I had been using them to mark my fabric for needle turn appliqué and had noticed the ghost marks. I haven’t been using them since, but wondered if others were experiencing this problem. This is such a good thing to know and tell my customers.

Diane they are all over in shops and shows-they are great for marking in some situations. A prolific quilting friend of mine uses them all the time. Each of us has to make our own decision. Thank you for the comment! I wonder why then, quilt shops and everybody recommend these pens for quilting?? If they were NOT made for fabric, what were they made for? What else would you use them on and use heat to make them “disappear”? Ever since I was this pop on Facebook, I’ve been contributing that I don’t even trust the blue/purple pens supposedly made for fabric after years of seeing them reappear on students’ projects in my sewing classes and my own work when they first came out, often after washing and as yellowed marks. I will also never forget seeing a gorgeous heirloom project at Martha Pullen school ruined after hours of work and many dollars in linen and imported lace, all because of those pens. They are fantastic for school. Like regular gel pens, the ink easily flows & does not pool or dry in the tip. Unlike regular gel pens, they form a very thin line & can actually be erased. Students who use Frixion pens tend to have neater papers than those using ballpoint pens (which can also sometimes be erased) or other gel pens (which cannot be erased at all) and I’ve yet to see a single instance where a student ended up with ink all over his/her hands from a Frixion pen. I’m 100% in favor of them on paper. I personally don’t allow them anywhere near my sewing studio. So while the ability to erase is nice, it’s not really always a good idea to use the pens, depending on what you intend to do with that piece of paper!So I was off to find it which I did at my local Lowe’s. I raced home to try it on my quilt. I was very wary but was thrilled when the marks were completely removed from my quilt. No ring, no shadow, no damage to the fabric, batting etc.

What would be a good product to recommend a new quilter like myself if you are needed to mark on your quilt. I am not AS accomplished as many of you and require some guidelines sometimes but i am scared to death to use anything at all, not sure what really is best or ok.It really is something to consider Desmond-thank you for that perspective. I actually didn’t think too much about archival issues until the Frixion pen issue. Also, collectors are finding some of the art quilts that incorporate Tyvek are disintegrating

Thank you for this article. We have been selling these pens in our quilt store. We will be rethinking that decision. It taught me that no matter what “everyone” else is using, I need to consider whether I want to put that product on my quilt. I am much more knowledgeable about everything I do to my fabric now including starch! Thanks Juanita. I tried a sample piece of fabric and after normal washing….no spot cleaning or special ink removers, and it all came out. No ghost marks or even after putting it in the freezer…no marks reappeared. I did not try on different fabrics or different colors of fabric, or different colored pens. May be different results if I experimented further. First, it is quite frustrating for my “request to time out” when typing a comment. Not sure how to prevent that, but thought you might want to know this happens.Now I’m going to have to research how to wash that stuff out. (Got lots of good suggestions, here, thanks!) Having said that, I really don’t have a single marking solution that works on all or even most of my fabrics. If you or anyone you know (and trust!) ever does a Craftsy class or other web tutorial on quilt marking, please let me know — I’d be first in line to sign up! Thank you for your research and testing, Jenny! I have been curious about the use of these pens on fabric, but too wary to actually use them. I love the blue washout markers, and Clover chalk markers. These have served me well, so I see know reason to switch; especially after reading about your experiences!

Although the majority of people tend to want to know about the thermo-sensitive ink technology, the actual ink delivery system is also important when it comes to how your pen works. The highlighter and fineliner variants of the pens use the standard felt transfer system where the ink in the pens ink cylinder is drawn to the felt nib and in turn transfered to your paper when pressure is applied. I appreciate your comment Pamela. It does seem, as I go through the comments, that many quilters, garment sewers and textile artists have found ways to use them that are appropriate and useful. I think we all need to be careful about any product we use on our quilts and alwayes test, test, test. We have not had decades of time to learn whether the Frixion chemicals, designed for use on paper, will affect the fabric. There may be no change whatsoever or the inks-on-fabric may experience an unexpected change. Nobody knows. Only time will provide the answers. That is absolutely the case-when someone writes that the ink did not reappear in the cold, I know it must have been some odd combination of circumstances, who knows what! I am reluctant to use anything that is permanent on my quilts. I remember those cardboard templates Jan! I appreciate your research and well-thought out reply.You are welcome Margie. I am so glad that your attitude is “so that they can make their own decisions”. I think it is important to test on that particular project with that particular marking pen. Oh nooooo, that’s a bummer Terry! Sorry, but I laughed reading that. I can just imagine your dismay after oh so carefully making your label and seeing it disappear instantly. Thank you for sharing your story.