I am a fairly new quilter, and our quilt guild is having a quilt show. We have each been asked to create a 12 inch finished block from a kit we were given. I have managed to do that...so far at least...I haven't quilted it. However, I am now supposed to write my name, guild name, and Member Since_____ in the center of the block with a permanent fabric marker.

Can I find a permanent fabric marker at Wal-Mart, or do I need to find a fabric store?

I have been talked into entering 3 quilts, which scares me silly, but that is another story. :)

Is anyone familiar with this? Is this something like they use to mark names on clothes at nursing homes? Same question though, can I get it at Wal-Mart, or do I need a fabric store?

I use the pigma permanent pens (from Joann's)

You can use any permanent marker. I like to use a fine line Sharpie. If you want to get fancy Hobby Lobby has alot of fabric markers in a rainbow of colors.

Okay, thanks, ladies. I have quite a few Sharpies and will see what I can do with one of those. I need to practice first. We don't have a Joann's here. :(

Make sure you do something to set the ink.

I don't know how to do that -

BUT I know I had a problem with a blue pigma pen "bleeding" -

i have a 24 pk of sharpies that do the trick

Sharpies are not archival. They will eventually damage the fabric. Plus they tend to bleed when you write on fabric. Go to the scrap book department in Walmart. Get the ZigWriters. They're the same ink as in Pigma pens. They're archival, don't bleed and permanent.

I press freezer paper on the back of labels before writing on them. Set the ink by pressing front and back of label.

No marking pen is truly "permanent", as light, detergents, and time will effect the pigment of the ink. (Too many year's in the printing industry).

Pigma Pens or the ZigWriters work well. Sharpies tend to bleed... when purchasing look for pens that are marked "archival" and "permanent".

Deb Karasik, a nationally known quilter uses Sharpies to mark on her quilts. Do heat set them by pressing with a hot iron, front and back. To keep the fabric "still" while writing, I use sandpaper under the fabric. But pressing freezer paper to the back will stabalize the fabric as well.