Quilt Marking Pencil Secret????
 

Is there a secret to sharpening the blue, pink and white water soluble pencils so the lead doesn't break off when you use them? I'm getting tired of trying to mark my quilt holding an eensy tiny bit of pencil lead!

Thank you,
Debbie

I want to know too - I have the hardest time with those - I started using Frixon pens and I love them - never had a problem with the marks not coming out or reappearing.

I wish I knew. They're always great right out of the package, but that first sharpening does something...

Have you tried the gel pens? They go on smoothly, show up well and are removed with the iron. I love them.

I only used my Clover Blue Water Soluble pencil for the first time on my last quilt, and it worked so well I bought two more to have on hand. I never had a problem like you are describing. I wonder if it's the pencil sharpener? I just used the one that came in a package with a mixed set of General Chalk marking pencils, so maybe there is something different about it so I sharpens chalk pencils as opposed to lead type. Just a thought. I really have no idea, but I didn't have that problem and I used my pencil down to a two inch nub.

Oh, I forgot about the Cover Blue pencils, I like those too.

I have always used the slim line Clover chalk but I haven't seen them in the store anymore. NEVER use the yellow or the blue because those colors don't come off as nicely as the white does.

I use one of the old, little hand held pencil sharpeners on my marking pencils (the ones like on a crayon box - that you would put in a child's pencil box) I found my wonderful *big* pencil sharpener just seems to eat them up. I do often use a mechanical pencil with the fine point ceramic leads - but there are times the regular pencil is the way to go.

When I use a hand held pencil sharpener, I turn the sharpener, not the pencil. That way the point doesn't break off in the sharpener. I also try and make sure I don't drop the pencil on a hard surface.

Janet

I use an electric sharpener and the tip doesn't break off. I doubt the company hand sharpens the pencils. I use General and Roxanne's marking pencils. I use Frixion pens for the lighter fabrics.