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.

If you can mark the part where it won't show. I have great luck with Sharpy pens, silver and gold, they don't rub off. I agree with others too, soap is great. What I like with the soap is that it shines under the light so it makes it easy to see.

If you are looking for mechanical pencil I would recommend the Sewline
Mechanical fabric pencil (white). You can draw fine lines with it.
I use both black and white. The black one is very useful for marking HST's.

I should have added that the soap marks will disappear immediately if you hold a steam iron over--don't touch or press--just the tiny bit of steam.

I use the Bohin mechanical pencil with white lead on my dark fabrics. I find it stays on well during the quilting process but washes out with no issues. On light fabrics I usually just use a #2 mechanical pencil. But if I think of it next time I'm in a LQS that sells the pencils and leads, I'll get a different color for the light fabric as I'm hoping it will wash out a bit better. As long as I don't get too heavy handed with the #2 lead, it's okay. I have also evolved to marking as I go most of the time vs marking the entire quilt. I personally have not had much luck with the soap slivers or typical 'taylor's chalk'. I have issues with them fitting into the stencils.

Another "AMEN" for the Clover white pen. It totally rocks. Also agree on "wait a sec for the marks to appear." They sort of "fade in." The markings are rock steady but wash or iron out perfectly, especially if you prewash your fabric. The ONLY time I had an issue seeing the marks was on some fabric I had failed to wash, and it had a TON of nasty sizing, which seemed to suck the markings. Sizing irritates my skin too, so I prewash 99% of my quilting fabrics.
I'm a hand quilter too and I ruddy HATE the grittiness of chalk.

I use the purple disappearing pen for light fabrics. In summer if you do not AC, it disappears REALLY quick.

I tend to prefer a chalk wheel for dark fabrics. Finer line than using a chalk stick but till washes out easily.

i use frixion pens for all that i can. I have used the white ceramic pencils pretty successfully for marking dark fabrics.

I use the "silver" marking pencils for dark fabric.

Another vote for white bar soap.

I'm gobsmacked by the thought of marking my quilt top with a silver or gold Sharpie.... :shock::shock::shock:

I use a light box and Crayola Ultra-Clean fine tip markers or a white chalk pencil.

I have posted this before but this is my favourite for dark fabrics. If brushes off with a dry toothbrush if you mark lightly or a damp cloth. [ATTACH=CONFIG]572072[/ATTACH]​only use white chalk as coloured chalk can stain.

I like tailors chalk. It comes in several colors, shows up well, and comes off with heat.

The ceramic pencils are the best for marking accurately. I have a BOHN (France) pencil. It works like an eversharp and you can buy different colored leads for it. I just made a pile of Boston Blocks and used it on black with white lead. I needed the line to be exactly in the right spot, or the blocks might turn out wonky.

The leads are very expensive, but once you have paid for it, you will have enough for life and more. You could share leads with friends, also.

I just don't think a soap sliver would be consistently sharp enough.

I have a Dritz chalk marking pencil (advances much like the Clicker Mechanical Pencils. It came with 8 sticks of white chalk and several pieces of different colored chalk. I find that it stays on very well. It also came with a sharpener so that your chalk can be sharpened to a long sharp tip if needed. I like it because it's very easy to control. Of course, wouldn't you know that the refill for it isn't available in the store (JoAnn's) but can be ordered through an office supply site.

Popover, is the Clover pen you recommend the iron-off or water soluble version? Thanks

I love using the Clover white marking pen. It washes out and it does stay on until you want to remove it.

Tartan- the point breaks off my chalk very easily when I am marking w/a stencil, do you find that happening or do I just have cheap chalk?

Jeanette- be careful of the colored chalk in that set. I have used the pink and yellow and had difficulty getting it to wash out.

I like Roxanne's pencils. There is a white one for dark fabrics and a silver one for light fabrics. I also use the Clover chalk in the applicator with the tiny wheel. It makes a very thin line of chalk. Neither of these products has chemicals which may deteriorate the fabric over time. Sometimes on light fabrics I also use a mechanical pencil made for fabrics called The Ultimate Marking Pencil.