I don't know if anyone else marks an entire quilt top with chalk before they start quilting and has success with it, but i would expect it to rub off. I just mark as i go and it works fine. I think that is a good tip about dampening the fabric before you use the chalk. I bet it would work nicely. When correctly used, the pounce is not messy. Once you fill the container with the chalk and get it flowing it is fine. Just remember not to do anything but SWIPE the chalk pad over the stencil. It should really be called the swipe!