Marking lines on top- before or after the sandwich?
 

Ever have one of those months when NOTHING is obvious to you?:rolleyes: Wanting to diagonally straight quilt a large lap size quilt on the machine. Will be marking using the purple pen. Do I mark before or after making the sandwich? Thank you!

If using a pen, I always marked after making the quilt sandwich. I was always afraid the lines would get distorted while layering, rendering any straight lines I had marked crooked! Not sure what others do. I think the painter's tape idea is great!!!

I don't usually plan my quilting until the quilt is nearly done, so for me it's always after sandwiching. Even when I *think* I know how I'm going to quilt the quilt, I find I often change my mind once I actually see it all put together. Especially if I just got a new stencil in the mail, LOL.

How do the markings made with that purple pen come out? If it's the one where it magically disappears, then I would mark it after you sandwich to give you more time.
Whatever you decide, always test your marking tool on the fabrics in your quilt before marking the whole thing. Even if you have used it before. Sometimes the ink (or whatever) reacts differently to different fabric. Better be safe than sorry.

I have always done my marking after the sandwich is pinned.

I mark after sandwiching also. I don't always mark the whole thing at one time either. Border areas especially are marked as I come to them.

I usually mark my top before I sandwich it, because the surface is flatter, and will not get distorted with the batting and backing. And I don't use the purple marker because it disappears too quickly -- 1 to 2 days usually. I use the blue marker that washes out, or the new ultra clean washable crayola markers. I like to wash my finished quilts anyway, before I gift them. I love the look and feel of the washed quilt, plus I can "catch" any bleeds with color catchers. I don't prewash my fabrics if I'm using precuts, which I've been using alot lately.