The BEST 3 Marking Tools for Quilting- It's Tool and Technique Tuesday!

I often hear the question when I teach classes in Free Motion Quilting, "which marker(s) do you think is best for quilting?"

 I decided I would post my answer below so that it is written down for students for future reference and for others who have never tried these marking tools.

1) CHACO LINER PEN STYLE
This little gadget is just plain fun to use and is very effective. It comes in four colors: white, pink, blue, and yellow. Refills are available for each color.
* Mark your quilt top AFTER it is basted. This chalk formulation still rubs off as you pin and baste.
* Use with a ruler or stencil to mark along the line you want.
* The chalk wears off during quilting.

I have had the yellow one since 1999 and have refilled it only a few times.
The yellow one is effective because it is light yet still shows up on light fabrics and is always seems the best marker for me.  It always works, always provides me with a thin and very visible line when I use it with a stencil, ruler or template.  It has a wheel at the bottom much like a dressmakers marking tool (except thinner) and as you mark it lets go of the yellow chalk along your marking lines.  The colour completely disappears once the quilt is quilted and/or you brush it away with your hands or a slightly damp, clean cloth.  A very reliable tool

Check it out for purchase below:

The refills are also very affordable, check them out below:

2)I also love, love, love the Mark B Gone pen or wash away blue marker because it marks a lovely, blue, water erasable line and does not go away until you apply water to it.  It does not always show up on like coloured fabric or darker fabrics but wonderful for lighter and medium coloured fabrics.  I have used one of these pens for many, many years as well.   It is great for use with stencils, marking seam allowance, straight lines, templates etc.

Why a "Mark- B- Gone" vs a "Chaco Liner"?- It does not rub off like the chaco liner and sometimes it is useful if you do not want your marks to rub off- it stays until you want it removed.

HINT: if you have any trouble at all getting rid of the light blue line or it comes back to haunt you after you think you have applied water to it.  Add a little bit ( 1 tsp) baking soda to 2 cups of warm water and spray it on the blue mark, voila it will be gone!!!
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Check it out for purchase below:

3) The Frixion Pen is also one of my "go to" tools for marking, I am told it does come back if your quilt is in the cold, but who the heck wants to leave a beautiful quilt out in the cold!! This is a newer product, so the longevity of my testing is just not there.  I have been using it for about 2 years now.

It is a gel pen, comes in many colours and marks a lovely fine line and is erasable with the heat of an iron!  It is also great for notes as there is an eraser at the end of the pen to completely erase your errors. I love this one as well.  The only issue I see with this tool is that it is difficult to see on dark fabrics.

​Check it out for purchase below:

My recommendation is .....always buy the best tools you can within your own personal budget.  A carpenter cannot work effectively without great tools and our beautiful sewing and quilting deserves the same respect

Happy Tuesday everyone, I hope you are having a great day!