IN QUEST OF THE PERFECT QUILT MARKING TOOL
Do you have trouble choosing the right marking tool for your quilts?
If so, you are in good company…
As we discussed on Open Line Friday, Does the Perfect Marking Pen Exist…choosing a marking tool for fabric is always a challenge.
Many quilters like the blue washable markers–but we’ve all heard some horror stories of the ink returning to spoil a quilt.  I gave up on these markers years ago…every time I reached for mine–DRY!  Keeping a supply of working blue pens was just impossible–and too expensive…
Thus began my search…
THE CRITERIA
A good marking pens for quilt MUST be:
- Easy to see
- Easy to erase
- Strong–not too breakable…
- Reasonably priced
The Dritz Chalk Cartridge Set
Go-to marker for all types of marking. Â (Slightly thick line–can be sharpened.)
With several colors in the package, it is easy to see.
Removes easily with light brushing. Â Occasionally requires a little water to remove.
Rarely breaks and comes with a sharpener.
Price: Â $12–lasts forever.
The Clover Pen Style Chaco Liner
The perfect choice when drawing straight lines, especially when using a straight line stencil. Â (Does not mark well on curved lines.)
Available in three colors. Â Easy to see.
Easy to remove with light brushing.
Unbreakable.
Price-$7. Â Lasts a long time. Â Refills available.
Fons and Porter Mechanical Pencil
Great when fine lines are required.
Comes in two colors. Â Easy to see.
Easy to remove with white eraser or by rubbing with a damp cloth.
Breakage–this pencil does break a bit–otherwise it might be “The Perfect Quilt Marking Pen”.
Price- $12. Â Lasts a long time–though some waste of leads due to breakage.
Pilot Frixion Pens
Highly recommended by many quilters.
Many colors–not white. Â Easy to see especially on light fabric.
Removes readily with STEAM!–though a light trace remains–which removes easily with laundering.
Does not break
Price – $12 for a pack of five. (Best Value)
Clover White Marking Pen
Fine white line–takes several seconds to appear.
Easy to see especially on dark fabrics.
Iron to remove. Â A faint trace may remain even after laundering.
Price-$7. Â Lasts a long time.
Soapstone Marker
Dull line.
Light. Â Can be hard to see.
Easy to remove with brushing.
Rarely breaks.
Price-$12–Lasts forever.
Like most sewing notions, YOU need to be the judge for YOUR projects, YOUR temperament and YOUR budget.
What are YOUR favorite quilt marking pens?
I’d love to hear!
Banished-the-Blue,
Lori
PS…All images, tutorials and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin and share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt.  For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com.  Thank you.
86 comments
Carm White
Once marked a small top w blue marker. Design totally disappeared in an afternoon of watching a kids baseball games. Humidity is not its friend. Ha! Like the Dritz marker. Have the Flexion but haven’t used them yet.
Cheryl in PA
Thanks! This is incredibly helpful!!!
Hazel
Thanks for this info. Because of the difficulty in marking pens I have leaned more and more to “free hand” designs. This of course isn’t always possible so my favorite markers have been anything chalk. I’ll try some of these.
BjoLiz
I have become a fan of the Dritz chalk marker. 2nd choice are the Clover markers. I worry about the other markers leaving evidence or returning later.
Marilyn Mattfeld
I have all those markers you listed and i do use Crayola’s fine line washable markers. They don’t last long but, they are cheap. They wash out great. All i really want is a marker that will work on black. I have tried so many, nothing works really good. Nothing works on all fabrics either. very good tutorial.
Phyllis
I mostly use the Frixon pen but it doesn’ t show easily on dark fabric so I then use a white chalk pencel. I am very interested in the Dritz set you have shown above. I think I will check that one out.
Melissa Lamb
It is a real problem, isn’t it? I’ve tried them all. I do like the Marva blue marker but have to order it on line only. I like the sew line mechanical pencil.
