Marking Michelle's quilt top

Not much help, as I don't mark my quilts either! However, I have been able to come up with enough ways of working out how to do what quilting I want that I can do more or less any quilting that I want or am able to do. My quilting repertoire is expanding a bit, so I just have to devise new methods where necessary. I am pretty good at eye-balling a line (straight or curved) bridging two points, provided they are not *too far apart; and I also do a lot of 'quilting round freezer paper', or through Press 'n' Seal. . In message , Polly Esther writes

Polly, when I mark I do like those washable blue markers; I'm just very careful not to leave a marked quilt near a window in our sunny, hot climate. However, not too long ago (two years? less?) I "discovered" the Bohin chalk pencils and really love them. The chalk isn't messy like the stuff we used to use on blackboards; it's a very fine "lead" like you'd find in a mechanical pencil. The best part, though, is that it comes in several colors! There's white, grey, yellow and green/teal -- which means there should be something for just about any color of fabric. Anyway, the stuff washes out like a dream, and it erases (there's an eraser on the pencil) when I make a wrong mark.

Most of the time, I don't really mark entire motifs, though. Like you, I may only mark where a curve is to reverse direction, or I may mark the spine of a feathered motif. The less marking, the better, IMHO.

Hey Neighbor:

Your right about the blue washible pens. I've tried the expensive papers and even the press and seal. I found the freezer press and seal is a little thicker, therefore easier to get out. But I didn't like that either. I tried marking on freezer paper and that was a mess to get out.

So I went with plain old wax paper. What ever design I want I print it out on my printer and tape the design to a glass top table . I put a table lamp under the table to get enough light so I can trace the design on the wax paper. I tape the wax paper down so it will not slide and use of all things a crochet hook, a size zero, for tracing.

I then apply double sided scotch tape to the wax paper then stick it where I want to do quilting.

I tried the spray adhesive on the wax paper but it gummed up on the needle too much that's when I started using the scotch tape.

Kate T. South Mississippi

Carole D. - Retired and loving it in the foothills of NW Georgia

My quilts, crafts, QIs, and more -

I like using a lot of background/filler type quilting that requires no marking. When I mark it's small areas at a time using a Chaco Liner. It's a little tube thingy with powdered chalk that comes out via a roller wheel. The chalk comes in several colors and removes easily- and the markers are cheap. Works for me!

Leslie & The Furbabies in stormy MO.

The last time I tried machining through Press 'n' Seal was on a white background. I had marked with a black pigma (Micron) pen and left it overnight to dry well, but when the needle went through some of the black was transferred through. I ended up appliqueing leaves in that area instead of quilting them.

What sort of pen do you use? I have been saving Press 'n' Seal for darker quilts, but am about to start quilting a pastel coloured baby quilt, and it would be the easiest method. Perhaps I should just have a practice at drawing daisies freehand.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Patti wrote:

I love watercolour pencils like Caran d'Ache and the like. They wash out really easily and stay on till the job's done. On the Blue thing I used about every chalk, pencil and crayon on the market. In the end I was lucky and they all washed out, but I am a bit pickier now. The watercolour pencils are soft, so they don't drag the fabric. They sharpen as pointy as you want and you can get them in a miriad of colours. I can either match or contrast the colour of the thread or quilt depending on whether I shall wash it out or let it fade.

I get a bit frustrated with chalk-based markers on wholecloth or hand work because they disappear before I get there. I am so slow and mush the quilt about so much in my dump bag, it all just rubs off. The pencils don't.

I also like the Sewline pump action pencil. It carries easily and doesn't need sharpening (down side to the above). Comes out well, because it is chalk based, again. I use that to titivate a line if it looks wonky, or is unclear in the light. No good on white fabric though!

Nel (Gadget Queen)

On dark fabrics, like black, I like to use either a soapstone marker or a mechanical "pencil" type device that holds little "leads" of chalk. I have a packet of white chalk "leads" and also one of lavender, yellow, pink, green, etc "leads". Sometimes one of those pastels is easier to see on black than white.

For lighter fabrics, I use Crayola washable markers and try to finish the project quickly, not leave it in the sun or near heat, and have not had any problems with that method so far.....

I have one of those Hera markers, and I want to try that as well, especially on another black UFO I have lying around somewhere. Once I dig it out, I will try using that method.

-- Jo in Scotland

My hera marker has never had any success. Any tricks to using one? Polly "Jo Gibson" On dark fabrics, like black, I like to use either a soapstone marker or

About Press 'n Seal .... the copy cat store brand is not the same! It doesn't even do its assigned kitchen job well. So, I guess it is best to go with the real deal. NAYY.

Pat in Virginia

ROFL!!!!!!! Humidity has a part of EVERYTHING!! Pat in Hot, HUMID Virginia

I've been using a method that uses the Golden Threads paper and a pounce pad which looks like a blackboard eraser that has chalk inside. I trace my design on to the paper. Then I remove the thread from my machine. I stitch the design on the paper making holes just close enough together to not perforate the paper completely. To mark the quilt, pin the paper with the bottom side up.....so it's the bumpy side where the holes were punched through. Then rub the pounce pad (don't pounce...rub) over the paper so the bumpy holes grab the chalk out of the "eraser". The chalk brushes off after quilting. There is also a type of chalk that irons off. "Miracle Chalk" is the name, I believe. Google it. This works nicely for a couple reasons. First, you practice the design with your machine to get a rhythm and muscle memory for the design. You can also pin several layers of paper together and get several templates if you think you'll need them. (But you can use one several times.) I also like the fact that I can mark my design as the quilt is on the bed of the machine just before I sew it. Lay down the paper, swipe the eraser and then stitch away.

Sorry Sally, I, too, reserve it for darker colours now - even with ink. I am using the 'quilt round' method more, and doing much more free motion. FM daisies are very easy - just aim for a little circle at the centre, rather than have all the petals meet at the same point - drawn thread work springs to mind >g< And, as a bonus, they are all slightly different from one another (well, mine are!). . In message , Sally Swindells writes

I bought my pounce ingredients last year, after encouragement from reports here: I haven't even opened the packet. I feel rushed and short of time, but I suppose I just use my time wastefully? There are several 'really must do' things to try when I get back from my little holiday.

In message , KJ writes

Just remembered - I bought some 'pounce chalk' at Malvern last year (do you remember Pat, you bought some too I think - have you forgotten yours too?!)

I also have one of the little coloured chalk rollers that look like a lipstick case, and I've got some water soluble pencils too - so should win one way or another!

Thanks for all the reminders - brain a little dead at the moment.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

KJ wrote:

So you hadn't forgotten it (see my previous post written before I'd read yours).

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Patti wrote:

This is what I do too, especially for filler patterns. For some trickier patterns, ie feathers, I might practice with pencil and paper first to make sure I like the end result - easier to erase than to unstitch. :) I have also occasionally used a marker with 'disappearing' ink - when used lightly the marks are gone by the next day.

Allison

Carole-Retired and Lov> The hassle of marking quilts was what led me to investigate the