I too have had problems with marks re appearing but was told to steam the marks off rather than ironing them. So I held the steam iron above, not touching to fabric and steamed them off. It was a table runner which I have not washed. I'll put it in the freezer now and get back to you.

I use them and wash the quilt afterward. There have been many experiments where the fabric is washed, starched, not washed, starched, washed not starched, not washed not starched, do all over again using steam, no steam. Results were different when fabric was placed in cold. I don't care enough if the marks come back or not, I figure after several washing they will disappear. Of course no show quilts involved. How excited do we get now when we find an old quilt with pencil marks showing?

I know they have a lot to do, but it's a shame that someone at that quilt show couldn't have hit the quilt with an iron or some steam to get rid of the marks, rather than disqualifying it. That must have been heartbreaking for the entrant. Surely they have to have some means of straightening out quilts that are wrinkled or have fold lines visible when they unpack them... a steamer or something. A little kindness goes a long way.

Retrieved table runner from freezer and one of the lines came back. This was one which was quite heavily marked, the others had been put on with a lighter touch and did not return. It's not a problem a quick steam and it's gone.

I don't trust them because they haven't been around long enough to know what that weird ink is doing to the cotton for the long-term. Since the lines do sometimes come back after a washing (per my own testing as well as comments here) that tells me it's not washing away completely - maybe because it's basically been heat-set? They're not convenient enough for me to chose them over other marking tools that are tried and true.

I use my Frixion pens at work. It's fun to surprise people by erasing ink. I stick to tailor's chalk (when I will be ironing before washing it out) and blue water-erase pens (when I won't be ironing before washing) for my quilts & projects.

Even Fixion says they are not intended for fabric. Just a quirk quilters discovered. For most people, they are fine and not an issue but SHOW QUILTS are a whole different animal!!

This is an extra.I have purchased two different types of frixion pen they look similiar but I wonder if there are different makes and types.

two yrs ago at a retreat my sister (a nonquilter) was there working on kids flannel story boards. she drew a pattern for me to show her how to fuse it to fabric using a frixion pen. she uses the frixion pens often because of they can be erased easily. she was shocked when her drawing disappeared after she ironed it. but then she was pleasantly surprised when she could put it in the freezer and get the drawing back to cut out.

I use these pens only to mark fabric on the back - like for HSTs. Have not had a problem.

This is exactly what my concern is. It's very frustrating to have conversations with other quilters and have them completely miss this point when I tell them the marks come back if the quilt gets cold. There have also been many reports of the ink reacting to something in some of the fabrics (dye, maybe?) and causing permanent staining and damage.

There are so many other products out on the market that are designed specifically for quilting. If used properly and according to directions, they disappear completely. I'm sticking with what's tried and true.