There is a new product available called “The Blue Line Eraser” that removes the blue immediately and permanently! You can buy it at Fil-tech. My first choice is the air erasable blue markers.
rosemarazzle
Rosemary B here:
I have never seen any of these pens. !!
I need to get out more.
Thank you for this excellent comparison of marking tools.
We are making hst blocks for my quilt club. Sometimes I get perfect matches for seams, and my hubbs hollers “Yay” from his office or the couch when I am having a party going on at the ironing board. However, there are plenty of “dratz” moments.
Sometimes my hubbs will get up and say “let me see, I bet it is not that bad” lol
Hey, I just thought of an idea. What about Bic erasable pens?
I do use those clover clips for seams
Debbie Wren
I have most of these marking pens and use them depending on what I am marking and the fabric. I don’t think there is a “one size fits all” pen. I have also used the chalk filled pounce pads with stencils. They are okay, but kind of messy. Thanks for all the great info.
Patti Kaplan
Hi Lori, thank you for the great information on marking pens.I have a drawer full. I have found success with the sewline chalk markers. Has anyone else found the same success?
Patti
Claire
I like the Sewline chalk markers and have one white and one pink. I’ve used the Frixion, but have found that they “bleach out” the marks on dark colors.
Jean Garces
The “bleach out” marks disappear after washing. I really like the Frixion Pens and the Dritz Chalk Markers (they are available at JoAnns).
sillyandrea
I actually use tailor’s chalk – the kind in the square holders. Good for straight lines. I also have some blue chalk pencils. These are the dressmaking ones.
I have a mechanical chalk pencil like the F&P one but the line is so thin for me.
I’m going to look for the Dritz chalk cartridge one because that looks perfect for me.
Barb M
I like the blue marker. There is a product called Blue line eraser that will take the line out.. It works GREAT! It even takes out blue marker that has been ironed. You can order it directly form Blue line eraser..
farmquilter
Blue (if it may be a few days before I quilt that part), purple (if I’m going to quilt it right now) and chalk (white only, used yellow once and it NEVER came out) for marking the tops of quilts. Frixion or pencil for marking seam lines – I would never use Frixion on a quilt top because I live where it gets cold in the winter and can’t rely on it disappearing forever. Great topic!
Suzanne Beech
My dritz marker should be here today. I have been using the “dreaded blue marker” but have had no problems with it. The Frixon pen sounds neat…..I guess you would get them at a local craft store? Thanks for your posts. …. have learned so many useful things! !!!
Nancy
Suzanne, you cam get the Frixon pens at Staples or other office supply stores too.
Shelor Robin
Thanks for this great summary of tools. I need all the help I can get! 🙂
Nancy Lueder
Love the Dritz chalk marker. After trying most of the others, this one is my favorite.
Bunny
This is wonderful thanks for all that info. I love the frixon pens. But I also have used the little red triangle thingy LOL. The one you fill with white or blue powder. I never buy the powder I just use baby powder LOL. I also have used the white pencil. Can you tell I am old. I certainly will buy a refillable white pen next time I am out. Thanks again for your great information.
Bunny
Lu
I use Sewline markers which are similar to the Fons and Porter one you feature. The refills fit into matching size mechanical pencils so you do not need to buy the pen. I have a white pen and a graphite colored one and use these on everything. They erase and can also completely disappear with a but of water. They also sell a pencil with all the colors in it.
Valerie Valle
I’ve used the Frixion pens on a number of quilts in various colors. Never had a problem steam ironing out the markings. I used a hair dryer also, but steam ironing works the best. Wish the Frixion had a white marker for dark fabrics.
Joy Voltenburg
I’ve used most of these. I use the blue water soluble pens and the chalk pencils for light fabrics. Dark fabrics I use the white Sewline pencils that I can erase. The fabric in between where nothing shows up — I try all sorts of things – usually nothing works well. I avoid marking if at all possible if the only option is to use chalk because it usually requires the quilt to be washed to get all the chalk out and that is not an option for customer quilts. I have a friend who uses the thin paper that you can draw your design onto and pin to your top and sew over the paper. I haven’t tried that yet, but think that may be the way to go in some cases.
