Quilt in the freezer...
 

Thank you.

Just backs up what people are warning us about. I won't use them on quilts. Thanks for reconfirming my decision;>

I really have to get some of these. I keep forgetting to look for them until I see something posted about them. Since I'm pretty sure that none of my quilts will end up in a freezer I'm good. Will be nice to have something that last but does leave when you want it

I have't read about any warnings other then posts from a few people on quilting boards. Mosst haven't used the pens or researched the pens to know anything about them. Lots of professional show quilters blog about these pens and how great they are. If fabric can handle the harsh chemicals used in manufacturing, it can hold up to a non toxic marking pen. The whitish marks left on dark fabric do go away. At least the ones on my quilt did.

thanks for sharing your experience

Ditto, especially when there are so many other products on the market that are specifically designed for this purpose and actually wash out.

Is it the cost of Frixion pens that make them so appealing? I've never used or bought one.

Though remember your fabric was not washed first then starched and ironed.

This isn't the same as using on a prewashed not treated piece of fabric.

ali

You don't need to use them. There are many marking pens to use but all have as many cons as pros. Many antique quilts have visible marking lines and every thinks how great to be able to see the quilter's markings. Why wouldn't future generations think the same about the non toxic pen marking we use today?

The fine lines in the roller ball pens are part of the attraction.

The multiplicity of colors is great, too.

I use both the highlighter types and the pens. I tested all the colors by scribbling heavily on white fabric, then ironing. There was a faint whitish remnant of the marks left, and when I froze the fabric, some of the color came back.

I hand-scrubbed the fabric briefly with a little detergent and pressed it dry and all of it was gone without a trace, even after re-freezing it.

I love them and since I'm not sending any quilts to Eskimos I won't worry about it. I figure that if my quilts or embroideried designs go to anyone suffering with that amount of coldness they won't look for marks.

I love them because it is so easy to mark my quilts! I can take an iron to the marks and "Poof" ~ the marks are gone. If i make a mistake marking my quilt, I can take an iron to it, the marks disappear, and i can start again. I do wash my quilts before I give them away, and no one i know will refreeze the quilt.

In today's world, we use all kind of marking utensils that "disappear" w/ even just the air that we don't know if they're really "gone" or they just appear to be gone.

when I put mine back in the freezer after I washed mine, I didn't get any marks back

I tested them as well and I had different results. The pen marking was completely gone.

I want to know what your family thought when they opened the freezer! I'm pretty sure mine would make fun of me for that one!

Seriously, thanks for going to all the trouble to do an extensive test and report back to us all. Now everyone has good information to make their own personal decision with.

I accidentally used the Frixon pens on my Steam a Seam Lite 2 and ironed them and all my markings were gone and I was so upset, thinking I had to redo them all. I wrote about this on the board and someone smartly wrote me to stick them in the freezer. I did and all the markings came back and I was able to cut them all out. So, they have a second purpose. I will try and never use them for appliqueing again, but if I accidentally do, I know how to fix it.

My concern is that, if the marks still reappear (however faintly), it probably means that there is some remaining chemical left in the fibers which may or may not ever fully wash out, and these chemicals may cause the fabric to deteriorate faster over time. The chemicals in some of the old dye colors caused fabric to deteriorate, which is why quilts from a certain age will have shreds or holes where a certain color of fabric was used. I'm not enough of a chemist to know which chemicals might cause deterioration over time.

I love the frixion pens and use them all the time. I, too, always starch my fabric heavily that I'm drawing more on the starch than on the fabric. I also tried the test in the freezer and left it overnight..........not a mark could be found on it.

I agree completely with this. My concern isn't that I'm sending a quilt to an Eskimo who might see my quilt markings, my concern is what remains in the fibers after the ink is ironed "out".

Before marking a quilt top with a Frixion pen for some finishing-touches-redwor, I marked some of the scraps from the top with the pen I intended to use. First I pressed the scraps with a very hot iron. All marks disappeared instantly. Then I folded the scrap and put it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. The marks reappeared. I put the scrap on an outside table in the hot Texas sun and the marks disappeared. Since it is much more likely that my quilt will be exposed to heat than to freezing temperatures, I marked the redwork pattern on the quilt top. It was a difficult task because the Frixion pen does not have the marking power that Sharpies have. But that difficulty is offset by the fact that the Frixion ink did not bleed into the surrounding fabric.

