Marking stencils on your quilt

[CarolynK]

I've read through a post from last summer and found most who replied use the frixion pens for marking their quilt stencils. I ran across a website called fulllinestencil.com. I'm more inclined to use the pounce chalk marking method over the frixion and wondered if anyone out there uses that method and what do you think about it. Someone remarked in the other thread that there could be a negative side to this but didn't elaborate so I was wondering what you think and why you use the method you choose. Also, there was another method by Nancy's notions to use a stabilizer and mark it then quilt and remove the stabilizer but that looked like more work.

[Vonnie]

I use a refillable chalk pencil and trace a block just before quilting it. It has several colors so I use whatever will show up best. After the quilt is completed, I wash it and it all comes out. I use spray adhesive so I really need to wash it afterwards. That way if someone is sensitive to chemicals they won't have a problem with my quilts. I use All Free and Clear for a detergent.

[Iris Girl]

I use frixion pens to mark with. Have never had an issue of them coming back after they got hot/cold. I love the convenience of iron it away. For black or navy I use pounce whit iron off,its messy and it makes me choke if too much chalk gets on but it does the job when I have to mark dark colors. Again the convenience of iron off is wonderful. I also always wash everything I make when its done, not because I use spray baste, I use pins , but because I want the dirt/lint that accumulates from working and handling a quilt off before giving. Also if any seams are weak I want to know before gifting.

[Sylvia H]

I have been following comments on various marking methods because my next big project will be a whole cloth, queen size quilt. I have decided to use the Golden Threads quilting paper instead of doing any kind of marking. That way, I won't have deal with removal of marking lines after the quilting is finished. (And I really wasn't looking forward to having to mark that size of a quilt!)

For smaller area marking, I have used pounce and also the chalk pencils (Clover brand?) I also like two Sewline pencils - one is removed by erasing or by water, the second disappears after 2 - 10 days of air exposure.

There is some controversy over the use of frixion pens. Evidently heat, or friction, causes the markings to become transparent, but they are still there. Supposedly, extreme cold will eliminate that transparency, and the markings are again visible (and can again be made invisible by heating them). I have also heard concerns about the possibility that the chemical(s) in the pens may cause eventual damage to the fabric. I don't think they have been tested to any degree with fabric.

[Texas Jean]

I saw a YouTube video about the Frixion pens. The girls said that if the temperature falls to 14° the marks will reappear. If the temperature falls to 14° inside my house I will have more to worry about than the marks on my quilts.

[CarolynK]

I have been following comments on various marking methods because my next big project will be a whole cloth, queen size quilt. I have decided to use the Golden Threads quilting paper instead of doing any kind of marking. That way, I won't have deal with removal of marking lines after the quilting is finished. (And I really wasn't looking forward to having to mark that size of a quilt!)

For smaller area marking, I have used pounce and also the chalk pencils (Clover brand?) I also like two Sewline pencils - one is removed by erasing or by water, the second disappears after 2 - 10 days of air exposure.

There is some controversy over the use of frixion pens. Evidently heat, or friction, causes the markings to become transparent, but they are still there. Supposedly, extreme cold will eliminate that transparency, and the markings are again visible (and can again be made invisible by heating them). I have also heard concerns about the possibility that the chemical(s) in the pens may cause eventual damage to the fabric. I don't think they have been tested to any degree with fabric.

I viewed the Golden Threads video and that looks like it would work for me rather than marking the whole quilt. I'm getting ready to quilt a large (queen size) Irish Chain and just really didn't want to do straight line or SID quilting. Thank you!

[Hulamoon]

I saw a YouTube video about the Frixion pens. The girls said that if the temperature falls to 14° the marks will reappear. If the temperature falls to 14° inside my house I will have more to worry about than the marks on my quilts.

...........

[asta]

I tried a pounce and did not like it, lines were fuzzy and it was hard to keep the stencil in place during the process and seemed to be a lot of chalk dust flying around my sewing room. I now use either frixion pend or crayola washable markers.

[JCY]

With FMQ, I seldom use a stencil. I just wing it. If I use a marking pen, it is the blue one that washes out in cold water. I've never had a problem with it washing out. I've never used the pounce & chalk, although I saw it demo's at a quilt show. JCY

[Sylvia H]

I saw a YouTube video about the Frixion pens. The girls said that if the temperature falls to 14° the marks will reappear. If the temperature falls to 14° inside my house I will have more to worry about than the marks on my quilts.

Definitely! However, if you were to mail out a gift quilt, or a charity quilt, in the dead of winter, those markings could easily be showing when the package arrived at its destination.