gridding on 28 ct fabrics

[rcperryls]

The more I stitch HAEDs, the more I know I have to grid. I like the washable ink pens but I think the tip is not fine enough for 28ct fabrics. I would rather use ink than threads to do this if possible. Now that I have my new MAG light (I have a magnifier that is easy to use) I think I might be able to grid. My reason is that I would like to do more tent stitching, but really think, given the way I do it that it would have to be on 28ct. Otherwise I will be doing full x's 1 over 1 except on my afghans. I don't want to even think about me stitching on 28 ct without gridding now that I am so used to it and love it. What do those of you who stitch on 28 ct and grid use?
Thank you

Carole

[MaggieM1750]

It may just be that you need a new fabric pen.
I have two different pens. One that has a felt tip- like a marker. The tip on that one breaks down after a while and I get a thicker line.
The other pen I have has a tip like an ultra fine sharpie, or one of those sharpie pens. The tip on that one stays super fine- doesn't break down like a felt tip does.
A tip like this.. I have no idea what its called.

Neither of my fabric pens has a brand on them- but I am sure I picked them both up in the quilting section at JoAnns. My felt tip marker is a mid blue with a white cap. The fine tipped one is all light blue.

[Parksfarm]

Hi Carole - I did grid the first two pages of my Goblin's Guide piece and was able to use a fine tip blue washable fabric pen that I got at Joann fabrics... I probably won't grid any more pages though as I found that if I highlight and then mark off the stitches I've done on the chart, it isn't necessary for me. When I get back to Relic though, I did buy some super fine orange fishing line to grid that one as it's on black. That chart is a confetti nightmare so I'm definitely going to grid the rest as marking off the chart didn't even help on that one.

[rcperryls]

Thank you both for your replies. I think I will look in the quilting section at both AC Moore and Michaels (hah!), but we don't have a Joanne's so I am limited there. The problem with the one I'm using is that I do think the tip has broken down a bit like felt tips do and though it still works for the 25 ct, not thin enough for the othrs. Maybe I'll look at Joanne's on line. 123Stitch has most everything, but I couldn't find a super fine tip.

Carole

[Parksfarm]

If you can't find it, let me know - I can get one and send it to you...

[rcperryls]

Thank you Dana. I was thinking that I would email 123Stitch and see if they can find one or know where I can. googling isn't coming up with anything. But I will also check around here as well. This is becoming one of those silly "missions" that I am now determined to find one.
The one I'm using is a Mark B Gone. Doesn't say what the tip is. Looks like a fine point, but I think 28 ct needs an "ultra fine point". I will pm you if my search doesn't come up with anything.

Carole

[MaggieM1750]

http://www.joann.com/dritz-fine-point-d ... /prd10481/" target="_blank

This is the one I have- well, almost. I have the blue washable ink, not the purple disappearing ink. For some reason I can't find the blue ink online. So mine must be by Dritz. All it says on the pen is Washable Fabric Marker.. really, no help at all. This is why I'm glad to have a JoAnns- because they have the sewing fabric- and all the needles, pens, hoops.. and everything else that goes along with it- I find more things in the quilting area than in the stitching area. (although why they don't have the same inventory online as in-store has me confused) So if they don't have it at AC Moore or Michaels.. take a look at a quilting shop or fabric store if you can. Or.. just as Parks said.. I could pop one in the mail for you.
I certainly understand being "on a mission" to search for one. My last mission was for a spice mixture for canning pasta sauce.. I looked EVERYWHERE for the "right" brand.

[rcperryls]

Thank you. I so appreciate this. Why is it that it is the "little" things that cause us to go on missions. Did you find the spice mixture you needed? My last mission was for a particular kind of folder for organizing papers. Eventually found it, but it was verging on the ridiculous there for a while.

Carole.

I've bookmarked the link so at least I will know what I'm looking for.

[MaggieM1750]

I did.. and it was certainly well into ridiculous-ness. Long past verging on it. I found it in a farm supply store. It was a good thing I started looking for the spice mix before I had my tomatoes.

[MaudL]

Hi ladies,
I think I found the marker Maggie was talking about on Amazon. Is this the correct one?
http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Fine-Water- ... 646&sr=1-8

[BookNerd]

Hi Carole - I did grid the first two pages of my Goblin's Guide piece and was able to use a fine tip blue washable fabric pen that I got at Joann fabrics... I probably won't grid any more pages though as I found that if I highlight and then mark off the stitches I've done on the chart, it isn't necessary for me.

I tried to grid on a scrap piece of 28 count and did not like how it turned out at all. Those squares are just too itsy bitsy. I've always marked my stitches off on the chart with a mechanical pencil with colored lead, and so far that's still working for me. We'll see how that goes once I get past page 1 of my HAED.

[kimkat_tkl]

I use a sewline pencil when I grid on 28ct and I find that it is thin enough. It also has the adavantage that the leads come in green, pink and white (I have green and white) so if the green doesn't show up on the fabric then I just change the lead to white.

Use of sewline pencil with green lead on 28ct:

[rcperryls]

Thank you all. I think that is the pen that Maggie was talking about and I will also check out sewline pencils. I have to first make sure that I will be able to mark the gridlines with the magnifier before i invest in the pencils. I have a piece of 28 ct fabric in my stash, so that will be my week-end project.

Carole