marking my pattern
 

I have just finished piecing a double wedding ring queen size quilt. I plan to hand quilt it. no problem with the small arc pieces, but I want to do a design in the larger white areas. If I mark them before sandwiching, will the marks pretty much be worn off by all the handling of the quilt as I work on it. I usually mark as I go, but it is usually suggested to mark prior to sandwiching. So, what can I use to keep my marked fancy design from being worn off as I quilt? Or do I just mark as I go?

There are papers you quilt over and tear away made just for the double wedding ring. Also I am pretty sure there are specialty machine embroidery programs that will work as well. Also I have seen the pounce pad templets that could work as you go. Perhaps a shopping trip to the quilt store would help. I am pretty sure I also have seen whole section of a quilt book I have with just the double wedding ring patterns.

Ah, I googled it and here are some options on the google search.

https://www.google.com/search?source....0.37REzL1fFTw

If you mark in pencil, with a very light touch, barely there, it should wash out......try it on a sample.

I have had luck with Roxanne's silver and white pencils. The marks do mostly wear off as the project is completed. The rest washes out easily. I have not hand quilted such a large project, though. These pencils are not detrimental to the fabric at all.

In my opinion, it depends on the tools with which you are planning to mark. I've used chalk products that were pretty much worn away during the handling process. Particularly on a large quilt like that. I prefer pencil marking and mostly mark as I go unless it's an all over design that needs to match up. Since that is not your plan, I would mark as I go.

I have one of the old style 'lap desk' things (hard top with pillow attached to the bottom) that I use while hand quilting. I mark as I go (with pencil) but have that under my work so I have a solid surface on which to work. I can then just lay that aside and continue quilting.

I've marked an entire quilt before hand quilting with great success. I use a pencil. Haven't had any trouble getting it out.

When I handquilt, I use a mechanical pencil with the thinnest lead available..light touch, as I go..on large circle floor or pvc floor frames.

I applaud you for your patience in handquilting and we’d love to see a picture when you’re finished.

I mark as I go. I hand quilt in a hoop and that holds the fabric taut while I'm marking.

Oh, what a question! My mother was handquilting a double wedding ring and used a washable marker on it...after 5 years of working on the quilt, those marks are still there. She should have used the other end of the marker which disappears after being exposed to the air for awhile. Well...now I am trying to finish the hand quilting and I’m using the silver pencil. At this point, I’m not caring too much about the marks, just getting it done! I think I’d go for the tear away paper if I had a do-over. :-)