I've a question that am hoping someone can answer. Several months ago, I bought a pair of water erasable pens, 1 blue, 1 white. I used the blue a bit to design for practicing FMQ and I used the white to mark designs on another quilt for hand quilting, a block at a time. I got 7 blocks done, a bit of FMQ practice done and then put the pens aside for the next 2 months to work on The Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt. A few days ago, I went back to my other projects and I cannot get either one of the water erasable pens to give forth any ink. I'm assuming they've dried up, but the caps were on and it seems a bit absurd that they dried up in 2 months' time so I've decided I'll not be buying any more of those. Have any of you had your WEPs dry up if you don't use them regularly?

tho I don't use them regularly, I've also had problems with them drying out and don't purchase them any more.

I have one that I have been using off/on for a couple of years...

Mine tend to dry out too even with the top on them. I just bought Fons and Porter chalk and really like how it works.

I keep my marking pens in a zip-lock bag when I'm not using them and try to store that with the "business ends" down - seems to help some, but I've also found the F & P white marking pencils work very well (also available in grey if you need).

Wow! That's amazing. I wonder if the brand is a factor.

I've bought so many marking tools that are useless or virtually useless that I've lost count, so I'm frustrated and really leery about buying anything new. When I couldn't get my pens to write the other day, I used white artist chalk on a black quilt block. I'll be interested to see how well that comes off when I get the quilting done. I have loads of both white and blue artist chalk. If it comes off o.k., I can use it whenever I use templates; I suspect it is too fat for freehand drawing. I also have tiny chalk sticks and a special holder for them, but they are too flimsy and break at the least little pressure put on them, so that's one of the virtually useless items in my collection.

yep, they dry out. i bought a $6.50 clover iron off one and it was dry right out of the package!!! i'm still trying to get a refund from them.

I wonder if they actually dry up or if they just don't have muck ink to start with, I use my blue often and they don't last long

I wonder if their shelf life is indicated anywhere on the packaging or if the supplier even keeps track of shelf life. I have had some that seem to last forever and others peter out after a short life.

My pens dried up also. I also bought some fabric glue sticks from JoAnn that were dried up right out of the package. I threw away the first time it happened but then it happened again and I got my money back. I won't buy them again.