Marking Your Territory

Most of the time my quilting blog has lots of pictures of quilts.  I find that quilts and quilters are my biggest source of inspiration.  They spur me on to finish my projects and try new ideas and patterns.

However, often I write about the basics of quilting.  No matter how complex and beautiful a quilt is, it really is only as good as the attention paid to the basics.  If quarter-inch seams and color selection are largely ignored, then the project, no matter how wonderful it seems to be, is never as good as it could have been.

So…today is one of those back-to-the-basic blogs.  I’m talking about how you mark your territory.

In other words, how and what do you use to mark the fabric in your quilt blocks?  I’m not talking about what you use to mark your top in preparation for quilting.  I’m highlighting (get it…highlighting…it’s a marking joke…) what you use to mark blocks for half-square triangles, or that quarter-inch mark for set in seams, or the background for your applique piece. 

A glance at the notions wall of your local quilt shop or fabric store, or at notions page in a quilt catalog will almost overwhelm a person.  There are so many choices…how do you know which to use?  All of them are generally broken down into markers, pens, pencils, and chalk.  There are a couple outside of this range, but not many.  I haven’t used all of the marking tools, but between nearly 30 years of garment sewing and quilting, I have used a number of them. 

Wash Away Pens

 

The wash-away pens are one of the marking tools produced by several sewing notions companies.  These generally come in blue and will fade away when misted with water from a spray bottle or iron.  They resemble fine-tipped markers and are wonderful to use.  However, just like a bad haircut can come back to haunt you, the marks can re-appear over time.  It’s very important that if you decide to use these markers, make sure to wash your quilt top in cold water after it’s completed.  And take care not to heat-set them.  The quality of the wash-away markers varies with manufacturer, so a quick Google search may be a great idea to do before purchasing.

Air Soluble Pens

The first cousin to the wash-away pens is the air-soluble pen.  These usually come in purple so you can tell them apart from their blue relatives.  The marks left by these pens disappear over a period of time.  That time frame can be 24-hours, 48-hours, or even less, depending on the brand.  Be sure to read the back of the packaging to know exactly what’s your deadline.  Like the wash-away pens, be sure to wash your quilt top in cold water and don’t heat set.  Normally, since I never know if I can get back to a project in 24-hours or less, I don’t use the air soluble pen unless I’m heading directly to the sewing machine or cutting mat.

Pink, Blue, and White Fabric Pencils

 

If you purchase a pre-packaged bundle of beginning quilting or sewing supplies, invariably it will come with a blue, white, or pink marking pencil.  These also work very well; again just make sure you wash them completely out of your fabric.  One word of caution, don’t sharpen them to a really sharp point.  This may put a hole in your fabric.  A rounded-tip works just as well.

The Dreaded Yellow Marking Pencil

However, beware of the dreaded yellow marking pencil.  Some of you may remember that I caved into peer pressure decided to try wool and flannel applique this year.  The backgrounds for these were very dark, so I grabbed the yellow-leaded pencil in my sewing basket that had probably been there since high school and used it.  To my complete and utter horror, it didn’t wash out.  It faded a little, but it did not go away.  Some clever embroidery hid it well, but that yellow is for all means and purposes, a permanent part of those projects. 

Since I have found myself working with dark backgrounds, the next few marking pencils also have the option of either white lead or white lead refills.

There are several types of mechanical marking pencils on the market and I honestly can’t say which one I prefer.  I like all of them, but my two favorites are Fons' and Porter’s and Sewline’s.  Both products offer white and gray lead and erasers with the pencils.  Sewline even offers green lead and pink lead and more eraser options. 

Fons' and Porter's Mechanical Pencil and Refills

 

Sewline's Mechanical Pencil Set that I would love to find in my Christmas stocking and their eraser refills

 

To my knowledge, Roxanne has not introduced mechanical pencils, but does offer their own line of pencils which, like their sewing needles, is wonderful.  They come in silver and white and are ph balanced – which means they are guaranteed to wash out and not leave any remaining marks at all either now or in the future.  I have found the lead to be softer in these pencils and would recommend using a hand-held pencil sharpener (Roxanne has their own brand, but any kind will work) instead of an electric or rotary pencil sharpener.

Roxanne's White and Silver Pencils with Sharpener

Chalk has always been an option to use as a marking tool.  And as a former teacher, I can say I pilfered many chalk stubs away from my classroom before white boards became the rage.  The tiny stubs were far too short to use on a blackboard, but were the perfect size to file down with an Emory board to a point and use on my quilts.  It was free and it washed out – what more could I ask for?

Now there are chalk wheels and chalk pencils that come in different colors and are perfect for light or dark backgrounds.  Clover even makes a liquid chalk marker that is fine-tipped and works great with wool applique.  Again, make sure you wash it out completely – especially blue chalk.  For some reason, that color is the most difficult to rinse away.

Clover's Liquid Chalk Pen

 

The last few two marking tools are not really made for fabric – and you really need to keep that in mind.  Prisma makes colored pencils that I have used in a pinch when nothing else has worked.  These pencils are generally not found in quilt or fabric stores but can be found in art supply stores and hobby stores.  The pencils will wash out.  Please do not confuse the Prisma pencils with the Prisma pens.  The Prisma pens can be found in quilts stores, as they are fine-tipped and used to mark templates and to sign quilt labels.  Once heat set, these will not wash out. 

Prisma Pencils

 

Frixion Pens are the new kids on the block.  These are found in office supply stores and I have seen them in local quilt shops.  And they have stirred up quite a debate – to the point that the manufacturer had to finally state that they were not made to mark on fabric. 

Frixion Pens come in a wide variety of colors and the ink disappears with heat – from an iron or an eraser.  They were manufactured in such a way that the ink disappears from paper by way of the heat from the friction of an eraser.

Frixion Pen Set

They were never meant to be used on fabric and the ink disappears with the heat of an iron.

Do I use them in quilting?

Yes.  For certain tasks they are ideal.  I mark half-square triangles (most of the mark will be cut away anyway), quarter inch seams, and centers.  These are tiny areas that even if the ink does come back, it won’t be noticeable – especially since I mark centers and quarter-inch seam intersections with tiny dots. 

Would I mark the background of an applique block with them?

Absolutely not.  Too many marks that may come back and haunt you.  And if the fabric is exposed to cold, the marks will return.  So I would not use them to mark applique backgrounds, applique pieces, or quilt tops.

But to have a marking tool I could pull out of my purse and use to write my grocery list or mark a half-square triangle at quilt bee?  Frixion wins.

However, I have to admit, my very favorite marking tool of all times is this little guy….

 

A #2 pencil.  Especially the mechanical ones.  Easily found (even if you’re traveling), easily washed out, and easy on the wallet.  You can’t beat it.


Please note I am not employed by any of the above mentioned manufacturers nor do I receive any type of payment or product for my endorsements.  The products I mention in my blog I have used myself and either like them or dislike them due to my own experience.  Your experience may be different -- and if it is, I'd love to hear from you.