Earlier this year, I shared the post Testing My Quilt Marking Tools. Since then, I’ve been putting my favorites to work on actual quilts, and I have some new info (and links) to share with you.
One of the things that surprised me most both during the initial testing process and as I continued to use the various marking tools that scored well, was how easily the refillable leads in the mechanical pen-style markers seemed to snap or break. Maybe I press too hard? Could be – I know that I don’t see as well as I used to, and need darker marks.
At any rate, I’m finding that I’m reaching for the same few tools over and over again as I am working on a series of quilts with marked quilted lines.
Please note: All but the Finally! Fabric Marking Pencil are affiliate links. This does not affect the price you pay, but does help support this blog.
Here are my go-to marking tools:
The Finally! Fabric Marking Pencil from Bucklebee
Of all of the fabric marking tools I’ve tried, this one is the easiest to remove without smudging. The pigment is completely water soluble. They come in a 2-pack case to protect them from humidity, and sharpen easily. The main down side is that I sometimes find the relatively light marks hard to see, especially on print fabrics. After quilting, I wipe the marks with a damp cloth and then launder the quilt.
Roxanne Quilter’s Choice Water Soluble Pencils
I’ve been using these chalk pencils literally for decades. The white chalk pencil shows up beautifully on darker fabrics and the silver on light to medium fabrics. The main down side is that sometimes the lead seems to break way too often, but they sharpen beautifully. I wipe the marks with a damp cloth before laundering the quilt to remove any remaining marks. If I’ve pressed very hard on the silver chalk pencil, I might pretreat the marks with some detergent before laundering the quilt.
You can buy a combo pack with 2 of each pencils or buy 4 packs of either the silver or the white.
For straight lines or very gentle curves:
This is a GREAT no-mark marking tool. It leaves a sharp (temporary) crease in the fabric that is as easy to follow as a marked line would be. They are especially helpful for straight lines. You can substitute a bone folder, a spreader, or a butter knife – but only if they don’t have any serrated edges that might harm the fabric. But I find l Iike the Hera marker best.
Clover Pen-Style Chaco Liner and Original Chaco Liner
Both of these wonderful tools are refillable with fine powdered chalk. They come in different colors, but I only recommend the WHITE chalk for quilting; as the blue, pink, yellow, and silver do not always come out. These markers make beautiful fine lines that are easy to follow and unlike chalk pencils, do not need to be sharpened. The potential down side is that the marks brush off fairly easily, so I only use them if I am planning to quilt immediately.
PLEASE NOTE: This list is not exhaustive! You might find other markers that you prefer for marking your quilts. However, these are my current favorites.
I hope this info is helpful for you!
