Hi, I'm still new at this and well here is my delima. I want to quilt a "simple cable" pattern around my quilt. I tried the clover white chalk marking and the yellow and I just can't see the lines. I am using a premeade plastic stencil. Any advice?

First of all, that's absolutely gorgeous dcurvy!!!

I can see why you're having some trouble. That's a really dark background to work with and it can cause trouble. I know as I've had trouble with this as well. I've had some luck with an artist's white chalk pencil on darks in the past. They're a little heavier and "chalkier" than some of the quilting pencils and markers. You can usually find that type of chalk pencil at any craft store. Hope you find something that will work for you. It's going to be the perfect design for that border!

Pretty quilt top, I really like the colors you chose with the dark fabric :D :D :D Sorry I can't help with the marking... but I just had to say how much I like your quilt top!

Can't help either, but wanted you to know how pretty that is!

Very Very Pretty. Try using worn down soap slivers, They work very well on dark fabric, and they have an edge that makes it easy to mark in the slots of premade stencils. The soap slivers have been worn down by washing your hands with it, and thats what creates a nice edge.

Hi, I bought a roll of paper with the cable stitch printed on it and it has some adhesive on the back to put on you quilt top. Then you follow the lines and take the paper off when you are finished. The roll of paper is rather expensive but it works for something like you want. Marge

if your WalMart still has the fabric dept. they should have a pretty good selection of notions. I'm not at home and don't remember the maker but there is a white pen marker, it is clear when you mark but almost instantly turns white, it works very well for me

Is it the Clover (fine) white marking pen kathy? I have one of those and it works pretty good on most of the darks I've used it on, but found that it didn't work on everything. Sometimes it just doesn't want to show up. It does leave a really fine mark though. Not like the chalks that can leave a thicker line to have to follow.

I like the soap idea too. :)

Lin
I know it may sound hokie, for some folks, But I have used it many times on my dark fabrics and it works well for me. And what makes it really great, is it's free. I collest all my slivers now and save them.

It doesn't sound hokie at all Rebecca! It sounds...effective and free!!! Can't beat that! :lol:

If you're machine quilting, try drawing your stencil on to freezer paper and then iron the freezer paper to the quilt. It can be machine sewn through with little trouble. The freezer paper tears away pretty easy, or it can be dampened to release a little easier.

Hand quilting might be tougher. I've used tissue paper with a drawn pattern on it and stitched through both quilt and paper, but I had to use a hoop to hold it all in place. Not sure how well this would work on a border, tho.

I've also had good luck using basting thread to outline the border area from the front of the quilt, then centered and drawn the stencil on the back. You'll be quilting from the backing side, so it requires a bit of care to get those front stitches looking as nice as the ones on the back. Also works best if the backing fabric's muslin or a light colored fabric easy to see the marking on. Your backing seems light enough, from the photo.

Good luck with whatever you choose to try. Your quilt is lovely!

I used the soap on the queen size I'm quilting now for the center. Then a red and blue water soluable pencil on the edge. I am hand quilting. only mark a little way at a time.

If you are machine quilting that beautiful work of art, then I'd try the roll of paper pattern. It is just beautiful, the quilt, I mean.

Happy Quilting,
Sharon

Thank you for all your help. I like the ida of the soap slivers but I use only liquid soap. Next time I am at a craft store I will look for the white chalk pencil and if that doesn't work I'll try the freezer paper solution. I guess I should have thought ahead chosing such a dark border but it makes the words punch out. It's going to be a wallhanging for the church.

Thank you for all your kind words of encouragement. Being a member of this forum has helped me so much!

What color backing are you using? Would it be practical to flip it over and quilt that part from behind?

There is a product called Marking Magic that is great for a dark color like this when using a stencil. It is found only at quilt shops and is in an aerosol can. You lay your stencil down on the fabric and spray the white chalk on to the stencil. It is some what adhesive and does not wipe off during the quilting process like regular chalk does. To remove it when you are done quilting, you simply mist with water. It is used by many hand quilters because it does not come off until you are ready to take it off.
Mindy

I've never heard of that product, but I'll be on the lookout for it now. It sounds wonderful. Thanks Mindy!

I just had a hand quilting lesson and learned so much! We used my border as an example for the class and found a chalk pencil the instructor had that worked like a charm. She also solved my problem with what to do with the corners. My stencil is a 'simple cable' but doesn't show a corner pattern and she showed me 2 solutions for it. It was a perfect example for the class.

Thank you all for your wonderful solutions!

Isn't it wonderful when you learn something that works so well dcurvy? I'm so glad you were able to get so much out of your class. It can be fun designing a corner motif with the border design you're using. Lots of options and often very original. I can't wait to see yours finished. :)

What type of chalk pencil did your instructor recommend to you at the class?

It's from the quilter's paddock and called a quilter's washout cloth pencil. They had 2 left in white, the shop will be closing by the end of November unfortunately.

Thanks dcurvy.

beautiful quilt top!!!!! love the colors.

Thank you!

I also learned that a soapstone pencil will also work.

I always had a problem with marking on dark fabric but I found the perfect product. FONS & PORTER makes a mechanical pencil with white lead. It's wonderful. The JoAnn's by me is closing & they had everything in the store on sale, so I was looking at the quilting stuff and I found it. I'm making a Halloween quilt and I needed to cut out black cats and bats. It worked great. I have had a regular pencil with white lead but it broke easily and needed to be sharpened often. Someone else had posted something about the mechanical pencil and raved about it and it deserves the praise. This is my favorite tool right now.

I have traced the pattern on Press-n-Seal food cover. You know what I mean? Like Saran wrap, only sticky.
I had to satin stitch a patern on a quilt and tried paper, but the paper kept moving and I couln't see through it to re-align it. I placed the Press-n- seal over the pattern and traced it. The Press-n-Seal came up off the paper pattern easy and I stuck it on my material and sewed through it. Just had to tear it away when finished sewing.
Hope this helps someone out there.

The white chalk pencil works best for me. I had no luck with the pen.

Mary