It is my opinion, which in this case is neither humble nor arrogant, that should the marks ever reappear because the quilt is exposed to freezing temperatures, the user huddled under it will not be very interested in the marks. froggyintexas

I use the washable Crayola markers (for kids) and have never had a problem with them not washing out of a quilt.

I have used these pens with much success. I press the lines out as soonas I am finished with them and I have not had any trouble, so I will continue using them..Sorry for the ones that are not happy with them because they do save a lot of time.

Thank you so much for sharing that wow

It seems that some of these 'disappearing markers' are in the same category as doing a 'simple delete' of a computer file.

It seems to be 'gone' - but are we absolutely certain that it won't reappear again under certain circumstances?

I did this for MANY quilts and worked perfectly.

A local quilt shop carries the pens but the other day I noticed a big hand made sign by the pens saying "only use on paper", they were busy so I couldn't ask why they added the sign.

Thanks for all the info.

Great information but I'll stick to my Sewline pen thank you...I love them!

This is one of my concerns, too, along with the fact that I live where it is frequently below the 14ºF 'minimum temperature' at which the markings reappear...as do the people I give quilts to (yet, to the best of my knowledge, there are no Eskimos in New Hampshire).

Frixion pens have never been recommended for fabric use by the manufacturer and if they don't have enough confidence in their product to do that, I sure don't. Sticking with my trusty Sewline ceramic pencil which WAS made for fabric use. To each their own, like so many other decisions in quilting.

Do they make a color that will show up on dark denim? I want to do an embroidery design on a denim shirt for my "bestest friend" and can't find anything that will show up. If lines came back faintly, it wouldn't really matter!

I took about 20 different unwashed fabric scraps and randomly sewed them together. I marked on them with my frixion pen, ironed and froze them. It came bak light but there. Reironed and washed them and it was gone from most of the fabrics. I have noticed on some darkish fabrics it will leave a whitish line when it irons out. So far the white line has washed out for me.

THANK YOU for taking the time, energy and effort to do the research. I'm sure many of us appreciate it, even if we don't answer this thread.

Interesting thread! I remember coming onboard as an excited newbie after I learned about Frixxon pens at a quilt show. Then I found out they left a white line on my dark fabrics after washing. Now I see someone posted those wash out -- thank you for experimenting. I guess I would have to wash again.

The question about what chemicals are in there which might cause the reappearing line, whether on dark fabric or put in the freezer, is a good one.

In any case, I used a pencil for the markings on my last quilt. Someone had shared a thread about all the stubby pencils her hubby uses to mark. I rubbed it right off without even washing it.

Someone asked, "What is the point of using them?" I guess the point is the point. You can make a precise mark.

My quilts will never go in a show or to a customer. I just sew for myself but I only use the Frixxion pen on the back of the fabric "just in case".

I wonder if that quilt shop could be in Monroeville PA. At the Quilt Expo held out there they had a booth and had those pens "with the same sign" but the reason was, they explained, was that they got a shipment of the right brand but the wrong kind of pen...not the erasable ones. I can't think of the name of the shop but it was very close to the Expo Mart where the Sewing Expo was held. I see you are from PA but not what area. Pat (from Pittsburgh)

thanks for the research. I've seen some pros & cons on these pens, one being about the colder temp bringing back the ink. Very faint, I can live with that.

Glad you shared! When I use my marking pens, I've had excellent luck with it all washing out the first time. I line dry after it's washed - no signs of any markings at all....

Ah ah-you are right, same place same sign, now I know the reason, small world. I live just 15 min. from Expo & that shop, loved the expo-was there every min. it was open & often go to the shop. Since I mostly just have small purchases I try not to interrupt them when they are busy with a customer Are you an ASG member?
Maire

I have used the pens for quite awhile and love them. I do not have a problem after ironing them with the lines still visible. I purchase mine at Staples.

I wonder, if the pen leaves a white trace on dark fabric but then washes out, couldnt that be used for an advantage for marking a dark quilt top?????
shaz