Heat erasable pens
 

I bought a package of Frixion pens a few years ago at a school supply close-out. I am happy with the product. It is easy to see, marks on the first pass and irons away easily,

Pilot has changed the packaging on the pens, so I can't buy the "same looking" pen. Are all their pens "heat erasable"?

Does anyone know the answer to this question? I'm aware they don't advertise them as "heat erasable" and don't recommend them as such, but I like the results I get with this product.

bkay

Why not contact Pilot/Frixion and
ask if the new ones have the same qualities as the old?

I haven't bought any for awhile now, so am not familiar with the packaging changes.
There was confusion the last time, because they had different point widths available.

Pilot does not recommend the use of the frixion pens on fabric.

When l quilted with a group in Fla., many members used the Frixon pens. I guess in Fla., it's warm enough, but here in Canada, ( or if you're in northern USA, don't count on those marks staying " gone"! The ink is still present. A few hours in a cold car trunk while transporting, or displayed in a winter " sun room", and those black or purple marks are right back! I now use the blue ink water erase or purple ink " air erase" . I find l tsp. of baking soda mixed with l c tepid water in a spray bottle do a great job at getting rid of the blue water erase with no bleed.

Keep in mind that while one of the 2 ink components in these pens dissipates with heat (such as the friction of the eraser), the other component does not. The thermal ink may be gone, but the gel base remains. Many people, both quilters and cross stitchers, have used these and later found those ghost lines, which appear as either a faint brown line, a light white line, or what appears to be a grease mark, depending on the fabric they are used on.

I used a Crayola Washable marker on a quilt and the lines didn't come out....even after washing twice ans using Spray n Wash. I'm going to try the baking soda in tepid water. Will let you know about that experiment.

The last I bought said Frixon on the pen itself. I use them to mark cutting lines, darks, matching points, etc. I wouldn't use one to mark a quilting pattern. I don't see how it would hurt embroidery or cross stitch, the thread covers up the marks but I don't do enough of that to think about it

I'm in DFW, so having one of my quilts in freezing temperatures isn't much of an issue. We do have freezing temperatures occasionally, but not often enough to worry about. When it gets really cold (to us Texans), we mostly stay home until it warms up. It usually involves ice, so going anywhere isn't feasible, as the streets and freeways become "bumper car" boulevards. We don't have snow plows, etc.

Of course, if we have snow, the kids have to be out in it.

Thanks for your input.

bkay

I use these too. I've never had a problem with it washing out. I just use my regular washing machine detergent (Liquid Tide). It has always taken the marks all out of the fabric.

FYI Carol Doak piecing paper, IS NEWSPRINT. SHE CHARGES alot for her paper. Some office supply has in stock, others will order it for you.

I like the heat eraseable pens but I find the mark comes back white so I use it mostly only on the back side of my fabric where it doesn't matter or if it's on a seam, I'll mark it just a hair over into the seam allowance so it won't show up later.

All cottons are not created equal in thickness which can affect seam width.

I just bought some Madam Sew Heat Erasable Pens on Amazon and they are a game changer! I never tried this product before and I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE! They instantly disappear with the touch of an iron, but the marks are bold and easy to see until you need them. They are gel pens that mark very easily on your fabric, no tugging or dragging.

Just wish I had tried this sooner!

Donna, I would use those as I would the Frixion brand - with extreme caution. Although the thermo ink will dissipate, I suspect that, like the Frixion brand, there is a gel component that remains. Herra marker or painter's tape is all I am comfortable using on the front of any fabric that is not in a seam allowance.

Re Carol Doak's paper: Yes, it is the same as newsprint. I buy newsprint by the ream from Amazon. Always under $10, usually about $6. If I cannot get that when needed, I look at school writing paper (the kind of paper that primary children learn to write on). Even if it has blue lines on it, I can still use it. Both run through my printer with no issues.

Frixion pens specifically say Do Not Use on fabric. Reappearing lines may not be so much of an issue in warmer climes. However, if you have ever seen antique signature quilts where the ink has rotted the fabric, is this what we may experience in the future using Frixion pens? I am not a chemist, so I can't speak on the ink ingredients, but I would like to believe the people who signed the antique blocks thought their ink was safe. I am not going to chance it.

Just my thoughts...

