Okay I really thought this was going to be the easy part. Wrong! I have cut out the stensil and now have tried every colour of pencils and pen that I have but cannot seem to get the quilting line to stnad out well enough to see it when I am am quilting.

Next I have not sure how I will get the quilting done. I have tried the free motion on my Pfaff. I'm not good with long straightlines and the BSR Stitch regulator on the Bernina is not working. quess my last option it to hand quilt it.

And the quilt exhibition is only about 6 weeks away!! Help

Have you tried an ordinary lead pencil?

Black lead pencil doesn't show up on the fabric with the black background. Time for a cup of tea and some chocolate.

Try white chalk.

What pencils have you been using?
Try different colors on different fabrics.
Try "Sketch and Wash" by General Pencil. Can get it in an art supply store or www.quiltingstencils.com
It is a black washable graphite pencil. Test it first if you do get it. I used it to mark off white cotton sateen and it was almost gone by the time I finished quilting. Many quiters love it
I have also used the Multi Pastel chalk pencils, also made by General Pencil Co. I use white, light grey and have also used the dark grey successfully.

I have chalk and varioius soluble graphites. Best result so far from watercolour pensils and I can use various colours as required on the one outline. Most difficult is the gold highlights on the fabric. So just need to take my time and be patient.

I used a sliver of soap on similar colored fabric. Or what about that parchment paper that you lay on top and quilt right through.

I'd also say white chalk should work on this backgroung.

Have you tried quilting it from the back?

Draw design on paper or SulkySolvy - quilt that on the top and then remove.

I can't help you on the quilting lines, but I love the colors in your quilt.

That is what I was going to suggest. I used the SulkySolvy. I also like that it was easier to draw on the Solvy than it would have been to try to draw on the sandwiched quilt.

What color thread are you using to quilt with?

Looking forward to seeing your finished piece.

If you were still planning to machine quilt it, I would suggest either putting the design on Glad Press n Seal or use the golden threads paper to stitch through. Since you seem to have settled on hand quilting, can you trace and cut out the pattern on mac tac and stick and repostion it as you quilt?

white chalk perhaps?? seems like that would show well enough. stencils.... maybe you could make stencils out of freezer paper and iron them on and quilt around.

I would trace the stencil onto tissue paper, then pin the paper to the quilt & quilt right thru the paper. For this particular stencil, I would not use special paper. The design is simple enough where you should not have any problems removing the tissue after stitching.

Clover makes a white pen. The ink is a bit weird, it takes a minute or two to develop, but I've found that it's visible even on lighter fabrics. I use it to mark applique all the time.

It irons out, and washes out, and it doesn't come back to haunt you later

Janet