How Fixion Blk Pen work
 

I marked 36 91/2 inch block before I put it with the batting and backing. I spry basted the back to the batting and ran out of the spray for basting so I use the glue to put the top on the batting. I had not use the glue for awhile and I had like lumps of dried glue here and there on the quilt. I did not know what I was going to do so I SITD around all the squares and the narrow border and the edge of the bigger boarder. Then I cut the extra batting and backing off. Next I washed the quilt with cold water and put in the dryer. At this point I was worried about the black marking on all the blocks. Most of it did wash off and the what did not came off with the iron. I put it back in the washer on warm water now because all the glue did not wash away with the cold water. I don't know how I will do the rest of the quilting yet. I wanted to let people know the washing and drying of the pen came off and what did not, came off with an iron. I did waste all that time marking with a stencil on 36 blocks but I guess I can redo that!

Fixion pens come off by pressing with an iron. I don't think washing would remove all the marks.

Frixion pens have washed out completely for me, but I generally use them on top of heavily starched fabric which might prevent the ink from penetrating. Usually for my first wash I do extra prerinse and rinse cycles since I have a lot of starch to get out.

Heat from pressing only fades the marks away. The ink is still there. If the quilt ever gets cold, the dark marks reappear. You can test this out by pressing the marks and then putting the piece in the freezer for a while. When you take it out, the marks will be there again.

People have been shocked to find that the quilts they send to shows arrive with the black marks visible on them again. Probably because the package got cold in shipment.

Use your Frixion pens carefully and with this knowledge.

I believe it was a thread from this site concerning Fixion pens that make me test them.
First I marked fabric using a stencil and Fixion pen. Ironed the fabric to remove the pen - worked great.
Put the fabric in the freezer and pen returned. Ironed again - no change. Washed the fabric - no change.

I have made intricate baby quilts with lots of quilting using stencils and Fixion pens. If I didn't care for the stencil I ironed the pen away and started over. I'm sick to think that if any of the quilts I made are stored in a cold attic or taken in a car during an Ohio winter, they will be ruined. I've learned my lesson.

LQS and quilt shows sell the pens and I believed they were the best thing since sliced bread. The manufacturer does not recommend them for fabric marking where it will show and they suggest an ink solvent that may work to remove some of the ink.

What I noticed in Sewingsuz's experience is that she washed first before ironing. My experience with life (not necessarily quilting) is that stains are "set" once they are ironed or dried in the dryer. Maybe most of the ink washes out in cold water.

My comment is totally speculation.

bkay

This is exactly what I've heard about Frixion pens.

I was in a quilting class at a quilt show and Frixion pens became a topic. The instructor did an experiment. Iron then freezer then iron. She said by the 9th cycle the pen stopped showing. Not sure what to think.

When I was first introduced to the Frixion pens, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then I started reading about them, and I don't use them any more. I would hate to put all that work into a quilt and then find out that the markings came back.

sewingsuz, if you put the quilt in the freezer so it will become cold, perhaps all your markings will reappear. Please let us know if this worked for you!