Thanks for the your research and for sharing it with us. Very interesting article.

I Know "QWIKGO" works on this. You can read my blog on this board for picture details.

what a valuable resource that blog is! Thank you so much for posting it. I am hoping anyone who uses these pens read it to understand what Frixion pens are all about.
Jane, I am so sorry this happened to you but I don't think your quilt is ruined. I bet one of the products in this article will help to remove the stains. You may also wish to consider soaking the quilt in the bathtub overnight with some dawn dish detergent in the water. Weigh the quilt down so it stays submerged. I know this is a technique used to remove bleeds. Here is a great blog on it:
http://quiltsoflove.blogspot.com/201...hed-quilt.html
While these instructions are for a bleed, they may just work for the dried ink on your quilt.

I also hope that your posting, heartbreaking as it is, may keep another quilter from using these "wicked little pens" (and that is not wicked in the good sense) to mark a quilt for quilting. I think they are ok to mark a seam line like for HST units but not to mark anywhere on the face of the quilt.

Additionally I would avoid using peroxide at all costs. Leah Day posted how she ruined one of her show quilts trying to clean with peroxide. It basically destroyed the cotton fibers in the fabric. Now she may very well have used a solution that was too strong but why risk it. Plus this was an all white/cream colored quilt. Who knows what it would do to all the colors in yours.

Jane, have you tried a Hera Marker (similar to a bone folder).. The marker leaves a dent in the fabric but no ink is involved. You cannot mark very far ahead of yourself, but I'd give it a try at any rate. I have used it on quilts in the past. Good luck! A Hug is in order!)

Well your experience has forewarned me...I was going to buy some today to mark a top...Will get the crayola markers instead...best of luck in getting the marks removed...

I am confused about using a pencil for marking. I used one to mark a whole cloth design and it did not wash out. Is there a particular pencil to use. I used a sketch & wash pencil, Generals brand.

My guild members used one of the blue wash out pens for a raffle quilt. Most of the blue marks came back after washing. The quilt couldn't be raffled the blue marks never went away. They tried everything, almost faded the quilt trying. The next quilt Frixion pens were used, only the red ink ones. The Frixion marks went away after washing and drying. No iron was used. A guild member won the quilt and no marks have ever reappeared. I guess it's a gamble with the Frixion pens, always test a sample on the fabric that is exactly used in the quilt. Starched? Prewashed? and anything else done to the quilt fabric for the test.

This usually only works right away. It can set after a period of time. Good luck though maybe it will. worth a shot.

No advice, but ((((big hugs)))) coming your way. So sorry this happened to you and your quilt.

Gosh, Jane, I am so very sorry this happened to you.

I can't think of anything more frustrating, upsetting, that makes you want to want to pull your hair out, or gives you that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach than when something that you've put your blood, sweat and tears into has some sort of 'accident'. I'm sure you are getting a lot of prayers and good vibes from this quilting board, along with good ideas to help with this problem. With all those positive thoughts coming your way, things just have to work out in your favor. Blessings to you.

I am going to need this blog too. All this scrubbing, with warm water ad chemicals, is causing some reds to bleed. They were prewashed,but in cold water, now the warm water is taking its toll. But I rather have some pink blocks vs blue pen. So thanks for the bleeder advise. That is the next step. Thanks for posting.

Hugs to you Jane, sorry to hear about the problem. Thank you for letting us know, you may have saved someone else the same fate. Hopefully it will all come out in the wash.

SO sorry this happened! What a disappointment!

If you've tried everything else, I got marker out of my white riding breeches using a paste of OxyCLean, letting it sit and then washing it. Just another suggestion.

Watson

So sorry know how you must feel.

oooh I forgot about that product....have some in my laundry room. Got to go try...thanks Watson! I''m off......

It worked....it worked....the oxyclean worked! Its a miracle! Thank you Watson. I use to have the paste....I only have the crystles ad that is what I used. Now I got to work on the perfect concentration. Woo hoo.

Dear feline fanatic,
I found that oyxclean worked on removing the frixion pen marks. Is Oxyclean a hydrogen peroxide product you were referring to in the thread "I ruined my king size quilt"? I dont want to remove the blue only to have the fabric decinigrate,.....I am already having that problem with batiks I have in a 15 year old quilt, that I will soon have to patch. Jane Quilter

I am so sorry this happened to you. I was going to suggest oxyclean but now I read that it saved you. It has saved me so many times. Don't leave it to soak. Ask me how I know this! Good luck to you!

I am mixing oxyclean with water, then toothbrush scrubbing it in, set timer for 30 min,, rinse with clean water, clean toothbrush, blot excess water off. Now scrub diluted liquid Tide with warm water, rinse again, blot dry. Blow fan on it to dry...another 30min to 1 hr. Not really "soaking", just doing this on a flat table with plastic tablecloth under it. What do you think? Jane

I think as soon as you get it cleaned up give it a good soak in cool fresh water to lift all those multiple chemicals you've tried, as well as the Oxyclean, out of the overall quilt, and maybe rinse again. Spot rinsing is good while you are working on it, but I'd want to know the chemicals are out of the fabric in case any of them could break the fabric down over time.

Oxyclean has saved me several times from having to throw away some clothing that nothing else would save. I soaked a pair of khakis once for about 48 hours, changing the solution and rubbing several time until Oxy got the stain out...but then the pants got a good wash and rinse.

How about trying Grandma's Secret Spot Remover?

What about peroxide? Just a thought! No I told you so's!!! This is a learning experience and the world is not going to come to an end and you will use the quilt and it will keep you just as warm, right? Edie

Woohoo! So glad the OxyClean worked for you!

