I have found a great pencil for marking fabric
 

At Last I have discovered a very nice pencil for marking fabric. It is called Prismacolor and I have a silver
shade (753 metallic silver) It really glides on the fabric - uhmm I do not know if it washes out - as I haven't tried.!
It is very nice to use though in places that won't be seen --- seams etc !!

DottyD. England, UK. Where the Olympics are just SO exciting !

if the lead has wax in it, which I believe it does, then it won't wash out.

Holice .... what suggestions do you have for a marking pen/pencil that is not permanent and has a thin marking line? And ideally, that it disappears and/or is removable without washing.

I use three or four pencils
I have had good luck with the newer ceramic mechanical pencils. I use the white lead one on black batik and it brushes out very well.
Also.....the Multi-Pastel chalk pencils made by General Pencil Co. They can be found usually (if not in quilt shops) in the art pencil sections of most craft stores. I use the white and light gray and sometime the dark gray. I avoid any chalk pencil that has color in it, especially the yellow. My theory is that a colored pencil might have a lot of color pegment in it. I also use the black washable graphite from General. The name is Sketch-n-Wash. It has a thick lead but sharpens good and will also rub off and erase even on white and off white fabric.
Now having said this......there are other pencils on the market that indicate washable. Always test before using to make sure they perform as you want. There are other colors in the mechanical ceramic pencils but I have not used them due to their color. I also use the soft white erasers but be sure they don't have any petroleum in them. The A-1 from General does not have oil so doesn't smudge. I als use the pink pearl rubber eraser as it leaves a clean erase.
I also use the lint brush found usually in the pet department of the stores. It is a black oval plastic type material. This is working well as a brush and eraser.
With any chalk type pencil, I do recommend that as much of the surface chalk be wiped off before washing as chalk will cake. I used the dark gray Multi-Pastel on a light tan fabric and had to spray with spot remover to get it all off but it did come off. I also recommend sharpening often as it keeps the points sharp and less breakage in the lead.
The Multi-Pastel is chalk and clay. The clay gives stability to the chalk. Quilters have also said they occasionally put the chalk pencils in the freezer to re-hyderate the chalk and makes it easier to sharpen.

Have no time for quilting. I am watching the Olympics. Did I see you in the stands?

Ha Ha !!! No, I wasn't there !! I would have Loved to have been at Wimbledon - but lots of controversy - re tickets and I have been incensed at how many empty seats there were !! I would also loved to be at the Athletics and the Diving and Syncronised swimming - all very exciting !!
DottyD.

Have you tried the "frixion" ballpoint pens from Pilot - can get on Amazon - you can erase the line; you get rid of the line with heat from an iron. The line will reappear if you put you fabric in the freezer - so I guess what people are saying is that the line can reappear if it is really really cold. I love these pens because they glide onto the fabric without any snagging and punching up of the fabric. They come any many different colors - I think there are 8 pens in package for about $18 US. I am sure they have them in the UK somewhere.

Thank you Holice ... for all the info!
You've made me really think about the pink and yellow chalk rollers that I've been using. Maybe pretty isn't such a good idea!! :)

I'll check out the art supplies next time I'm near a store that might have them and see if I can have some luck!
The ceramic mechanical pencils ... would these be art supplies? drafting? or?


Petey ... I have the Frixxion pens too, and really like them.
Most of the time, I use mine for marking the wrong side of fabric.
However, you may find that they bleach out fabrics.
I know I have had that happen on both dark and light.
So as Holice suggests ... test test and test again!

Me personally? I'd have liked to be in that motorboat with David Beckham... LOL!

I guess I'm just old school but I just use a really sharp #2 pencil. I have a chalk marker that DH bought me but I just don't like it as well. I can get a really light, thin line with just a plain old pencil.

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Ben Ainsleys boat for me !!! DottyD.

The ceramic lead pencil is found in the fabric stores and quilt shops. It was made for fabric.
Brands are: Sewline; Fons and Porter' Bohin; Collins All are probably from the same factory.
The mehanical pencil with about 10 leads is around $15 but I believe worth the price as they mark and erase well.
There was a posting some weeks ago about the Fixon pens. As I recall, the quilter ironed the marks off, was taking it to someone and it was in a cold car and the lines came back. So don't have to put it in the freezer but a cold place. I believe someone said that if the quilt is washed you don't have the problem. On the other hand several have reported it bleaches out the fabric. It sounds like a magic marker but the side effects are not good. Then depends on how and where you use it.

I avoid all colors but white and gray. I just figure it's silly to add dye to a quilt surface when you don't want it there permanently.

I use a Sewline ceramic pencil and love it, but Fons & Porter and Bohin make versions as well. They're all sold at quilt shops (and online of course) since they're made specifically for sewing uses. You can also just buy the leads ans use them in any .9mm mechanical pencil.

