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!!

I've used rubbing alcohol to get rid of accidental ink stains. Success may also depend on how long the marks have been there. I have a quilt that was marked with pencil for quilting--left too long that nothing seems to be going to remove those marks. The suggestion of covering the marks with embroidery may be your only solution.

I would wash after quilting. I have yet to have a stain that the following would not take out: A paste using blue Dawn, Baking Soda and Peroxide. Spray spot(s) with a little water; place blue Dawn on spots, sprinkle with Baking Soda and then spray with peroxide. Rub in with a toothbrush. Leave set for at least an hour or even longer. Repeat after each wash as needed, maybe allowing more set time.

Shout worked for me.

Acetone will likely work. It’s used in labs to clean up all sorts of chemical stuff

finger polish remover is made of acetone and works well for most anything. Also I have some Grandma's secret spot remover which I got at Hobby Lobby which says it will take out ink stains.

Did you try the iron in a small out of the way spot? The disappearing ink with heat pen could be what you have there too.

I successfully removed my young granddaughter's "art" work with a ball point pen from my easy chair with baby wipes, no trace left! She managed to cover a large area in just the few minutes we had our backs turned.

Years ago my husband scratched his back with his ball point pen, he didn't realize it was open. Hair spray got that ink out.

If I remember correctly, many years ago, I would remove ink pen leaks from my white lab coat by soaking the area in milk overnight, then washing. Sounds crazy huh?

I think Carbona makes an ink stain remover. You can usually find it in Walmart or grocery stores in the laundry section.

I use Motsenbockers Liftoff Stain remover products, there are 3 formulations that remove almost everything you can think of including ink. I bought the trial set which has 2 oz bottles of each of the 3, a little goes a long way. Like with any product you want to test in a small area.

Have you tryed Grandma's secret spot remover , I've had luck with this . You can get it at joann's.

good luck :confused:

Lots of good ideas here! I made a baby quilt, probably 5-6 years ago, that I used a ball point for drawing circles, then sewing muslin onto it for a turned appliqué (I'm sure there is a term for this..). I was done with it, quilting and all when I realized that some of the ink was coming through. I saturated it with hair spray and washed it...I think I did that 3 times before it was totally removed. That quilt had a lot of work in it and it was a gift, so was determined to get it fixed!

I started with what I already had, after reading these replies. I did start with the iron when I bought it, but no luck. So I started with Tide, Ajax dish soap, and alcohol. All 3 worked. They all got the ink out. But what I found to be the fastest and easiest with these was to draw over the lines with Tide and a q-tip. Let it sit for a minute or two, then spay lightly with a spray bottle of water, then go over it with a nail brush. Then I washed it on the gentle cycle and hung it to dry. The raveling isn’t too bad, and it is now ready to appliqué, on my next days off. Thank you for all the help.