Removing ink from quilt top
 

I enjoy the challenge of picking up UFO quilt tops from the thrift store to fix and finish. This one looks very well paper pieced. The problem is, the maker drew a design in the center square of each block with an ink pen. I have no idea what she was planning, but I would like to either appliqué or embroider something in those spots, but the design goes all the way out to the corner of each square. It would show no matter what I put in the center. I’ve looked at various ways of removing ink from fabric, but they all include washing and I don’t want to wash the top before it’s quilted if I can avoid it. And I don’t want to quilt it then find out I can’t get the ink out. Any suggestions? Thanks for the help.

The ink may be the reason you found this in the thrift store.

I just finished quilting a quilt that was marked in ink on every block. It was made in the early 1980's by my MIL. So it has taken me this long to get up nerve enough to quilt it. I quilted on my sit down machine when time allowed. I read somewhere to use Club Soda, but I have not tried this method yet. I know that hair spray sometimes will take out ink, but I don't know if this will work on fabric. It sure did on my ruler, there aren't any marks left at all, all the numbers are also gone. As of yet I haven't tried anything yet to remove the ink. So hoping someone has some ideas what will work.

I have a friend who did that with what she thought was a washable pen. She was marking for her quilting lines. If you were in Florida, I would think it was hers. If the ink is a suitable color for the quilt, maybe you could just quilt over the lines in the same color thread.

I agree with Tartan-do a small spot with Q tip. I have heard that hairspray is a good way to get out ink but you are not sure of the kind of ink it is right?

I think it is the rubbing alcohol in the hairspray that removes the ink. Try isopropyl alcohol, it will be cheaper.

Hairspray doesn't work anymore. The chemical that removed ink was taken out due to environmental concerns. Oxiclean in a tube might work.

I know you won't know what kind of pen it was, but if it was a gel pen, there is nothing you can do that will get that out, ask me how I know.

I think the easiest way of finishing this quilt is to use Toverley's idea. Just quilt over the lines with a similar colour. Who will ever know that that it was not meant to be that way? Voila! Fixed and finished!!