marking on dark
 

I am a hand quilter and would be interested in what others use to mark designs on dark fabrics.

Is there a product that the tip stays sharp with repeated use, even on lights? I love the sharp line that a mechanical pencil leaves but then the getting rid of it.....

I wash all my quilts when finished, so I use soap (w/o oils) to mark darks, and Crayola washable markers for lights. You can find washable markers with finer tips than Crayola in school supplies--I get packs of assorted colors at the "everything's a dollar" store.

I like to use a sliver of soap on darks. It stays on longer than chalk and comes out easily. However, I am a machine quilter so I do fairly minimal marking and generally get the quilting finished within a few days of marking so I don't have experience with leaving soap markings in for any length of time.

You can can sharpen up the soap sliver when it gets dull by either washing your hands with it and set it aside to dry (what I do) or some folks use a cheese grater to sharpen.


Rob

I still prefer soap...the end of the bar I used to throw away! I am in Illinois, too. I live in Yorkville and we have a great hand quilting group that meets on Wednesday. Would love it if you want to come. We have a great group!

Clover white marking pen. Nice ball point tip, doesn't rub off as easily as soap or chalk, always washes out, and has refills. One thing to note; when you mark a line, it will take a moment to show up. I love this thing! I
also use the Crayola washables on lighter fabric.

I have always used slivers of soap. when i'm done, i just scrape it with my fingernail or an old toothbrush and it comes right off.

I longarm quilt but I used to hand quilt. I have used this method for both

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...g-t275470.html

I use simple white chalk. I have to sharpen it every 8 seconds but it comes out so easily. I once had some lines marked one night to be quilted the next day. When I got up they were gone. One of the cats slept on it.

Depending on how dark the dark is, I have had success using the Crayola washable markers to mark. (I think the fine tip ones are plenty fine enough, at least for me anyway.) I have the "bold colors" pack and the raspberry color worked fine on a dark blue I was quilting. I haven't tried soap, but but have used regular school chalk like mentioned above...it works fine but if you are using a template it's hard to keep the point sharp enough to fit in the groove w/out breaking.

luvstoquilt- wish I were in IL, I'd come to your group!

I'll stick with my pen. Don't have to stop every few inches to sharpen, and it fits in my stencils.