Margaret Johnson
As much as I like the Pilot Frixon, does not work well on batiks.
Virtual Quilter
I use tracing paper for some designs, love it for hand quilting complex patterns. Don’t use ballpoint pens to trace designs onto the paper. (You don’t have to ask how I know that!) Permanent markers, pencils are best.
I use masking tape for straight lines … but don’t leave it on the quilt longer than overnight.
I use Contact for isolated shapes when I simply want to outline the shape, like hearts, but as it is not fashionable anymore getting good quality is hard to get … even bad quality is hard to get! The newer fusible webbings which can be placed and moved before ironing on might be a replacement.
Still like HB lead or coloured pencils, mechanical for fine lines, as it doesn’t need to come off as it disappears into the line of quilting. Quilts which are a hundred years old still have pencil markings with no damage to fabric …. and with the fine lines hidden in the ditch created by the quilting they are safe and pretty much invisible.
For drawing freehand one of the chalk options … easy to apply and remove when I get the lines wrong!
Betsy
I love the Sew Line mechanical pencils. They come in at least 4 colors (pink, yellow, green, and white), but I only have green and yellow, and that seems to be enough for everything. They were recommended by my LQS, and have an eraser, but I have also used water to remove the marks.
Also use blue marker, but I do make sure the marks are all the way out before laundering or ironing. Full removal sometimes takes several tries, and I let it air dry in between. The markers do have an unfortunate tendency to dry out!
The APQS forum had an interesting discussion on markers, and Frixion pens were very popular. Guess I need to try those, too.
Cheri Barker
Be careful with the fixion pens if you are making 1/2 square triangles or anything else that requires setting seams then cutting…setting your seams will wipe out the lines, even when you are careful to keep the iron off of and away from the lines.
Joyce Bardern
I like the Frixion pen a lot. My own experience is that the marks come out with heat, or laundering. On laundered items the marks do not return even when the piece is put into the freezer! My favorite, though is chalk.
Ness
I laughed at your “dry!” can’t tell you how many did that to me through the years… so frustrating!!!. I have the same stash as your pic minus the soapstone. I’m still leary on the Frixon…use it more with embroidery than I do sewing. The chalks are still my fave…clover yellow I love, easy to see and I have never had a problem getting it off. Shows up good on everything but yellow…haha! I need to go through and figure out which of my Frixons are dry also…they don’t last long and I have several each color cuz I kept picking a new one to keep lines dark.
Someone mentioned a tailor’s chalk square…I’m going to check one out I think.
Thanks for the run down. 🙂
Judith
My blue marker dried out before I got to use it.
I’ve been using the Sewline and Fons and Porter markers. I like them, although they do break easily.
Don’t forget the Hera marker. Marks by making a fine crease in the fabric, which comes out of cotton like any other wrinkle. It comes in 2 sizes. I like it. No chemicals.
Shirl
I like the Hera marker. Not a problem with it. Once it is under the machine you can see it clear as a bell. I sometimes use my fingernail to mark a spot where I need to stop or start sewing. Same principle. Once I let a fellow quilter use my Hera marker for a denim project and it wore the edge away. I have tailors chalk from the drycleaners and it works great too. No wax in it. Great information.
Theresa Sanders
I was marking a quilt that was all batiks with varied colors.i used “the ultimate Pounce Pad”. It took awhile for the pad to be saturated with chalk, but once it was, it worked really well on the medium to dark colors. Not so great on light. But the beauty of it is that it disappears with a pass of the iron. Has anyone else tried this? I had trouble getting it going without a cloud of white dust! It comes in blue and pink too, but those have to be washed out.
Phyllis
Use the Frixon pens most of the time. Also Fons and Porter markers. The blue marker only if the project will be worked on soon since the marks disappear and the work starts all over. Sometimes I sew through paper designs if the design is complicated.
