Marking quilting lines

[kelliedi]

Ok so I'm making a dresden plate with points, not rounded and have about decided to machine quilt it with lines either coming out to the points or in between the points(the valley?) like sunbeams. What do i use to make the lines so that when i sew with machine it is straight? Pencil? laundry marker? keep in mind the background color will be light in color( I think?) all input is appreciated. kellie

[coffeebreak]

I recently bought (I think from here ) a marker pen (looks like a highlighter). You mark whatever you need to and then sew. Then...spritz with a little water, and lay the iron on top and abracadabra!!!! In seconds the line is gone! Works great. I just this week used it on making a star to top stitch in the square center of a larger pieced star. Worked great...and the pen was bright green and the fabric was white! I highly recommend that! I also used this same pen with a stencil...and it worked great.

[kelliedi]

thanks Cheri that is what i was wanting to know ....kellie

[DCM]

A word of caution -- I used a light blue chalk pencil that was supposed to wash out and I still saw faint lines occasionally on my light pink quilt top -- I rewashed after treating the lines with stain remover. Also, I've never used the markers that disappear with heat but I have read online that sometimes the lines can faintly return. Whatever you use, the lightest line you can use and still see to quilt on the better. If you are too heavy with chalk or pencil it may not all wash out. I've heard ladies lament about this at my local quilt shop at classes, too. They usually felt they just pressed too hard with the chalk or pencil.

[kelliedi]

thanks sooo much Dawn it is a light pink fabric too ..kellie

[judylg]

I picked up some of the Frixion Pens, once ironed the mark disappears, I do hear it comes back when cold. I try to use one that is similar to the color I am sewing on. It sure is nice. Maybe someone else will have more experience than I with these pens. I like them and going to pick up a few more colors.

[Denis]

the best chalk for marking lines is called Miracle Chalk. It comes in a powder form, or a small bar of soap ( like you get in hotel/motels), or a stick. You only need to apply steam and it comes completely out. I actully pass my hot iron over it and it workds that way too. At this point it only comes in white and works great on dark fabrics. I emailed them awhile back and asked if they had a chalk for light fabrics. Thye were working on it but were not happy with the results they were getting and wouldn't release it untul they were 100% satisfied. And of course, here is a video on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfhfkVTvQ-0

There are other versions of the same thing available now but cant remember the names but have seen them often either in stores or various websites.

[Cat n bull]

I picked up some of the Frixion Pens, once ironed the mark disappears, I do hear it comes back when cold. I try to use one that is similar to the color I am sewing on. It sure is nice. Maybe someone else will have more experience than I with these pens. I like them and going to pick up a few more colors.

I just used a Frixion pen, so far no marks have re-appeared. Just how cold does it have to be for the marks to come back? I will be pretty unhappy if the lines reappear!

It is an awesome pen! (at least it is if the lines really do stay away!)

Ok- I just freaked out about Frixion pens lines re-appearing- so I looked it up and the ink will reappear on paper if you put the paper in the freezer.

So I stuck my experimental piece of fabric in the freezer- the piece I used to test the pen a few days ago.

No ink reappeared! Then I rinsed the piece in cold water and stuck it in the freezer. Crispy frozen fabric very FREE of ink lines.

So- this pen ROCKS! You can draw and test out whatever kind of design you'd like to on your quilt, and with just the touch of an iron it disappears! I used a black pen on yellow fabric and there is not even a trace of ink left on the fabric or the thread.

[kelliedi]

Thanks so much for the research Cathryn now i know what to do. kellie

[lilmouse]

I have those pens and love them