I for one have no concern if the fabric in my quilts starts to rot away in fifty years. By then there will be a machine to scan and reproduce the exact product mistakes and all. Probably put my dna all over it too. LOL

Hahahahahaha!!!🤣
BTW- my aunt made us a wedding quilt 20 + years ago and the fabric is breaking down. And she didn't use Frixion pens. And she has won blue ribbons for her work (including my quilt) so everything was done "by the book*

I have had the pleasure of buying several packages of Frixion pens this past year. They are now being offered in a multitude of colors, brights and darks alike. Yes, they Do erase by pressing the marks with an iron. It works like Magic! I got mine on Amazon. They are now my favorite go to for marking quilts before stitching. The only thing is they don’t come in White,, which is always needed when marking black or navy, or dark fabrics.

I have used the Frixon pens for marking quilting lines. I am careful to stitch right on the marked lines. When I can, I use a color ink to match the thread. When I'm done quilting over the lines, I use a Blow Dryer vs an iron to erase the ink. To me its better as I'm not stretching the fabric with an iron. So far I haven't had any lines reappear. It doesn't get very cold where I live.

Oh boy. Heat DOES NOT "erase" the ink, it simply makes it not visible to your eyes. Do a search here and look at how many people had "ghost" lines show up later that are impossible to remove, even with washing. Use at your own risk - especially since the manufacturer does not recommend.

The Frixon pens seem to stop working for me after a few uses. Even the new one I bought lasted only a short time. I don't' care about the ghost lines or if the ink is still there. I'm more mad because the pens do not last long. I'm using the fine line Crayola Ultra Washable markers.

My frixion pens have all lasted for ages so far. I understand what you are saying about permanent ghost lines in cold weather (it doesn’t get cold here) but they flow so easily! I don’t mark the front of the quilt but only on cut lines or as marker lines on seams.

I tried a sew easy white marking pen and it lasted 1 minute. DH tried everything to recussitate it. Such a waste of money. I guess it was a lemon but other reviewers say the same happened to them. At that price I won’t risk it again.

If you are laying them flat between uses, stand them up. Or vice-verse. I actually have mine both ways, with no problems. But have heard others say, they last longer, when they do so.

You misunderstood my comment about ghost lines. I never said anything about cold weather. The people who have complained about the ghost lines say they appear and NEVER disappear, no matter what the temperature is, how much they iron, or how much they try to wash the ink out.

Perhaps I can add a little more clarification here ...
The cold weather thing ... the "colour" can reappear in cold weather. Or if you put it in the freezer.

Ghost lines ... are after you iron the colour off. I have used frixions on white fabric, and if I look real close, I can see the ghost lines even on the white fabric. Doesn't matter the temperature.

All that being said ... I have also not had ghost lines appear. My guess is that I use Best Press in my prep work, and perhaps it protects the fabric from the ghosting? I have no idea.

Considering everything, while I do use Frixion pens, I use them cautiously and re-consider the risk and concerns, and whether I can accept any fall out from their use.

Thanks for clarifying that everyone. I didn’t realised the difference. I’ve only made 5 quilts so far so I know very little about anything!

I’ve not experienced ghost lines but I do wash and spray starch all my fabric before I start and my frixion pen marks are never on the finished quilt faces.

I do stand my frixion pens up when they are not in use.

Well, all this information has made me re-think using frixion pens for marking my quilting lines on the baby quilt I am making next. I believe I'll use painter's tape (just don't sew on the tape - been there, done that).
bkay

I have the Frixon pens in a holder standing vertical ink flowing down. I bought all of mine at the LQS and I think they are old to begin with. I'll buy one from office supply and see if it lasts longer.

I just put a small mark with a Frixion pen on a pair of pants I'm hemming for a friend.They are 98% cotton and 2% "elastane" and have a woven texture.

I ironed the Frixion mark off, and it left a white mark.

It's at or below the turn of the hem, so it won't show.

Just thought I would share.

bk

Thank you, for letting us know your experience.

I use the madam sew pens, I am quite sure it’s the same as frixion ones. I don’t iron to disappear the lines. I ALWAYS wash my quilted items when finished quilting and binding because I spray baste. I also put in the dryer for the crinkles. I’ve tested the cold/reappearing thing with putting quilts outside when it’s freezing and putting smaller items in the freezer. So far I haven’t had any issues. Also I don’t pre wash. I iron while I piece, but never after quilting. Hope this helped a someone.
Denise

I looked at a quilt I made about ten years go and used Frixon to mark the quilting lines. Not one problem I could see. No lines, no damage, nothing. It had been washed a few times before putting away folded in the closet. Big to do about nothing as far as I am concerned about Frixon pens use or not use.

I just used the Crayola Ultra Clean washable makers for making a grid for Sashiko stitching. Every color washed out fine but the brown and orange. The grey was the best. If you go this route, test on your fabric first.