Roxanne
I would not recommend the Frixion pens for batiks, they will leave a permanent white line on those. At least that is what I have found. Unless someone else has found a way to get them out.
Paula from Alaska
Last fall I attended a major long arm quilting show. In three of the classes I took, I was warned NOT to use the Pilot Frixion pens by three different industry leader quilters. Apparently not only do the markings return in the cold, but they may also cause fabric deterioration over time. While I have not used these pens, thought I’d just pass along some info I learned about them. I’m with Lori, I have a couple different chalk markers that are my go to markers, including a F & P which does break a lot. Going to try the Dritz when I get to town next time! Gave up on the blue markers drying out a long time ago too! Thanks Lori and readers for a great discussion!
Lisa A
I also like the Sewline marker, I think it’s a ceramic chalk? I have white and pink leads, which have worked well on most fabrics—3 graduation and 1 wedding quilt done in the past 4 months!! What I don’t like is that the leads tend to break with too much pressure. When the lead gets too short, my pen doesn’t want to advance it so there’s maybe 5 mm or so waste each time. Marks come out completely when I wash the finished quilt. Heat will set the lines I think, so don’t iron over them. But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and I’ll continue to use it.
Barb E., Highlands Ranch, CO
Thank you so much for your input on the perennial question of best markers. I think I have most of them, but I really love a thin sliver of soap. Washes right out. I have the Crayola washable markers, but I’m afraid to use them! LOL! Now, if you could tell us your favorite method of transfering a pattern to fabric. These are all topics that stump me. Love your blog.
Linda M
I like F&P mechanical chalk pencil and the clover Pen Style Chaco Liner white only. Had problems getting the yw out and is still there. Sometimes I use a #5 mechanical pencil lightly. This will erase out also can use “Shout” with tooth brush. ( yesterday at Sr quilting a lady gave me a bottle of homemade “Shout” fake remover…equal parts of water, Whisk and ammonia) When I have a fancy pattern I will trace it onto “press and seal” then it tears out at the end. Note do not trace pattern with black especially onto white background using the press and seal. The black magic marker pen will embed into the quilt.
Jean Garces
Yes, I also use Press ‘N Seal wrap for my quilting designs. Just trace your design onto the Press ‘N Seal and place it on your quilt. Sew on the lines, the wrap will pull off easily.
Anne Oppegard
I tried P&S once … Then spent way too much time picking remnants of the product out of the stitch line.
lavonne
appreciate the review. Now I am leery of the Frixion pens. I have a lot of batik. I happen to like soap too. Since liquid soap came along, I just happen to be left with a stash of Ivory soap bars. Linda – thanks for the homemade Shout. I use a lot of it. Wonderful blog – never miss a email link.
Clarice Dean
I like the Dritz cartridge set the best, especially the sharpener! The available colors work on most fabrics. However, my go to pens are the Frixion pens when working with light colors. Fantastic to use with white fabrics, then I don’t have to worry about the “trace” white mark that remains when the color is steamed out. I’ve found that it is much better to steam out the marking rather than iron the marks out. I’ve noticed that the trace white that remains is harder to remove when the fabric is ironed. If you iron you may have to submerge the fabric to remove the trace.
annieofbluegables
I’m so glad for this nice post, Lori. My experence is this: I guess it depends on the fabric. My FriXion marks stayed in after steam AND laundering. Also my Clover marker didn’t even last one quilt. It had dried up by the time I tried it.
Sharon
When using the Frixion pens on dark fabrics, the gel turns white when touched with an iron making it easy to see. Applying steam is supposed to get rid of the marks but it didn’t work for me. It did remove with washing the fabric. I love the Frixion pens for the light fabrics but prefer marking with chalk on dark fabrics. I used a black Frixion pen to mark quite heavily on an orange batik and all marks disappeared easily.
annieofbluegables
Oh yes. The Crayola washable markers were insanely hard to get out. Luckily all these were just on sample fabric.
