template pencils

[kedron]

Hi, My name is Cheryl and I live in Brisbane Australia.
I am a newbie to quilting and have attempted a single bed sized quilt with help and guidance from the tutorials from Jenny and the other girls. Up until now I have been having a wonderful time. BUT this morning I sharpened my new template pencil and started drawing my quilting design ready for sewing. As an afterthought I checked to make sure that it would really rub off with a damp tissue as stated on the packaging. No way could I remove it. I also tried an eraser and a spot of washing up detergent. Of course it would be on the white bits. Please can someone tell me where I went wrong and what to do.
Cheers - Cheryl

[debinmalaga]

Re: template pencils

Hi Cheryl! Welcome to the forum, and I'm so sorry to hear about your mishap. The only "template pencils" I have seen were (my understanding) for drawing on the plastic templates, not for marking fabric. For fabric you would need a marker or pencil made just for fabric. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you but I'm not sure how to remove the mark, hopefully someone else will chime in with some advice.

[toggpine]

Re: template pencils

Did you try warm water and letting it soak for a bit?
If you have the package or the name of the manufacturer you might try calling them to see exactly how they suggest you remove it.
A lot of quilters use chalk for drawing on their designs. You can actually sharpen the sticks of regular chalk board chalk and use them like a pencil.

[SuzyQue]

Re: template pencils

Thanks for that tip about chalkboard chalk, Toggpine! I have tried many types of pencils and markers and haven't settled on one that I like yet. I will try this! Will every color brush off ok? I love the idea of having different choices of color, but want to know what would be safe to use! What is the best way to sharpen chalk? .....a pencil sharpener? Wow----my mind is racing now! Thanks! SuzyQue

[toggpine]

Re: template pencils

I don't know about the colors, although the chalkboard type seems to come off OK from my daughter's clothes.
We let her draw on the dark construction paper with the chalk. Much easier to clean up than markers and crayons when letting a toddler learn how to color. It was fairly light and mostly brushed off, and a trip through the washer got it all out.
I guess you would have to see what pencil size opening the chalk would fit into. I'd try to find one of the sharpeners that has multiple size holes. I think the last time I sharpened chalk I used one of the wall mounted hand crank types. It was quite a few years ago that I did that. My guess is that you can also use the sharp edge and work it around to keep a fairly good point on it.

I can tell you that the super bright sidewalk chalk from Crayola did not come out of my daughters clothes very easily this summer. I really doubt that you would try to use that for quilting, but just a FYI. The pigments are really rich and I think that was why we had so much trouble.

I have actually used the washable Crayola markers on my quilts. I try them on a scrap of the project I am working on, including the the thread. Then pop it in the washer to make sure it will come out. I do that for each one before I mark it with something like that. Different fabrics may have different results,and I don't want to find out AFTER I have drawn all over it!

[Lola2Ace]

Re: template pencils

Did you call the manufacturer or find something that worked? I do know that rubbing alcohol will remove ink marks from fabric, and if you are brave you could try it on a small spot and see if it removes it. Non-aerosol hairspray usually works for ink too.
I found a Fons and Porter marking pencil at JoAnn's, used a 50% off coupon and I am really impressed with it so far. I used it to mark on the girly quilt, and they washed right out. It came with white and I recently got a dark lead to use too. I had seen some positive feedback for this marking tool somewhere. I checked MSQC and they don't have the F&P or I would have gotten it from them.
Lola

[zenkitty]

Re: template pencils

Some markers set in permanently if you press the fabric with the mark already on it. I don't know if you had done this or not.

[Leigh]

Re: template pencils

I can tell you that the super bright sidewalk chalk from Crayola did not come out of my daughters clothes very easily this summer. I really doubt that you would try to use that for quilting, but just a FYI. The pigments are really rich and I think that was why we had so much trouble.

I have actually used the washable Crayola markers on my quilts. I try them on a scrap of the project I am working on, including the the thread.

Be careful with this method though. I took a REALLY long time to quilt a project and the makers were in the fabric for so long they didn't wash out. (That was my first quilt, but many years ago. Maybe the washables are better now.)

[kedron]

Re: template pencils

Thank you for all your help regarding my "template pencil" question. I did try various methods including a concentrated laundry stick but the pencil mark is still there. I have taken the chalk suggestion on board and got hold of a "Chaco Pen Set" which consists of four pens, a pink, yellow, blue and white tubes filled with powdered chalk which draws a fine chalk line and I have already checked that it can be removed easily. I had not ironed the pencil marks and am still at a loss of what went wrong. Now all I need to work out is how to do free motion machine quilting. All this is certainly giving my brain cells a work out.

[shawnan]

Re: template pencils

Some markers set in permanently if you press the fabric with the mark already on it. I don't know if you had done this or not.

I sure wish I had known this a couple of months ago. My LQS owner says that pretty much any of the markers will become permanent if you press the fabric. I didn't know that at the time I needed to know.

Recently I found some ink pens that will disappear with pressing. I am liking these very much. Pilot gel pens: Frixion I found mine at Staples, but I'm sure any office supply would have them.

Nancy

[toggpine]

Re: template pencils

Be careful with this method though. I took a REALLY long time to quilt a project and the makers were in the fabric for so long they didn't wash out. (That was my first quilt, but many years ago. Maybe the washables are better now.)

The quilts I did with this method were not marked for very long. Less than a week. I make sure they read WASHABLE. Some of the Crayola markers do not say washable, and I would not use them. I pick the lightest color I can get away with. I also test a piece of the exact fabric with the marker before I actually draw on the finished quilt. I take a scrap and mark on it, let it sit while I construct the top, and then wash it. It gives me a safety net that way.
It's amazing the things you will try when you are desperate!

[dmt148]

Re: template pencils

A friend in Missouri, who has been quilting forever without fancy products, used a bar of white soap like ivory to mark on any dark borders. Washes right out.

[toggpine]

Re: template pencils

Oooh! Great idea!