>
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Just remember to 'rub' vs 'pounce'...at least that's what I've read. I've never used mine.

I use it now and then. Like NJQuilter posted, don't pounce it a good swipe is all it needs.

There are two kinds that look alike. The pounce is chalk The second is filled with a different white powder or Miracle Chalk. the first of chalk will wipe off easily. The second does not and can be removed with a steam iron.
The miracle chalk stays on longer. Definitely use a rubbing motion like erasing on a black board for the miracle chalk.
Miracle Chalk only is available in white. The company has not been able to find a color that will come off with steam.
There have been some reports of the blue chalk available in the Pounce not coming off when brushed.

I use it on darker fabrics, but I apply with a sponge type paint brush. Less messy and the lines are clearer. I do like it for marking quilts over anything else, but of course, it won't work on light fabrics. I have been told to steer away from the blue powder as it is for tailoring and the marks won't come out of quilts.

I have a Pounce and have used it for hand quilting. I dislike the "mess" it leaves on the stencil when rubbing. I have the white and blue, but have only used the white. You would seem to need 2 pounces to use the 2 colors, changing the colors with a single pounce would be messy and time consuming. I am going to try to use a foam brush to mark the next stencil. I do not hand quilt frequently, even though I am working on a hand quilted project, as I have come down with a bit of rhumatoid arthritis in my index finger.

I just got the "Pounce", so sometime this week I will be trying it out.

I took a class last yr and she said to spray the top lightly after marking and the pounce will stay put while you quilt. She loves it. I've gotten some but haven't used it yet. I have used a sliver of soap. I liked that.

I have one and for the right job it is GREAT!! I find it really helpful when marking crosshatching.

[QUOTE=nhweaver;5922880 I am going to try to use a foam brush to mark the next stencil.[/QUOTE]

I put a small amt of the chalk in a custard cup or left over butter tub. I dip the edge of the foam brush in the chalk and swipe like you are instructed to do with the pounce pad. I really like the size of the brush. If I only want part of a stencil, I can do that with the brush. If you use a butter tub, you can just pop the top back on, ready for next time.
Now I just have to test my two bags of chalk. I have both the brush off and the iron off...but they are not marked! WAAAA! Guess I will be doing a test piece soon!

"Miracle Chalk" that's what I meant, not "magic", lol...it does kinda work like magic though. And if I mess up before I stitch, I can just wipe it away with a dry washcloth and re-do it. I kind of mark as I go, it can rub off a bit while "puddling" the quilt during quilting. So far I'm very happy with it.

I use the powder with a foam brush. It still goes on a bit thick but more consistently AND it does iron off with steam.

Judy: sorry to ask, but do you spray the top with?

i have the one that washes out, not irons off. my stencil was of vine and leaves and the cover of the pouncer kept catching on the sharp areas of the cut stencil. i ended up really "pouncing" but it worked fine anyway.

Not a problem. She said after she marks her quilt she sprays it and it'll stay there during the whole quilting process. I'm sure it would only need a light spraying but it would be great to reduce the mess. She was teaching a class last yr in Raleigh at the sewing n quilt expo.

Have it.... tried it....made a big mess..... its in a drawer somewhere.....

I think that "sprayed comment" meant with hair spray. it does help the chaulk stay in place and not go away with handling while quilting. I've not done that yet myself. of course, it washes out too. i would not spray chaulk that irons off though!!!

The pounce I use Quilt Pounce by Hancy. It looks like a stamp pad, and when it is not being used, it stores in its own box. When I am done quilting, I remove the marks gently with a battery operated tooth brush (with soft bristles) from the dollar store. The mess is kept to a minimum if you just wipe the pounce lightly over the stencil design.

That's right - it really named incorrectly. You just gently wipe it over the stencils. You should use the stencils made for the Pounce for it to be the most effective. They are fabric-like , so the powder won't built up along the edges of a stencil like it would if you were using a traditional plastic stencil.

I was going to get Pounce, one white and one blue. I researched and asked questions and then decided that I have a concern about the chalk getting into my sewing machine, chalk being very abrasive, etc., so I just use soap slivers instead. I have both a large quantity of soap slivers and the time it takes to draw all the lines.

getting into machine..... maybe. that is one reason i no longer use the Insul-bright. i got silver slivers in my machine. I wish they would make products with our machines in mind.

I love it. And I learned a cool tip here on QB about spray dampening the fabric before dragging the pounce over the stencil and the chalk holds better but still steams out when done quilting. peace

i have almost wore one out if you start using it .....you will love it ....i have one with white and one with blue chalk .....the white stays on better and you iron it away ...

Haven't read all posts but I use mine for placement of applique. I use a dressmakers tracing wheel and trace around certain points of my applique patterns, then rub over it with pounce, then I can see clearly to center my applique on my background material.

With WHAT did she spray it, dear Lisa, dear Lisa? ? ?

I expected to hear it was just water. Would you want to put hair spray on over the chalk? Wouldn't that make it hard to get off? I would think that would have to be washed out. I hope I can get an answer to this.

I have one but have never used it - I like the frixon pens and the ceramic pencils.

Iuse this and go over the area first with a damp wash cloth and the pounce works better and also rub across. It worked good for me.

I'm not sure what she sprayed it with but I'm sure it was probably just water. I'd be afraid to spray it with anything else.

Blue and white chalk is at hardware stores for snap lines [cheap].< from Phyllis - post #6

I read this thread last week (April25) and was going to the hardware store, so I checked out snap line chalk. This is what I found on the label. IRRITATING TO EYES, SKIN AND LUNGS
So I would never use that.

This weekend, I marked and FMQed a quilt. The reason I was at the hardware store was to buy a foam brush. Then I used cornstarch for the powder. It worked. I just couldn't mark squares too far ahead, but even is they did smear, the original line was still easy enough to see. Less than a tablespoon of cornstarch did the whole quilt.

And thanks, Piecemaker, for the answer to my question. I'm sure it could be only water, also.

I have both the light chalk powder and dark. I use it quit a bit but find that sometimes a wiping motion is better than the dabbing motion. Works great with all stencils.

I have used the pounce to mark stencils on a block. Had white chalk first, then bought the blue ultimate. You need 2 separate pouncers for each color chalk. Discovered that you don't need the pounce pad at all. I put the chalk powder in a little cup, and use a small foam brush to "wipe" the chalk over the stencil.

I've been a member for some time, but AWOL for quite a while. Glad to see this site is still active. At one time I checked in daily and thoroughly enjoyed all you quilters. Now I have a question and I knew just where to get a good answer. I am (at last) going to try my had at hand quilting. I have my quilt top, batting and backing fabric all pinned together and just waiting for me to get started. The parts of the quilt on which my quilted pattern will be is all white. I've seen posts here that say "do not use the blue chalk because it cannot be removed".....well, what should I use? My plastic template is a fairly small (about 6") flower design with simple lines.

I did NOT like how messy it was. I prefer to use the Clover liner chalk better but don't EVER USE THE BLUE OR YELLOW!!! Those two colors do NOT COME OFF the quilt AT ALL but I have never had any problem with wiping the white chalk off. I am sure I used it on the border of my avatar.

I like the white. I need a tool that will perforate computer paper better than the dritz tool for pattern tracing. I can set up almost any design on the computer, but I need to perforate the paper. There is a tool for scrapbooking. It doesn't work on ink jet paper.

I saw in one of the catalogs where they have spray chalk now. I like that idea better. I have used the pounce, but I don't know why it wouldn't stay put long enough to quilt the whole thing. I am wondering about the spray if it will stay there better.