I use whatever little soap bars come from hotels. DH used to travel a lot and he'd bring them home for me. I use a box cutter to shave a nice, sharp point on them. I've never had a problem with staining, and have a LOT of bars stored up to use!

Cindi, that's a great thrifty tip! Wonder if the soap would lubricate the needle as it passes thru the stitching line...remember storing open diaper pins in a bar of soap and rubbing them in our hair to ease piercing cloth diapers? Or is my age showing? Lol!

A long arm quilter that does show quilts uses school chalk, white only. She then vacuums it off with a dust buster.