Does anyone know of a good way to mark on black fabric? I have one of those white quilt marking pencils but it doesn't seem to do very well.

I've used chalk for marking and it works well but wears off rather quickly so I've had to re-do sometimes.

I bought my best marking pencils at Walmart & the white one marks on black.

Chacoliner or quilt pounce-basically white powder in one form or another.

I read once that quilters have used slivers of bar soap to mark dark colors. Have never tried it so I can't speak from experience.

I use a white, erasable colored pencil.

My favorite marking pencil is a graphite aquarelle pencil in medium, sharpened to a fine point. Aquarelle means washable.

The graphite lead shows up on light OR dark fabrics, stays for much longer than chalks or pouncers, and, although it can rub off over time with the movement of your hand over it there is often still a faint line.

It helps to have the light you are woking under come more from the side than shining directly above your work.

This pencil *does* wash out, though it may take a couple of washings if you've marked a hard, thick line.

Google "graphite aquarelle pencil" and you'll find many brands and sources.

Jan in VA

I did this recently and it worked well.

What about a silver marking pencil?

I have used those.

Chalk is good.

I like the yellow chalk markers ... .withthe little teeth!

I saw that Eleanor Burns dampens the surface and uses baby powder. :-)

This is my recommendation for dark fabrics.

soap!

I use soap that is used down to about 1/2 in thick .. makes a finer line that way and washes out well ~ :D

And how does she apply the baby powder?

I use Fons and Porter's white pen marker and it works well.It leaves a very thin line.

I just use the sample bars from HOTELS..work great!

Make sure the soap isn't the moisturizing kind or it can leave a grease mark. I like a soapstone marker.

I used Saral transfer papers when I was working an applique project with black fabric.

http://www.saralpaper.com/main.html

Clover has a white marking pen that works really well. When you first draw the line, it looks like nothing is there, but let it sit for a minute or two, and the marking appears. It is water soluble.

I use it on all my dark fabrics when appliqueing.

I love using a product called Easy Mark. It's a chiseled edge wedge of heat sensitive soap. When you want it to disappear, simply hit is with a hot iron and it's gone.

I have used soap slivers, they work great on dark fabric, also soapstone works :-)

I like the Chaco Liners. Yellow or white would work well.

I have used soap slivers, white chalk and the silver pencil

I just remembered that you can use contact paper. Cut it out to the design you want to use and stick it on, it comes off easy and you can use it over and over again. I've tried this and it works great.

This is an awesome pen. But you do need to let it dry a bit to see where you stopped marking. I wasted a lot of ink trying to figure that one out! LOL!

I have and it works. It needs to be a very thin edge.
Alot easier to buy the silver marker

I use a tool that has a thin chiseled edge to mark my fabric. It is great to see on black. I am sorry I don't remember what it is called. I also have an old letter opener that works the same way.

Have a look at the episode that Holice Turnbow did on marking on quilterstv.com .It is in the section about 'Quilt as Desired'. He shows a number of markers including the ceramic one which I find useful. I use silver, chalk and ceramic pencils on dark fabrics - each is effective for different reasons.

I use an old piece of bar soap.

I save slivers of good ole soap. Washes right out.

I vote for soap, I've used it for years. for basic sewing and quilting.

I am working on a project with black at the moment and I am using my Fons & Porter pen with pink lead in it. I really like how the pen traces and it stays on great until you erase it. I use it all the time to do all of my markings. It comes with white lead when you purchase it and that would work great on the black also.

I have Fons & Porter chalk pencils that come in a variety of colors. The white one works great on dark colors. If I'm not drawing through a quilting template, I often use a sliver of soap for straight lines. For hand quilting, if nothing else shows up, I just use a piece of masking tape to quilt beside for straight lines. You can move the piece and reuse it a number of times.

I've looked at the Fons&Porter lead pencils that you can get refills of the leads in different for marking my quilts for hand quilting. Has anyone used those? Do they work well and wash out okay?

My favorite marking tool on black or dark fabric is the Fons and Porter white mechanical pencil. It marks in a fine line and the eraser on the end actually does erase if necessary.
I've used chalk pencils, silver pencils, and every type of white pencil imaginable, but this one is the best by far.

I use the Clover white marker,,,,, the marks stay on very well and they go away with the swipe of a steam iron.

I use all of the above at one time or the other, I also use the dressmakers transfer paper and tracing wheel.

A old(thin)bar of soap.