Watson

Me too! What a relief. I kept coming back all day yesterday hoping for this news!!!!

Dina

Do glad to hear the good news!

Whoa! So glad this worked out for you.

This is definitely a good thread to save, as it has so much information regarding getting stains out and the frixon pens. I had never heard of Frixon pens and so glad I have never used them, but really glad to learn about them.

This QB is the greatest.

I have had such good luck using Amway Prewash
(http://www.amway.com/Shop/Product/Pr...pwsID=BestLife)
and then immediately wash in your washer, adding All Fabric Bleach (http://www.amway.com/BestLife/Shop/P...?itemno=117774)
to your regular laundry detergent.

And no, I am not an Amway distributor and have nothing to gain by recommending these products.

I've gotten out red lipstick on my new leather seats in my car, coffee spilled on my new white carpet, red wine spilled on a new Tommy Bahama silk shirt (only used spray wash and sent off to the cleaners), and countless other success stories by using these products alone, or in combination of both.

I wish you luck, and let us know if you find something that works. We can all learn something new.

Whoops....see that you already solved the problem! Good for you.

Latest update: Now that we know Oxyclean will work (it is a peroxide based product), the worry is: what is the correct concentration? The Oxy crystals say use 1 scoop per gal of water. the scoop looks like 1/8 cup. The directions say start with a high concentration and keep lowering it until you get a concentration that works to keep the concentration at a minimum (I guess to avoid a chemical burn like Leah had on her duchess quilt). So, not knowing what is too high, I bought another product. OxyClean MaxForce gel stick. Whatever it is, this will be my top concentration.....I hope it works. If not, I will call the company and ask what concentration Max Force is, and how higher can I go without a chemical burn. So the Saga continues. Fun note: My Hubby says, "you bought another cleaning product? This is costing more than the quilt!" ......oh if he only knew ha......I just said, "This is the price of education" and on I go. Promise to keep the QB updated.....Because now that there is hope, and less panic, it is now just a learning process...and I can deal with that.

With hindsight being so clear - what advice do you have for other quilters re marking their quilts?

I've used "AWESOME". you can get it at DOLLAR GENERAL, it works on paint, grease, ink, and yes, blue "washable" ink pens. I just poured a little on and rubbed it in before washing my quilt.

So very happy for you! I read all the posts, including yours, with growing despair. Good job, Watson, for the suggestion that worked!

Sigh.....wishing you continued success...

Let me think about this....results have been inconsistent, I don't understand the science behind this so I am stabbing in the dark. But I will come to some conclusion because I have has so much wonderful help and support from the qB and there will be a next quilt.

I wonder whether perhaps some of the different treatments/chemicals might have interacted with one another. As you so wisely say -- there is quite a bit of chemistry involved in all this. I must say, though, I am somewhat dismayed to learn that the products recommended by the makers of Frixion didn't get the marks completely out. I had really hoped they would since I the quilt top I received from Thimble Lady was marked with a Frixion pen.

So great to not see any "I told you so" remarks!! Hugs and thanks folks for all your extra info on the frixion pens.

Hugs to you, Jane!

So glad you were able to get this out!

My personal "go-to" for removing marks, stains, etc., is "Mean Green". You can find it in most grocery stores in a spray bottle, but I usually get a gallon jug at Dollar General. I use it when laundering hubby's work clothes (he works in a machine shop), and this is one of the very few things that will get that kind of grease out.
On my quilts, as I've learned about different marking methods, Mean Green has been a life-saver.

A comment about the usefulness/washability of the commercial markers, versus Crayola washable markers...
1) the purple marker that fades in 24 hours... fades a lot faster if it's hot and humid (it faded almost before I could finish marking a design!!)
2) the blue pounce chalk does not always come out... unless you have some Mean Green
3)the blue markers (there are several on the market,by different manufacturers) will sometimes bleed when you try to wash/spritz them out
4) Crayola markers have NOT given my any trouble... and they're inexpensive (especially with the back-to-school sales right now)

Just my two cents worth... again, I'm happy to hear you were able to get the marks out.

OUCH!! so sorry to hear your pain!! I wish I could offer some help but I'm afraid not....at least not for this quilt. The only thing I suggest for your next quilt (should there be one) is to use a water soluble pencil. I've used them with very light pressure just enough to see the line because I fear if I mark like I would normally write the mark would get too embedded in the material and may not come out. It has worked very well for me. I even bought a white soluble pencil for darker fabric...both work very well. Sorry I can't help in this case other than permanent markers if you can get a good match in color. Good luck to you!

My favorite is still the Crayola ULtra Clean Washable Markers...I have left them for a while, ironed them, and they still came out with water or in the wash. I keep looking at getting more, and was surprised to see so many other brands offering the washable markers. But I will stay with the ultra clean unless I want to take the time to test another brand out.

Well the saga continues.....After marking this quilt with several different markers over the course of 2 years, I tried to wash them out. I used frixion pens, blue washable pens, pencils, and crayola washables so I had to use different methods to remove them. I believe the biggest disaster was the frixion pen in the light blue/turquoise color This last frixion ink would not move with heat, amodex, motsenbocker's lift off, shout, alcohol. Oxyclean and Dawn Dishwater soap with a rug cleaning surfactant was the only thing that moved it but it was slow. It went from thin blue line, to a bleeding blue line, to a blue fabric front, back and batting, to clean after about 25 scrubbings. Below are some photos of before, beginning, (skip middle-think all blue) and end. When I am all done, I will photo the whole quilt, If I don't die of elbow grease.
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...psjvmdkuox.jpg

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...psomp6u0dg.jpg

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6evqidjg.jpg