I've seen the hard plastic stencils for quilts, they have the pattern punched out of the plastic. How do you mark your quilts with it?
I used a "quilt pencil" the other day to free hand a pattern, and I was NOT impressed with it. It really didn't want to mark the fabric. Had to push super hard. Then I tried chalk, that wasn't any better.
What do you guys use?

Some people use the Pounce Pad with chalk and have good results. I do freehand so I don't have experience with it.

Deb just posted some great tips on this thread:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-161849-1.htm

She uses baby powder instead of chalk, in the pouncer and sometimes applies it with a foam brush.

I watched a video where the Longarm Quilter said she rubs the Pounce on the stencil, instead of pouncing.

I use a #2 mechanical pencil. It works on all but the very darkest fabrics and I've never had an issue with it not washing out of any fabrics.

I also have a set of the mechanical chalk pencils - the thick ones - and they seem to work quite well also. I have a white thin one (Bohin) that seems to work okay on the very dark fabrics.

Could never get the pounce thing to work well and the other 'quilting' pencils and markers I've tried are just taking up space in various places in my house.

Her tips also said she uses Pastel Chalk pencils. She said you'd have to wash your quilt to remove the pastel chalks though. I'm going to try to find some and see how they work.

That "bug" (duplicate/triplicate posting) seems to be hitting different people on different days.
:lol: :lol:

I just discovered spray chalk! It's great!! works like spray paint and marks your quilt very quickly and easily. It washes right out, too. In the quilting tools section at Joann's and it comes in white or light blue. kind of expensive, so I use my coupons on it. But what a time and hassle saver. I also use Chacoliners. They are a chalk marking tool that has ground chalk inside and a little wheel at the end that dispenses it as you roll it along your fabric. Much easier to use than a chalk pencil.

I trace onto tissue paper, pin it on and stitch and then tear the paper away.

I was just at the lqs and they had new pens for fabric. Fine point, and friction from the rubber tip or heat from a iron will remove it. They showed me how it works and I was impressed. They have three colors.

these are the Frixion Pens..do a search here on QB and read all the reasons why you should NOT be using these on your quilts!

[quote=kuseta]I just discovered spray chalk! It's great!! works like spray paint and marks your quilt very quickly and easily. It washes right out, too. In the quilting tools section at Joann's and it comes in white or light blue. kind of expensive, so I use my coupons on it. ]

How well does it stay on while quilting? Sounds really interesting!

spray chalk...sorry..but anything that is a SPRAY usually means there is a propellant in there to make it spray..that means a petroleum based product is going onto your cotton fabric...never a good mixture!

The only thing I've read is not to freeze the ink mark or it will reappear. Is there more than this?

So, if the quilt gets too cold you have to heat it again? That might surprise someone who has received a quilt.

Shouldn't have responded about the pen on this thread...sorry.
Actually am looking forward to responses about the stencils. They are a bit awkward for me, especially when it comes to the corners. Maybe I just need to "lighten up" and be more creative.

Multi-Pastel chalk pencils can be obtained in LQS, Art Supply Stores and www.quiltingstencils.com

Ponce Chalk with holder

I've always used the wash-out markers. They are blue and work on most colors. For really dark fabrics I use a white marking pencil, but don't like them really well - have to sharpen often.

I just ordered the pounce iron off...I was not impressed with the regular pounce powder. It rubs off it was a pain. I am hoping the iron one will work better.

I never had any luck with the chalk pencils but I use regular chalk and sharpen it with a little pencil sharpener. I like yellow and green. I stay away from red. I have not had any problems with then washing out and it will stay in until I am completed with project.

I use stencils and pounce/chalk pen. When I use the chalk I try to quilt it right away and wash it. Seems like if you leave the chalk on too long it is harder to get out.

My favorite marking pens....and they now have Frixion pens in pink!

I use a Sewline (like a mechanical pencil) from my LQS. It uses 9mm lead which can be purchased in different colors. I've never had any problems.

Well just what do you use if anything???

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Children's Crayola washable markers work well...wash out easily...and come in lots of colors to show on any fabric

Does anyone use a soap-based pencil?

Wow I like that idea. I have lots of stencil books and this sounds like it would work. I tried the lightbox but the blue pen always drags. Thanks for a tip for me to try. Plus I bet you can do this after you pinned your quilt.

Love this idea !!

Dissapearing ink pens work very well but you do have a limited time to work with it before it dissapears.
Also use the Washable Wonder Marker that is blue and washes out in water.
Ive tried so many different pens but most are just to hard to make a mark with.
Pounce works well with the mesh stencils.

I use the blue wash-away fine tip pen to mark. I had a stencil just yesterday that I wanted to use for my border. It was very light and flimsy plastic, so I pinned it in place and THEN used my marking pen. Took a little longer as I had to keep pinning it and moving it, but I got what I wanted! Most stencils are a little more firm and in that case I just hold it, mark, and move on. I love the blue marking pen....just use my spray bottle when I'm done and it's gone!

Sannianni tried pencils and stencils. I've also tried both.

Wouldn't it be better to use on iron-on design, or a quilt-size stencil (so we wouldn't have to keep replacing and mis-matching the design)? If we applied either of these to the back before sandwiching, would that work?

You can tell I'm very new to this art. I don't even know if either of these products exist! If they do, please tell me where I can purchase them, especially the iron-on design.

Me too and I have found this works best for me since I am still in the learning process of FMQ.

Oh! Y'all are talking about machine quilting?

I meant for hand-quilting. I machine piece all my tops and hand quilt it all together.

I use the Ultimate pencil made just for quilts or the Berol silver or white marking pencils. They all wash out very easy. I hand quilt all my quilts.

I use water soluble pens. I also bought a stencil burner at JoAnns. Haven't used it yet. I have such nice patterns in a notebook. I want to burn them onto the stencil plastic so that I can use them on my quilts. Not a huge selection of stencils to buy.

So, it looks like everyone's drawing directly onto the fabric, right?

Is there no such thing as an iron-on quilt back design? Am I the only one who even desires such a thing? It just seems like it would be much quicker, easier and more accurate to iron the design on than to trace it. You know, like those Aunt Martha iron-on embroidery transfers.

Jazz, this would seem like such a good idea. Wonder why it hasn't been done?

A pounce is the very best , fastes and easiest to mark with stencils

http://www.keepsakequilting.com/prod...FQY1hwodrCDNoQ