I am new to the group and am in hopes that I can pick up some good tips. I have been a machine quilter for some time but have become frustrated with trying to mark my quilts for maching quilting. I have tried several products such as stencils with pounce pad, various chalks and pencils and sprays and all seem to vanish, loose clarity or don't mark dark enough. It is especially difficult when I move from one color to the other as is true with most of my quilt tops.
So help, what have you found to be successful.
Thanks,
Charyl
Charyl, I have had all those things happen as well. I use either disappearing ink or white pencil and just mark an area at a time. That way I don't "lose my place" or my temper
Granny M
Thanks Granny M, I think being more intentional about marking only a small portion of the quilt at a time, is a possible solution. My other frustration is having the pins in the way. Constantly moving pins is hard on the hands and on the time schedule, but I guess I will just continue to work around the problems untill I get better and find just the right products for me.
Has anyone used the Clover markers that are filled with chalk and have a small wheel on the tip? How are they when working with small circles and curves stencils?
Have not use the clover markers. I just take the pins out of the section I am working on. Like an 8 inch block, I would take the pins out of one side, do the quilitng, take the pins out of the other side and finish the quilting. After I have quilted that section there is no need for the pins anymore. Probably not suppose to do that, but I am self taught and it works for me.
Hi, Charyl - I've used the Clover markers and found they worked well. The white didn't disappear from the area I had marked (about 2 foot square) until long after I had quilted it. I used the markers like a tracing paper wheel, and made up my paper "stencils". The wheel went right through the paper and marked the small curves and circles really well.
Good luck with your marking and quilting :)
Charyl,
I have been using Water Erasable Fabric Marking Pen, from JoAnn Fabrics. It is blue and has a fine point that is easy to see and stays until I remove it. You can mark everything at once instead of a section at a time. You should try Quilting Basting Spray to hold your fabric together instead of pins. It is so much easier and wash out.
Toledo, OH
I agree with Sharon. I love the basting spray and don't use pins anymore. Those pins hurt my hands put them in the quilt and taking them out. I also agree that they always seemed to be in the way. The basting spray works great and holds the sandwich together for a very long time if you have to stop quilting for several days and then come back to it. It does wash out and doesn't leave any residue on the quilt.
Vinton, Virginia