Disappearing markers, chalk pencils, mechanical pencils or pounce pads? What works best and which ones stay where you put them and then (more importantly) come out when they are supposed to come out? The topic of marking quilts is just as confusing as the topic of which thread to use! I'm also guessing that there are just as many preferences for marking quilts as the kind of quilting thread to use, so let's hear it...what is your favorite method for marking quilts?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Marking Methods
Disappearing markers, chalk pencils, mechanical pencils or pounce pads? What works best and which ones stay where you put them and then (more importantly) come out when they are supposed to come out? The topic of marking quilts is just as confusing as the topic of which thread to use! I'm also guessing that there are just as many preferences for marking quilts as the kind of quilting thread to use, so let's hear it...what is your favorite method for marking quilts?
13 comments:
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The blue pens that wash away work the best for me. I have purchased all kinds of chalk/graphite/etc. markers and haven't had much luck with them. I did a queen-sized black and white quilt and I had so much trouble marking it that I ended up marking the quilting design on Press & Seal and quilting through that and then tearing it away.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to hear everyone's comments on this subject too!
ReplyDeleteI also have tried them all and think the blue wash out pens are the best .I've never had a problem washing the blue out and also use them to transfer embroidery designs .
ReplyDeleteDefinitely The Fine Line water soluble blue marking pen for light fabrics.
ReplyDeleteFor dark fabrics, either a soapstone marker or sewline ceramic pencil.
Whatever you do, don't use a chacopel pencil. If you forget to brush it out and get the marks wet, they are as good as permanent.
Just my opinion though!
Leah Day
I like the water blue pen but whatever you do don't iron the blue pen marks before rinsing. I prefer chalk but that is if I mark as I go.
ReplyDeleteDitto the blue pens, but I haven't found anything to use that I like when marking darks. I have only had the pen stay in one item, a muslin for a summer blouse. I had ironed it...so don't do that!!!! I would love to hear what you all do for darks, and blues.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
KT
Susan, whats pounce pad?
ReplyDeleteI use the blue wash away pen or fine mechanical pencil.
hugs Deb
Miracle Chalk in a clover roller...it gives you freedom to change your mind, with the swipe of a steam iron your marks are gone and you're ready to start all over...
ReplyDeleteI haven't had any trouble with the blue pen, the purple ones that disappear on their own usually disappear before I'm done so that ticks me off...:0- and for quilting designs I try to just use chalk then I can brush it off either to adjust markings or when I'm done quilting
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try a Sewline pencil this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm concerned with the pens that the markings may not disappear 100% or that they may come back.
For straight lines the hera marker is the BOMB! After that the blue water soluble pen is what I use.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I too have struggled with the issue of which pen, pencil or marker to use to mark my applique shapes and my quilting lines. I keep coming back to the Prismacolor Verithin Pencils in White or Metallic Silver. They can sharpened to make a nice fine line, and the marks can be erased or will come out in the wash. I always to try to make a faint line, and given the fact that I hand quilt without a hoop, by the time I've quilted over a line it pretty much has disappeared. The pencils can sometimes be difficult to find in quilt shops. But they are available online. I've bought them from www.dickblick.com or www.misterart.com . Well, I've rambled more than enough. That's just my two cents on quilt marking. I hope that someone finds it helpful. Happy Quilting! Jay (one of that rare breed, "the male quilter")
ReplyDeleteAfter many years of marking mishaps, per Harriet Hargrave's advice, I finally switched to Caran D'ache silver and gold pencils. I purchase these by the dozen through Pearl's Art Supply. I use only the silver or the gold. The other colors have pigments which can get embedded in the fabric.
ReplyDelete