dahlshouse

I am doing some applique on baby quilts and would like to draw in details in my designs aside from stitching them. I am thinking of using the Micron pens and see that they need to be heat set after 24hours to make them permanent. Has anyone done this and did they work well or do you have a better suggestion... I know since these are baby quilts that they will be laundered a lot..

ManiacQuilter2

That is interesting. I have used Pigma micron pens for a very long time and never knew there was heat setting.

tessagin

Going to wait and see comments from those who have used them. I am always leery about using ink, but that's because I get it all over me. Sorry, I'm no help.

Doggramma

I've never heat set the Micron pen marks either. The ink seems to hold up well with washing. I use it on my quilt labels.

jjs56

I've used the pens for my labels and did heat set the ink, but, over the years, the ink has faded to the point of being gone.

Bree123

Micron pens are so-so. There was a post here a while ago about using pens for signature quilts. It referenced Peckish's blog where she tested a bunch of pens: http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com/ You'll need to scroll down a couple posts to November 15, 2015 for "The Great Signature Pen Debate" post.

Personally, I prefer Inktense pencils, but you need to set those with a medium & wait for 7 days before washing. You can use aloe or fabric medium. I've found that fabric medium gives slightly more saturated results. A little goes a long way. They sell 3 oz bottles at craft stores (Michael's, HL, JAF) or art supply stores. I've found a limited supply of the InkTense pencils at HL, but mostly I get mine from Dick Blick. You can order multipacks or just a single pencil in a single color. They also make InkTense blocks (look like pastels or charcoals) that you can get slightly wet & "paint" onto the fabric. That makes for a lovely watercolor effect.

soccertxi

I like fabric markers. I find them in Michaels or Hobby Lobby by the tshirts and tshirt paint. One brand I can remember is Tee Juice. I cannot remember if it needs to be heat set. They last better than anything else I have used.

I made a label years ago on a friends' quilt with a Sharpie and heat set it...you can still see the ink, but no way you can READ it.

dahlshouse

Thank you for the information everyone... I also found Tulip fabric pens... was wondering about these too, I'm not worried about them fading, just don't want bleeding

Bree123

I wouldn't worry about them bleeding. Ink is the easiest thing to get out of a quilt. Worst case scenario, just spray it with a bit of hairspray, gently rub & send it through the wash. It will come out completely unless it's been set with a medium (in which case, it's definitely not going to run). I think I bought the most expensive 3oz fabric medium at HL & it was $2.99 -- plus I had a 40% off coupon so it turned out to be $1.49. If you want to be absolutely sure it won't run or bleed, that's what I'd go with.