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.
89 comments
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.
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.
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!
Margaret Johnson
As much as I like the Pilot Frixon, does not work well on batiks.
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.
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.
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
Nancy Lueder
Love the Dritz chalk marker. After trying most of the others, this one is my favorite.
Shelor Robin
Thanks for this great summary of tools. I need all the help I can get! 🙂
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.
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!
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..
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.
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).
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cheryl in PA
Thanks! This is incredibly helpful!!!
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.
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