Sewline Mechanical Pencil
 

I have been having a hard time lately getting my heat erasable pens to work correctly so I decided to give the Sewline Mechanical Pencil a try. I'm really impressed with how the white is performing, so I'm considering getting the pink and maybe one other darker color, but not sure if I should get the black, has anyone else used it?

I'm hoping to get my sisters DWR going late this summer, I'll be using Muslin (natural or ivory, can't decide which yet) for the background so just trying to get my ducks in a row before I start in on it.

Insight as always is appreciated, hoping everyone is having a great day!

I bought a box of tailors chalk that has white yellow pink and blue and is shaped in a triangle, so far I have not encountered any issues with it not washing out. If you google Tailors Chalk several options come up in Amazon. As with all things, test it on your fabric before hand to make sure you don’t encounter any issues.
And don’t forget to post your DWR when done!

I also use Taylor’s chalk- it’s been used by Taylor’s- seamstresses for generations. It washes out, it’s smooth and I have a sharpener for mine that keeps a nice sharp point. I also use a Sewline mechanical pencil. It works well and I’ve not had problems with white, pink, blue or black leads washing out.

I also like the sewline pencils but have only used them to mark the wrong side of fabric. I've used both the white and black and on the wrong side its great. Don't know how well they work if you are marking on the right side. Not sure about getting it to erase completely. As suggested, whatever you use, test on a scrap first.

I do a lot of hand embroidery and use the Sewline pencil to trace my pattern. Also use it to draw my quilting lines. Washes right out when I launder the quilts. I don't have a problem with the "lead" breaking either as I draw. Also have great success using Crayola Washable pens, fine point

Could I just buy the replacement leads and use in my mechanical pencil?

I use the Sewline pencil all the time. My favorite color is green - it shows up on nearly all fabrics well (except green, of course!) and has always washed out well.

I have read that they can be used in any 0.9mm Mechanical Pencil. Disclaimer here .... I have never tried it, as when they first cam out, I bought a white and green before I learned this. Just make sure it is 0.9 and you should be good to go.

I love these pencils - I've used them for years. I generally use them on the wrong side for piecing but have occasionally used them on the right side and have either used the attached eraser or a damp cloth to remove them.

Yes ..... so long as your mechanical pencil holds the same size of lead.

Ok for those who have the Sewline pencils... I'm wondering if maybe I bought a package that had old leads in it or something. I have a difficult time using them, they seem really hard, they don't write easily at all. I find that I have to either press hard, which distorts the fabric, or I have to go over the line I'm trying to draw repeatedly, which is frustrating and also distorts the fabric. Is this typical?

Amazon has them! The pens and the refills.

Never had trouble with lines easily drawn so maybe yours are old. Don't give up on them, replacement leads aren't too expensive. I think Connecting Threads still carries them.

Something new for me to try. On my way to Amazon to order green! I have used taylor's chalk for many years, maybe 50+ yrs. I started using the heat erasable pens in the last year or so. I have had no trouble with them. I am always open to a new product that does the job well and with good results.

I have the Sewline pencils as well. Love them. Need to get some other colors. Have not had an issue with any of them washing out but have not used the 'black' lead. For that I just use a regular #2 lead in a standard mechanical pencil. Mostly don't have an issue with that but sometimes if I press really hard on a light fabric it takes some effort to get those lines out.

I'm completely in love with my pencils!

I went ahead and ordered a pink and got it yesterday, I love, love, love, love, love it and I'm glad I switched over from the pens. As much as I loved using them, getting them to work lately really has been difficult and after the nightmare I had troubleshooting my machine, I didn't need anything else to stress me out, so I got the Sewline's.

Peckish, it sounds like the leads are old, mine worked like a charm right out of the package. I'd definitely replace the leads and toss the old ones out.

I'll be getting the black next, I'm just nervous about it because I know that sometimes, black can be particularly difficult to remove. I wanted blue but I can't find it on Amazon, but that's okay, I'm fine with black. I'm having no issues with mine coming out at all, I keep forgetting that I'm using pencils instead of pens and when I go over the marks with my iron (I use a lot of steam), the marks come out even after I've ironed.

Yes you can buy the leads. Make sure your mechanical pencil is the correct size. I believe the leads are 9mm and not 7m

However the point of the Sewline (Fons and Porter or Collins or Bohin) pencil may be designed differently than another which makes the lead less likely to break.