Vicki Knepp
If I am using a stencil to mark I like to use pounce powder with a foam paint brush. I keep the powder in a repeatable baggie. Just dip the brush in the powder and apply directly to the stencil. It gives a nice crisp line and does not waste powder.
Tweela
I have most of these products and, like several other quilters, use them all for different projects. My favorite “go tos” seem to be the Frixion pens, the Fons and Porter mechanical pencils (both colors) and the Clover white marking pen. I haven’t had any problems with permanent marks or bleaching so far!
Debby
Thank you – this is awesome!!!
utahoosier
I like the purple one, but only if I’m going to quilt it very soon. Have waited too long and lost my markings with that one before. I like it because I don’t have to worry about removing the markings. It takes care of that itself. However, if it’s dark fabric I’m marking, or purple (haha!) I use the chalk. Again–easy to remove. I really like those blue markers, but sometimes that stuff is dang hard to get out and that frustrates me.
terri414cb
I have tried all of the “pens” you listed above. I hand quilt and usually use the Sew Line markers for that since they make thin lines. When I’m marking on fabric for cutting, etc. I use Chaco liners which I’m totally crazy about. I use Dritz Marking Pens when I can’t see lines because other markers don’t show up. It leaves a thick line that you can see, even though you’ve tried the same colors in a thin point.
I appreciate all of the terrific advice from you, Lori, and the comments. It’s a wealth of information. I have just bought Frixion pens, but will use them with caution from what I’ve read here.
Mary Grass
Wow, this is been a great tutorial and discussion………. DOES ANYONE USE THE BOHIN (chalk) PEN? It has an eraser on the end and it does a great job even on dark fabric. I bought it at a quilt shop about 4 years ago for $11.99. it comes with extra lead as well. The package name is “Bohin” and underneath is the word France.
Susan Spencer
For hand quilting on light fabrics, I usually go back to a fine line mechanical or #2 pencil, which removes easily with OxyClean. I took a machine quilting class with Jill Schumacher, who recommends the blue line markers. My favorite, though, for multicolored quilts, are the fine line Crayola Washable markers–I was able to mark a king-sized sampler quilt with them, and used all 8 colors in the pack (after testing, of course) and they washed out beautifully.
Anne Marcellis
I heard something about Pilot Frixion Pens. If you are mailing your quilt to a quilt show, the quilt may get cold, especially if in the winter, and all those marks will show up just in time to be judged! Bummer. -didn’t know if you knew that. I had always heard about putting them in a freezer, but who does that?
Anne Marcellis
Opps-thanks for showing all the options, Lori.
hoperice
I use a Generic brand of Magic Eraser to get rid of loose chalk as well as the Bohn mechanical chalk pencil marks and it works like a champ!
I am using Bic lead pencils (apparently Bic has an easier to remove lead). I saw a YouTube video with Jamie Wallen. He uses Bic pencils for marking light fabrics and suggested using a precision oil bottle (the little bottle with the metal tip– or a syringe with dull needle) filled with Sew Clean. He just runs the Sew Clean right on the line and it comes off without having to scrub. I haven’t tried it myself, but he seemed adamant that it works well
Mary
I like the F & P white ceramic pencil for dark fabrics and the Flexion pen for light fabric. I would like to know where to get 5 Flexion pens for 12.00 my LQS charges 4.00 for one pen.
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glenda tatti
I have recently begun to use the frixion pens and find them great. Use them for my quilt top marking without problem as I live in a warmer climate.
the one thing that I have had a lot of trouble with is the sewline ceramic mechanical pencil. The black lead colour does not erase off light colour fabrics. Have tried lots of differnt erasers and
I even got a toothbrush and some pure soap onto it with no luck. Ruined quilt. Whilst I love the fineness of the traced line, I only use the Sewline pencil now for back of fzbric things.
Katelyn @ Sing While Crafting
I use the frixion pens ALL of the time. I love them. However…I have always wondered what would be good to use on darker fabrics. I have the clover chalk, but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks SO much for this info!
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