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I have used the blue washable pens in sewing, but never with cross stitch. If you mark a piece and it takes you forever to work it will the lines still wash out?

I haven't used a washable pen yet for marking fabric but when I was looking to buy one a couple of weeks ago, I discovered the 'air erasable' pen.

The ink actually just gradually fades away. The package says it happens in 4-5 days but I found it took about two weeks on a test piece of 14 count aida.

It also had a tip on the other end which allows you to immediately erase marks if you want to.

The one I bought is Sullivan's brand which is marketed in Australia, NZ and the US.

http://www.sullivans.net/proddetail.asp?ProdCode=13500" target="_blank" target="_blank

The sampler I am doing now has a LOT of confetti in 2 big areas of tiny flowers. That is pretty much all I have left to stitch. I went ahead and marked those areas with thread because I do not have a pen right now. Am hoping it will help keep the away!

I always use thread to grid my work in the areas where there are lots of detail

I use washable fabric pens to grid my fabric and have never yet had a problem with it coming out of the piece when I'm done. More often than not, a quick spritz of water before ironing takes it out. At most I run it under a tap and they disappear like magic.

I have used them and haven't had an issue yet I always wash my pieces in cold water with woolite and it is neat watching the lines dissapear.

WOW what a difference the thread markings made! Making the stitching so much easier!

I have been stitching for so long that I find it hard to try new techniques. Something about teaching an old dog new tricks I suppose

I really like "gridding" I use it more as a safety net. Than a true counting tool. I know that if I'm hitting a grid line on my pattern I should be hitting one on the fabric...If not I start checking to see where I went wrong.

I use the washable pen and since gridding is relatively new to me I have had to wash and regrid at times without any problem at all. Actually, I've taken a cloth and washed a section or two off. I don't grid the whole piece at one time (too impatient) but have been doing it in sections which works well. I can't imagine stitching without it now as it has saved me from serious a few times. Like maemae it serves as a check if my stitch and the pattern doesn't match I know to stop right away and see where the mistake is. and believe me, you're never too old to learn new things.

Carole

I have been using the wash away blue thread for years with sewing and embroidery, the only times I have ever had troubles with the ink disapearing is if it gets ironed too much before I wash it away, but even then most of the time it disapears, it's rare for it to stay, I have read that some detergents will prevent the ink from disapearing but I have always removed the markings before washing so I don't know too much about that.

A note on the air soluble markers (purple ink), be very careful with those, I would suggest only marking what you can stitch in less than a day, Maybe in dry areas it may stay longer but we have a fair amount of humidity (nothing like the east/atlantic coast) and I have never had it last more than 24 hours for me, usually length of time is about 6 hours, but I have had it disapear on me in a matter of 2-3 minutes, also if you lightly iron it when the ink is fading it will brighten it but it will only last for a short time.

Has anybody used this "DMC MAGIC GUIDE AIDA FOR CROSS STITCH"?


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DMC-14-COUNT ... 3cbcad86f2" target="_blank

It's the first time I've come across any mention of it.

hmm no but now i'm quite interested.

I had never seen the pre grided fabric

A number of forum members have used the pre-gridded cloth. This thread on pre-gridded fabrics might give you more information.

Carole

Thank you, Carole.