Have you tried Frixion Gel Pens yet? If not, run straight to your local Target or office supply and get a pack. You will love these pens. They are erasable gel pens. The gel ink is thermo sensitive which means it disappears when you iron it.
You can see here that I have written my name with all three colors. I drew over it several times so that it would be very heavy. Watch what happens with one pass of a dry iron.
Just like magic the ink is gone. These are great for marking your embroidery designs and tracing your applique shapes. The lines don't rub off, are easy to see and gone with an iron when you no longer need them. The pack contains 3 pens, purple, pink and red. I think I paid around $5 and something. Not a bad price. That's my 2cents for the day.Don't forget the new block for Hartfield posts on Monday and Block 1 will be taken down.
Happy Quilting, Dawn
Yes, as noted by Cathy the lines return in very cold conditions. I don't recommend them for marking quilt lines. I use them only for applique, (the line gets turned under) and embroidery(you will stitch over the line).
I've used these before but what do you mean by thermo sensitive? Still looking for an affordable permanent quilt label marker (available in darkest Africa though).
ReplyDeleteIs it gone for good? What happens if you put that same fabric somewhere really cold? Does the marking come back?? Just a weird question.. but quilts are used for keeping warm somewhere cold.. and I'd love to use this to mark a detailed design on some white fabric, and then stitch it.. but I'd hate to do all that work, and then have the marking come back again.
ReplyDeleteDawn, I have used these pens quite a bit and love them. However, there is a down side to them. The marks come back if the fabric is exposed to cold. I found this out an embarassing way. I marked the quilting lines on a small quilt I made for AAQI. This was in February. Once the quilt got to Ami Simms, she emailed me and asked what I had used to mark the quilt. I told her what I used and she told me the quilt was recieved with the markings showing. Since it was mailed in winter the quilt got cold and the markings came back. I now only use the pen to mark applique or for quilts I plan on keeping for my self. Even though the marks come back in cold they will dissapear again with an iron. Hope this information will anyone who plans on using this pen. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI am also concerned about these pens. Yes they go away with heat and come back with cold. But the ink is still there (whether we see it or not) .. I can't find any "archival safe" indicators on the packaging and am worried about them eating away at my fabric over the years.
ReplyDeleteIf you wash the quilt, the makings go away for good. It is a type of gel where the color goes away with heat. When you wash the quilt, the gel goes away forever.
ReplyDeleteI love these pens.
I use those pens all of the time for embroidery. I'm not worried about it getting cold enough here in Central California for the lines to reappear.
ReplyDeleteI am using these pens since one year ago. They seem magical. Anyway, thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteWithout fail I'll be by your blog on Monday.
Yasmin
The lines come back when it is very cold but they totally wash out and even put the washed piece in the freezer again and there were no lines...so if the quilt is going to be washed it is fine
ReplyDeleteThey look like a Miracle! I wish I had been caught up on my blog reading, I was in staples today - next time I'm getting these for sure!!
ReplyDeletelooks great! I am racing to our local store tomorrow. I am ready to try these on my next quilt project. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to give them a try.
ReplyDeleteI bought these pens last Fall and have been using them with my applique. I LOVE them. I have no concerns with them because I wash all my quilts when I am finished making them and the gel ink completely disappears.
ReplyDeleteHere is a post about Charlotte Warr Anderson's experiment with these pens. The ink does not wash out, so I think you are right, Dawn, these should not be used for quilting.
ReplyDeletehttp://pamhollanddesigns.typepad.com/pam_h/2011/03/erasable-pens.html