Please recommend permanent fabric marker
 

I think I'd like to begin making handwritten labels for my items. Can you recommend a marker that's really permanent? Thanks!

The Sanford RubaDub Laundry Marking Pen gets good reviews on Amazon. It says it doesn't bleed when writing on the fabric and stays forever. Most of the reviewers concur. i can say it didn't bleed for me and as far as washing out, so far so good.

Check out the Sharpies in the office supply store. I have a fine point one that I have used. It does have a tendency 'bleed' a bit - outside edges of written lines blur - but to the best of my knowledge, it does stay forever. I can check with a quilt recipient and see how the message has held up to five years of washings.

ETA - take some light (and dark) fabrics to the store with you and see which pens you like best on both.

I was checking the Pigma pens (I recently used one to trace an embroidery design and I like it but it is rather light) and I found this blog with a comparison test of different pens she was testing for her quilt labels.

http://www.freckledwhimsy.com/2010/0...ns-to-use.html

Thanks so far. Funny thing is I own an entire box of Bic fine point permanent markers (their version of Sharpie) but I assumed I needed something that said "fabric" on it. I'll play around with what I own and see if it's acceptable.

But keep the recommendations coming! I'm making a list to take with me to AC Moore to see which they carry.

I am old school and have always been happy with the Pigma pens.

I have a follow up question fellow quilters. I found the box of Bic permanent markers and also a package of fine point Sharpies in my house. I've just used both pens on 3 different types of fabric which I'll run through my next wash cycle to see how they fare.

I found it very hard to write on my nicest, softest fabrics. I had one piece of fabric which was real stiff, like paper and I could write on that nicely. So....what type of fabric do you use for your labels? Do you use something like an embroidery hoop to hold the fabric taut while you write on it?

I once worked in a care facility and washed the residents clothes. We used a extra fine point (like a mechanical pencil) sharpie for marking clothes. These names did fade with washing and when that happened we just remarked them. Tartan is right on....embroidered names did not come out.

You can either use freezer paper, as Tartan suggested or lay your fabric on superfine sandpaper. You can make a "sand board" easily by gluing a piece of sandpaper to a piece of stiff cardboard or to a clipboard. I glued a piece of sandpaper to the top of one of those 13x13x2" plastic boxes you can get at any hobby store. I store all of my pens in the box, with a pouch for each group of pens, sorted by brand, color and size of tip.

I also use the sand board when I am using crayons on fabric.

Whichever pen you finally decide on, remember to press the writing with a HOT, DRY iron before laundering. This will set the ink. The first time you press a handwritten label, place a piece of thin fabric over the writing to see if any of the ink transfers. If it transfers to the fabric, it could transfer to your iron. If it doesn't, you can press without a pressing cloth.

I'm definitely interested in this topic, as I'm getting ready to make a signature quilt for my niece's wedding. They'll be using it instead of a guest book. I need to make sure these signatures are ​permanent!!

Thanks again for all the advice so far. I had no idea about ironing to set the ink, so that was very valuable! In fact, I'd better take the test samples out of my laundry basket and iron them.

I saw that too, Tartan! My friend Peggi found it and sent it to me. Trust me, I saved it - It was adorable!!!

I've always used Micron Pigma you buy them at fabric stores. I also have one that is Zig Memory system. That one has fine point on one end larger point on the other. it is pigment in, acid-fee-archival quality, lightfast, waterproof, fade proof, non-bleeding. this one was given to me so I don't know where you would buy it.

Thanks, Sherri! Those got great reviews on Amazon. I'm going to order a set to try!

I went there to look at it and found there was a pack of 2 or a box of 12. Checked several other places including the Pentel site. There it said "This product has been permanently discontinued." So I went back to Amazon and bought the box of 12! Reviews sure sound good. I want to put a second label on the quilt I'm doing with the washing directions on it and this sounded good. Also got a pk of the Superior Titanium 90/14 topstitch needles while I was at it.
I've used the Micron Pigma's up to now. :)

Turns out that she finally chose 2, one was the Pentel gel roller. I hope she's right!!:)

I use a copic multiliner.

I tried the test that Freckled Whimsey showed on her blog. All those Sharpies in beautiful colors that I bought did not pass the washing test, even though I had heat-set everything. The winner for me was Crayola Fabric Markers. Don't get the ones that say "washable", that means they wash out. I iron a piece of freezer paper on the back before writing. The same piece of freezer paper gets used over and over until it does not cling. Two years ago we helped 4-H campers make a quilt that each one drew and wrote on a square of muslin with the crayola fabric markers. I won the quilt in a raffle and promptly put it through the washer and dryer. It came out looking just as bright as it went in.

I been thinking of buying Tulip Fabric Markers, has anybody tried them??

Funny.....I think I have those too. I have a lot of markers in my house!

OK, I've washed and dried my test pieces of fabric. I only tested the Sharpie and the Bic permanent marker since that's what I had at the time. I ironed them before washing them and line dried them. They all came out just fine, but I think the Bic was a bit sharper (no pun intended). It was a decidedly unscientific test though...

I have to dig around for the Crayola markers that I know I had at one time.

I like Pigma pens. I use a high thread count white cotton that I've been able to find at quilt and fabric shops. I haven't looked for it at places like JoAnn's etc so don't know about there. I put the fabric on freezer paper for stability when writing.

I like thePentel Gel ROller for fabric...writes smoothly....have used for several "signature" quilts, as well as lables...I bought them (2 in a package) at Hobby Lobby..$4.99

If you treat the fabric first with Bubble Jet, you can use most any pen and it will not wash out.

Thanks again for all the replies. It seems there are many acceptable options!

I like the pigma pens...

Cindi, make sure you outline or somehow make sure that they can't write in the seam line! I did not do this for my daughters wedding, and I am going to loose some writing to the seam allowance!

I use "Tulip" fabric markers for my labels. You press them after writing and then allow to sit for 24 hours. They are fine point, don't bleed, easy to use and last forever. Also they are not as expensive as Pigma, that is not to say that Pigma isn't a quality product because it is.

I got the Sharpie colored pens and it says right on the package "not for fabric" so I recommend reading the label.
My favorite is the pigma pen.

I have several quilts that I have made with signatures these quilts are well loved and have been washed many times. The sharpies will totally disappear over time the pygma pens are still as nice as the day they were signed I plan on getting some of the Crayola brand fabric markers.

Another vote for the pigma pens for me.

I have always used Pigma pens for my labels. However, if the quilt gets washed a lot the ink does fade - eventually until it is illegible. I made my dad a quilt that he used at the nursing home and after 4 years of frequent washings, the label was so faint that I could barely read it. I re-wrote over it.

I iron my fabric to freezer paper to make it stiff before I write on it. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Micron Pens are great for labels. You can find them at some LQS or Joann's and Michael's. They come in assorted colors and point sizes.

The test at Freckled Whimsey said something I couldn't believe until I checked it myself. The Pigma Micron company website says that the pens are NOT to be washed! Here's the quote - Fabric design* note - the inks on fabrics are for "decorative purposes only" - meaning do not launder.

Here's the link, it's near the bottom of the page. http://sakuraofamerica.com/pen-archival

Tate

Any more updates on this, about the pens? My daughter just called and asked if I would help her make siggy blocks for her wedding in August.