Clover hera marker
 

I was reading a post about making perfect crosshatch quilting marking with the Clover Hera Marker. I am sure some of you have used this in the past, so tell me, does it really mark so well, that you can actually 'see' the mark, when you are quilting? My eyes are old and I would be doing larger than 1 inch crosshatch on bed quilts. Will the 'crease' stay with all the handling of a larger quilt? what do you mark with than I would be able to see?

Use masking/painters tape instead. You can get it in many widths. Lay your tape down and quilt next to the tape. Peel off the tape and place it against your just quilted line to quilt your next line. You can usually re-use a piece of masking tape 4 or 5 times before you have to do another. Do not leave the masking tape on for extended periods. If you stop for the day and don't plan to quilt for the next few days, take the tape off. It is the easiest way to do cross hatching either by machine or by hand. The only application it doesn't work well with is a rack mounted longarm. In those cases I will mark the quilt before I load it for cross hatching large background areas.

I read some wonderful blog posts about the Hera marker and bought one to try it. My experience was so-so. It is nice that you’re not marking the quilt top with anything but i didn’t find it easy to see the lines consistently. It may have been user error but it seemed pretty straightforward. I had better luck doing crosshatching with a walking foot that has the guide bar.

I just watched a video about the Clover Hera Marker. I don't know if it would work for me because of my limited vision especially working on a hoop that may distort the line. It is a thought to try however if the tool is not to costly. I have several different embossing tools here that may do the same type of marking. I just tried a heavy plastic embossing tool used for paper design and it did not work well on the busy colors but worked fair on solids. With my eyes it was difficult to see but the marks were distinct.

I've used a Hera marker. good lighting is a must to help show the "marks" indentations. they do stay but depends on fabric too. some easier than others.

When i used it, this was my experience also

Since vision is an issue, try the washable crayola markers. You probably need more of a contrast between the mark and the fabric. I would always test it first and wash away as soon as possible. I wouldn't mark the entire quilt then leave it on there for a few months before I quilted it. Just to be safe.

I can't imagine the marks staying on the top after sandwiching, unless it's done afterward, in which case you're making indentations into the batting. Maybe that's not an issue?

What it is excellent for, though, is drawing the diagonal line to join border/binding strips.

hugs,
charlotte

I love my hera marker, for marking lines during piecing, creasing paper piecing and turning points. For cross hatching I use chalk, marking 4-5 lines, stitching them and then repeat. Since eye sight is an issue for you, I wouldn't recomment the hera marker.