Marking a dark quilt

[Robin G.]

I have a log cabin quilt top that has dark printed fabrics (scrappy style) on one side and white on the other. I need to mark the dark intersections for machine quilting but nothing seems to be working. I am using a stencil. The chalk is not showing very well and I still need to pin out the quilt sandwich. I am using the blue marking pens for the white areas and the border. Does anyone have any ideas for marking the dark fabrics?

[wendy w.]

How about a Hera marker, that would work with stencils. Or have you tried Press'n Seal?

[wendy w.]

I have never used a hera marker. I have seen them. Is that something that you do before the quilt is sandwiched? And curious, press'n seal? The stuff in the kitchen???? Sorry, I'm kind of new to using stencils and marking quilt tops. Thanks for your help, I look forward to clarification.

[wendy w.]

To use Press'n seal you trace your stencil onto it and then place on your quilt, sew through and pull it off. It could be a pain picking bits out of the stitches, so try first. You could use tracing paper/baking parchment and secure it to the quilt with masking tape which would tear off easily.

You use a Hera marker before sandwiching the quilt, I just tried it on dark flowery fabric and it's really hard to see so forget that :lol:

Another thought is Crayola washable fine line markers but again test first one of the colours is hard to remove but I can't remember which :roll:

[wendy w.]

Surprised you are having trouble seeing chalk. I have used white watercolour pencils in the past for marking dark fabrics, and if they don't show up when dry I wet the tip of the pencil and then used it.

Alternatively, how about drawing & cutting the design out on freezer paper, and then you can iron it on and stitch around it.

[E.M. T.]

I've recently used the new white mechanical pencil markers from SewLine. They stay on very well and remove easily.
Much better than chalk. There are other brands as well.

[Nancy R.]

I like the white ceramic mechanical pencils and the Clover white marking pens. I find that the Clover pens come out more easily than the ceramic pencils because they come out with water or heat. But the Clover pens take a couple of seconds to appear on the fabric so it's a little disconcerting until you get used to it. I just used those pens to mark a pure black batik and they worked great.

[E.M. T.]

Yep ! I like those, too!

[E.M. T.]

Lots of good ideas. I'm glad you mentioned about the white Clover white pens Nancy. I had wondered how come I would get the blue/white double pack and the white pens never worked!! haha. Now I know. I have tried all the marking ideas above except the Crayola option. I even used my white Generals charcoal pencil. That one is usually my go to choice for marking. It didn't even work. Too many colors I suppose. I do like (and had never thought of) tracing the design onto freezer paper then just stitching through it, since it would adhere well. Tissue paper work probably work better. Either way it will have to be put on after I pin the sandwich.

Thanks Ladies!!!! Excited now to get started! Blast this daytime job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[Carol G.]

I can recommend tracing your pattern onto Golden Threads paper. It is thin, like tissue paper, comes on a roll, probably 9 inches wide. It is specifically for quilting. It would probably tear off easier than freezer paper would. I have used it on a busy dark border. I use double stick tape to stick it to the top, with an occasional safety pin here and there. Good Luck!

[Nancy R.]

I've had a bear of a time getting freezer paper specks out of the quilting when I've used it. And it also puts a lot of pressure on your quilting stitches and can loosen them. For me, I didn't like it and won't use it again. As Carrie said, Golden Threads paper is much easier to pull out. However, if you're doing a very intricate design the Golden Threads paper is more likely to rip while you are stitching. It still worked for me, but it is a bit of a pain. I have some cheaper rolls of yellow tracing papaer from an art supplier that I want to compare to Golden Threads, but I haven't tried that yet so don't know if that will work.

[Lois B.]

Lots of good ideas. I'm glad you mentioned about the white Clover white pens Nancy. I had wondered how come I would get the blue/white double pack and the white pens never worked!! haha. Now I know. I have tried all the marking ideas above except the Crayola option. I even used my white Generals charcoal pencil. That one is usually my go to choice for marking. It didn't even work. Too many colors I suppose. I do like (and had never thought of) tracing the design onto freezer paper then just stitching through it, since it would adhere well. Tissue paper work probably work better. Either way it will have to be put on after I pin the sandwich.

Thanks Ladies!!!! Excited now to get started! Blast this daytime job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

I don't think Rosemary meant that you should sew through the freezer paper. I think she meant you can make a template of the shape and iron it on the quilt top and sew around it. Then you can remove it and move it to the next spot. Only works with some shapes. Correct me if I am wrong with this interpretation.

[E.M. T.]

Paper of any kind can be a PIA to remove unless the design is very simple...same
with Press and Seal....Now...Slovy might be a possibility ..$$$$...Really a
marker of some kind or some color of chalk.....might be the best...short of changing the fabric.

[E.M. T.]

Lots of good ideas. I'm glad you mentioned about the white Clover white pens Nancy. I had wondered how come I would get the blue/white double pack and the white pens never worked!! haha. Now I know. I have tried all the marking ideas above except the Crayola option. I even used my white Generals charcoal pencil. That one is usually my go to choice for marking. It didn't even work. Too many colors I suppose. I do like (and had never thought of) tracing the design onto freezer paper then just stitching through it, since it would adhere well. Tissue paper work probably work better. Either way it will have to be put on after I pin the sandwich.

Thanks Ladies!!!! Excited now to get started! Blast this daytime job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

I don't think Rosemary meant that you should sew through the freezer paper. I think she meant you can make a template of the shape and iron it on the quilt top and sew around it. Then you can remove it and move it to the next spot. Only works with some shapes. Correct me if I am wrong with this interpretation.

Yes this is what I meant. another alternative for stencils to stitch around if using a walking foot is sandpaper, that works really well. I documented my experiences of that method in the Laura Nownes sampler quilt thread. Hang on a mo & I will go and find the link....
http://forum/the-classrooms-discussi...6-laura-nownes it is about 4/5 posts down for how I used sandpaper templates.

[E.M. T.]

I'm not familiar with Golden Threads anything actually. But I did discard the freezer paper idea for reason mentioned. I'm going to try using just plain wrapping tissue and see what happens. Will try on a sample sandwich. I expect it won't hold up, but worth a try. It's a log cabin style scrappy so if nothing else I will just leave the dark parts with ditch stitching.