Frixion gel pens for light fabrics-- the marks stay until you iron them away. And they REALLY work! Come in a variety of colors so there's plenty to choose from. For dark color fabrics I go back to my SewLine markers. The lines hold pretty well. One of my friends took a clover chaco marker removed their chalk powder and put in the pounce iron off powder. She says it marks fine and likes that it irons away when she's done. Since I still have plenty of refills for my Sewline, I haven't tried that yet.

I use all of them, depending on need. However, I also have a ceramic pencil and a silver pencil which show up best on dark fabrics and I think I use them the most.

Bohin marking pencil with different color leads that can be changed to what I need. I used a machincial pencil for years until I discovered this one. writes across the fabric without dragging.

another vote for chalk.

Disapearing ink on light and No.2 pencil on dark

For dark fabrics I like the Clover White marking pen. It disappears by ironing or washing. For light fabrics, I have the Fons and Porter chalk pen or Clover Charco markers (the one where you add powder chalk inside and it has roller to distribute the chalk. I don't really like the washable blue markers I'm afraid it won't wash out

Water soluble ink (marker)is the best, but expensive. Tried with a water soluble pencil but it wasn't soluble at all. I sometimes use a very cheap Bic pencil and it washes away easily.

For DARK fabrics I use any of the following and the last two come with different color lead so I'm sure there are colors that would work on LITE fabric:

The Clover White Marking pen (fine) - irons out.
Sewline Pencil (has refill lead like a Pentel) - washes out
Bohin (French) Crayon (fine) (just like Sewling Pencil) - " "

I use these because there is always a sharp tip - without having to sharpen anything.

I love the new pens that disappear when you iron them. They come in several colors and work great.

I hate the pounce. Maybe its just me ,but I make a mess with it.