Best marking tool?
 

I am getting ready to quilt the black border on a quilt that has white appliquéd letters on it. I would feel much better marking the design around the letters to follow rather than just free handing it so I am certain the quilting is evenly balanced. It will be a wall hanging. What type of marking pencil would you recommend that will show enough to see on the black fabric but will be pretty much not visible after its stitched?

i haven't bought this yet, but several of my friends recommend it. it does not flake off, makes a fine line, and disappears with an iron.... a little pricey, though
http://www.miraclechalk.com/miracle_markers.htm

Watching to see what others recommend.

I have used this for years. I started using it in garment making. It stays on and also brushes off easily.

I use the Sewline white fabric pencil. I think it's ceramic and stays on better than chalk which can disappear with all of the jostling around while quilting. If any shows after quilting it can be rubbed out with a damp cloth pretty easy.

I like the ceramic pencil best. It is like a mechanical pencil and makes a fine white line. It stays on when you need it to and erases if you want it to. There are a couple of brands but it looks and operates like a mechanical pencil.

I use a bohin mechanical pencil in white for dark colors. It makes a nice, fine line and easily washes or rubs off.

I use Crayola washable markers... I really like them. They wash out with Dawn dish soap. The fine tip fits into stencils and line up good against rulers. But I do like the idea of the chalk and sharpener!!!

I use chalk for everything except white. I would like to try the special pencils but I worry about what chemicals will do to fabric over twenty years time.

I like Roxannes white and silver pencils. When I've hand quilted using them, the marks were mostly gone by the time I was done quilting.

Love mine too!!
Sandy

I use powered chalk with one of the those wheels. I comes off beautifully without washing. Be sure to test any product before you use it on your quilt.

fixon pens. I love them and they iron off

oops sorry Frixon pens

I use the white chalk marking pencil too. Soap will also do the trick if you are planning on washing it when its done.

These markers have been evaluated:

http://quiltingclimber.blogspot.com/...evaluated.html

I have one, but think I will not use it...

It's hard to find a good marking pencil for black fabric. I found a white gel pen that works great. I test mark on a piece of the fabric before I mark the quilt and so far the gel marks have washed away. It's a very fine point and I can't even see the mark under the thread before I wash it even if it doesn't happen to wash out.
I use thee Sanford Uni-Ball Gel Impact pen, white color. For light fabric I use the Frixon pens. I don't go by other's guess of what will happen to the quilt in a hundred years if I use the pens. Who cares that much?

I use these Frixon pens and love them, too. I have tried every other thing that I have heard of, and the Frixon pens are by far the best.

I have made quilts using the Frixon pens for all of my kids - who live in Fairbanks, AK. The current temperature there is 14 degrees. Once when I was there it was 55 degrees below zero. Being as they keep their quilts in the house, and not outside, the pen marks have never "returned". This is more than "good enough" for me. I will continue to use the Frixon pens because I love them.

I like Ivory Bar Soap. Just getting a sharp point is the only complaint. I have found to get the pieces that are almost ready to not be useable and use a knife to get the point so it is useable is about all I have come up with. It washes right out.
I also like the pencil markers that Wal-Mart has also. I do share the concern of if there will be a problem in years to com.
Pounce is an old product, but I guess it is very good.
Mariah