What's the best way to mark quilting designs?
 

I know this may sound elementary to many of you more experienced quilters, however, I struggle with this. I have a 2-sided pen that I can use to mark designs, but one end disappears too quickly and the other end seems to be a pain to get out. So then I have tried chalk, like the kind I used to use in 4-H to mark patterns years ago; but that doesn't come out easily either. I would appreciate any guidance you can give me. Happy New Year everyone! :-)

I really like the new gel frixon pens. The line disappears when you iron it. It will come back if it gets to about 14 degrees, but then it will iron away again. The orange shows up on black.

I mostly use tailor's chalk. My quilting methods have changed through the years, but I always have a use for tailor's chalk. I freehand rather than stencil, but need marks for guidance, so this is what works for me. You can buy inexpensive flat triangles of chalk, or use it in a mechanical pencil. Works great.

I'm probably not explaining this well, but if you google tailors chalk, You will see what I'm talking about.

i design or trace a design i like then put a large sewing needle into my sewing machine, set for a med-large st length and sew around the designs with no thread, piercing the paper. If the pattern seems to be a good one or one I especially like, I cover both sides with clear contact paper to make them last...and of course, in that case, you have to sew after the plastic application. Then you buy chalk powder or (use what you have, like me, and clean out your pencil sharpener and sharpen all the white chalk to a powder), ... put pattern on square, use makeup brush to get the chalk in the holes and go...the chalk will be such a small dot that most of it will disappear while you are quilting. I have never had any luck with colored chalk as it does not come out easily... but a friend recently told me that she mixed one light blue stick of chalk with 2 whites and it showed up enough to use on white but still came out. play with your patterns, use a piece here and a corner there... and then make a line of them ... they will all blend well that way...

That's my preference too!! I'll have to try the orange on dark.........I tried the pink but didn't show up. Kudos to the person on the board awhile back who said she uses slivers of soap. Works wonderful on dark fabric!

I use powdered chalk and a sponge brush (not the pounce pad) for marking stencils. I have used micron pens and sharpies when the lines won't show -- I like the silver chalk pencil for many fabrics.

I still have my tailer chalk from my old days of dress making. It stays untill I wash it out. I tryed the gel frixion (sp?) pens do not like them. used it on a throw that was destoned for a car, Ironed out great, quilt went into car, got down into the 30's that night, The lines came back, who want's to Iron quilts? not me! LOL

Lately I have been using Crayola washable markers. Just besure to not use an iron and to wash it two times on hot with soap. At times I also use special pencils but they tend to break.

I have used the crayola markers too. I made a heirloom christening gown, and marked the center in yellow. I just know it didn't come out. I must have ironed it. I have used a sharp mechanical pencil too. On light colored fabric it works well. In applique by the time you get the piece appliqued a great deal has already worn off. I got a frixon pen for christmas and am looking forward to using it. I took a Shar Pederson class at quilt festival and it was on navy fabric. She had a white pen that we used--i would have to go and see if I can find it to tell you the name, but when you iron it it comes off. I have used silver water color pencils (and yellow) for marking quilts on black. It works well.

I think it best to experiment and try different methods and see what works best for you. Chalk for me doesn't last very long, so I try and do this right before I quilt.
Oh, and I also got a mechcanical pencil that erases as well as washing out.

try "Multi-Pastel Chalk Pencils" from General Pencil Co in white and light grey
Also the ceramic mechanical pencil (Fons and Porter, Sewline, Collins) in white
A slection of colors from Bohin - but in white

I recommend avoiding colors as some have lots of color pigment in them and difficult to come out.
Everyone has their favorite and I don't believe there is one "best" markeer because often what works for one person doesn't work for another.

"Multi-Pastel Chalk Pencils" from General Pencil Co in white and light grey

I like these the best for this type of products but they are hard to find. Amazon does cary them.

I like regular chalk board chalk. I sharpen the end with a crayon sharpener to get a fine line. Just be careful of the colored chalk because it may not come out, check the color on the same fabric as the quilt each time before using colors.

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. Guess I will have to go shopping for some different kinds of marking tools.

I like the wash out blue pens and the dissapearing ink pens best.
I have the chalk squares but they dont work with stencils. Pounce only works on some fabrics but wont show on others if they are light colors so is a problem on quilts with mixed colors. The blue pounce isnt much better. It does help to lightly wet the fabric with water before you pounce.

I just used a frixion pen to mark my quilt - quilted it...threw it in the machine to wash but all the lines did not come off. Now question? If I dry it in the dryer and then iron, will the lines come off? I don't think I will ever use this pen again. (It would have helped if I'd have know about the ironing before I threw it in the wash.) Any suggestions?