I went to watch the qualifying gymnastics (mens) at the arena it was fabulous.

thanks for this information Holice

Thanks again, Holice for the further info.

Ghostie ... et Merci Beaucoup aussi!! I seem to recall another thread where you talked about these.

It seems that so few of our LQS' have many notions.
The general comment is that there's just too many tocarry.
uuummm OK! :rolleyes:
I think my sewing machine store probably has the best selections of notions, so will check next time!

I use the ceramic mechanical pencils as well. I own the Fons & Porter pencil (bought at Joann's several years ago). The LQS where I now work sells Sewline. I buy my leads there, which fit the F&P pencil, and use the different colors in the same pencil. We also sell Sewline erasers and refills for them.

De rien, QuiltE. I've had friends tell me they're hard to find up there. Might want to keep an eye on your mailbox...just in case, eh? http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...basic/wink.gif

OMG ... our peut etre Mon Dieu! OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oui ... so much stuff does not get above the 49th!
I am always so scared of using something that will mark and stain ... I don't think you can ever test it enough to be foolproof!

I used the silver pencil severa years ago to mark a silk cape I made for an exhibit. It was silk pongee in light beige color. The silver was the only pencil I found that would mark and not leave smudges on the fabric. It glided over the fabric and was dark enough to see to machine quilt and even left a slight sheen like the fabric. Most of it rubbed off in the machine quilting and I didn't have to erase. So different pencils work for different fabrics.

General's Sketch and Wash is one of the washable graphite pencils I use, too. Have for about 15 years and Love them for dark r light colored fabrics. I keep a tiny handheld all metal pencil sharpener close by as I hand quilt.

Jan in VA

Silver is easy to see also on any fabric. I agree about the Olympics, especially the women's soccer. I'm originally from New Jersey, and there are four "Jersey girls" on the team. Finals are Thursday against Japan who beat them
in the World Cup a couple of years ago. I shall be biting my fingernails the entire game.

Prisma pencils and pens are excellent products but designed to be permanent in most cases. I would be careful with this sort of use on fabric, I usually use them to draw designs and colour small sections of fabric.

I have used nothing since finding the Fons & Porter pencil. Bought 2, one for the brown lead and one for the white. They really are quite nice.

I gotta find me some! Ummm, I'll take one of each!

For over 30 years, I have used a mechanical pencil with a 0.7mm or 0.5mm size lead. The trick is to find a BH degree of softness. The standard lead that comes with mechanical pencils is too hard, so you need to buy one that is a refill to get the BH. It is a soft lead. Next, Don't push hard onto the fabric. A fine line that is only dark enough for you to see is the trick. I've never had trouble with a pencil line showing and I use it for embroidery too. I've taught for many years and my students don't have a problem with this marking too dark, as long as a light hand is used when tracing. Sometimes the old methods can be superior.
SandyQuilter

Lots of good information. I'm always on the look out for a good marking pencil. Thanks!

i heard to use a #4 graphite pencil which i do now. it erases nicely using a art gum eraser.

Thanks everyone for your very informative comments re pencils !! It has been very interesting to hear all your comments !!
DottyD

Oh my!!! I am with you on that one, that man is Gorgeous.

Wow!! and I can see why, but I can't be in two boats at once!! lol, its worth a try tho

Thank you for all this info
Mary

I use a good ol' mechanical pencil #2 lead for light fabrics and the Bohin with a white lead for dark fabs. Never had a problem with washing any of these, or the chalks of any color. But the original poster was looking for pencils that did NOT need to be washed. For that I'd recommend the Bohin (or similar manufacture). They do brush off nicely (or sometimes too nicely).

Wow, great info, thank you!

I have a drawer full of marking pens and pencils I have gathered through the years..... But.... I have just bought one that I love, love , love..
The Sewline Airerasable Fabric Pen! It has a smooth ceramic roller point, fine sharp lines and vanishes in a few days....
I have found it will vanish sometimes in a few hours depending on how much you press down on the fabric.

My favorite new marking tool is "Frixion"=I can not say enough of this product - heat just makes it vanish...........

I use two different types of marking pens and both come out. I use Chaco rolling markers in yellow for dark fabrics. It brushes right off. On light fabrics, I buy a pen at Hancock's made by Dritz I think???? It's a white pen with a purple end and purple cap. It evaporates away, so you have to sew what you mark right away. The mark will not be there the next day. Both of these have worked well for me for years.

DottyD - we are all in England this week enjoying tv coverage of the Olympics and of London (love that city!). I've been lucky enough to be at two Olympics and both times the atmosphere in the cities was exciting even if you weren't at the actual events. As far as marking, I like the Frixion pens and wish they'd make one in white for use on dark fabric.

Have sew line pencil love it have pink white and black for it love the pink it's shows up on mst stuff
I just can't say enough about this tool!

Has anyone used the pounce pads with chalk. They work fast but the blue does not come out easily. I do not like to wash the quilts I make as they then look old and used.