Remove Lines
 

I have a quilt that someone used a pencil to mark quilting
lines on--and there are a lot of them. What is a good way to remove these lines after it has been quilted?

Pencil lines can be very hard to get out depending on the pencil. Normal pencil graphite doesn't fade much over time either...

I learned to not mark with pencil myself -- I will draw on parchment paper and sew through the paper which can still transfer some of the graphite.

A fabric eraser, they are typically white and hard, can help some. You have to be careful to not scrub so hard you damage the quilting threads. Sometimes just a toothbrush can help get off some marks or improve the area.

There are other things you can do/try if you are willing to wash. Mixtures of a couple drops of Dawn Dishwasher detergent either just thinned with water or with some added ingredients like rubbing alcohol are possible. Even without washing, a light toothbrush scrub with water and a little rubbing alcohol might help (if it dries clear).

I’ve marked many quilts lightly with pencil, I’ve never had a problem with the pencil lines washing out. I launder Every quilt I make right after finishing the binding— to me it is the final step to completion. The marks have always washed out. I do check to make sure when I remove it from the water before putting in the dryer.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I will pass this information on when I return the quilt to the lady that asked me to help quilt it.