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Moderated by EleanorSews
Posted on: 1/25/09 8:00 AM ET
as per my other post
i am looking for things to mark the fabric with for sewing will easily come out.
description of what i need:
-sharp -make small lines for accurate measuring.
-disappearing ink doesn't work because I have to sew in spurts. (i have a newborn
)
-i have to make a lot of marks-because as long as i have sewn-i still can't sew in a perfect line. so i even mark corners. (i have a hard time with doing anything straight which is evidenced by my running into our garage three times while pulling out)(i swear i am not a complete loon- i have a law degree. :cool:
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i am looking for things to mark the fabric with for sewing will easily come out. description of what i need:
-sharp -make small lines for accurate measuring.
-disappearing ink doesn't work because I have to sew in spurts. (i have a newborn
)-i have to make a lot of marks-because as long as i have sewn-i still can't sew in a perfect line. so i even mark corners. (i have a hard time with doing anything straight which is evidenced by my running into our garage three times while pulling out)(i swear i am not a complete loon- i have a law degree. :cool:
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I will not buy and fabric until I use my fabric stash at home, I said. And then I laughed and laughed and laughed............
Posted on: 1/25/09 8:26 AM ET
In reply to Apron Strings
I use the ones that are found in the Quilting section of most Fabric Stores. They are large wooden pencils that are called cloth markers. You can get them in Red, blue and white. The colors are not as vivid as they use to be. Seems the manufacturer saw fit to tamper with something that worked
I use the red one most of the time and they do wash out. I've used them on every type of fabric and they have never stained. Twist the pencil to get the best result. If you are working with dark colors, soap is the best marker in the world. If you have some of those small ones from hotels, laying around, use them. I have a piece of soap I've been using for almost 15 years. I don't use it often, but it works like a charm.
I use the red one most of the time and they do wash out. I've used them on every type of fabric and they have never stained. Twist the pencil to get the best result. If you are working with dark colors, soap is the best marker in the world. If you have some of those small ones from hotels, laying around, use them. I have a piece of soap I've been using for almost 15 years. I don't use it often, but it works like a charm.
Posted on: 1/25/09 8:43 AM ET
In reply to Apron Strings
Along with JTink's suggestion (I have those very pencils and I know what she means!), there are some pink, blue and white ones that come in a package of three made by Dritz. You'll find them usually on a Notions Wall at Joann's. These are smaller pencils, and they have little brushes on the end to "erase". They are washable as well, and sharpen with a regular sharpener.
On the other note, don't worry about the garage thing; I used to do the same thing. That is, until I started taking things really slow going in, and found ''landmarks'' such as a bicycle, washing machine, etc., I could identify with to see how close I was. Now I park outside and I have trees, and I still am not perfect!
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On the other note, don't worry about the garage thing; I used to do the same thing. That is, until I started taking things really slow going in, and found ''landmarks'' such as a bicycle, washing machine, etc., I could identify with to see how close I was. Now I park outside and I have trees, and I still am not perfect!
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"Play the cards you are dealt, but choose who is sitting at the table"..AARP magazine
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Posted on: 1/25/09 9:14 AM ET
In reply to JTink
oh the pencils sound perfact---and i can't believe you use hotel soap...i have a ton. Thanks!
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I will not buy and fabric until I use my fabric stash at home, I said. And then I laughed and laughed and laughed............
Posted on: 1/25/09 9:16 AM ET
In reply to JTink
those sound great. i am going to order some today. i am glad that you've used them so much...because as long as the fabric i am using is basic cotton i want have to test them. though i should eh?
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I will not buy and fabric until I use my fabric stash at home, I said. And then I laughed and laughed and laughed............
Posted on: 1/25/09 9:17 AM ET
are any of the recommeded erasable with a fabric eraser...that way i could test it easily.
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I will not buy and fabric until I use my fabric stash at home, I said. And then I laughed and laughed and laughed............
Posted on: 1/25/09 9:37 AM ET
I am glad I am not the only one who has problems with inanimate objects when going in reverse. We no longer have the red marks on the side of the house because I no longer park in the garage ....and we got new siding. It is always going in reverse that causes problems! (well mostly)
On a side note: I am really interested in this marking pencil discussion because I have become quite disenchanted with tracing paper and the tracing wheel like I was taught to use in 8th grade home ec.
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On a side note: I am really interested in this marking pencil discussion because I have become quite disenchanted with tracing paper and the tracing wheel like I was taught to use in 8th grade home ec.
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Svetlana
Posted on: 1/25/09 10:25 AM ET
In reply to svetlana
I used tracing paper and wheels once, back in the "early days". It was the last time I used them. I found it was much to easy to tear the material and it was just horrible on the pattern tissue. I've also used the little Dritz three pack pencils, with the plastic eraser "feathers", as Beth mentions. I could never get the erasers to erase(I just wet my finger and wipe, or put an X on the wrong mark). When I first discovered these quilting marker pencils(and I don't quilt), I liked them more than the little three pack because they marked much darker and I could see the marks. For some reason, they have recently lightened up the blue one and it's much harder to see the marks, but the red one is still pretty good. I've used these on white cotton broadcloth, silks, slinky stuff, knits, cords and they wash right out. Never had a problem with them on any fabric.
Posted on: 1/25/09 10:32 AM ET
In reply to Apron Strings
I use Fons & Porter's pencils and marking tools (quilting notions).
I may have overlooked this being mentioned in the posts, but you should take care to not press the marks.
Heat will sometimes set the mark and make it permanent.
-- Edited on 1/25/09 10:33 AM --
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I may have overlooked this being mentioned in the posts, but you should take care to not press the marks.
Heat will sometimes set the mark and make it permanent.
-- Edited on 1/25/09 10:33 AM --
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
Posted on: 1/25/09 10:54 AM ET
adjustable seam guide foot
Edge guide
Here are two links for a foot and a guide I really like. The first is a foot by Pfaff with an adjustable seam guide, you line up your fabric agaist the guide and sew. They also have a stationary one with 5/8" seam allowance.
The second is an edge guide, quilters use this for when quilting as the guide is on top of the fabric and travels along the previous line of stitching. I use this tool often when doing seams, adjust it to the 5/8" seam and run the fabric along the edge. I like this more then the magnatic seam guides as it doesn't move. I also use this for hemming sheets, drapes or attaching binding. I know that this tool is available for most brands of machine and usually attaches to the back of the shank. It looks like a hockey stick and when I taught begginner sewing classes I always recommended it.
Even after years of sewing I still use these for sewing. For top stitching collars I use an adjustable blindhem foot or 1/4 foot. Again these give you a guide to line up the fabric edge against. I do use the marking pencils for marking darts and buttonhole placement. They are also good tools to have on hand too.
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Edge guide
Here are two links for a foot and a guide I really like. The first is a foot by Pfaff with an adjustable seam guide, you line up your fabric agaist the guide and sew. They also have a stationary one with 5/8" seam allowance.
The second is an edge guide, quilters use this for when quilting as the guide is on top of the fabric and travels along the previous line of stitching. I use this tool often when doing seams, adjust it to the 5/8" seam and run the fabric along the edge. I like this more then the magnatic seam guides as it doesn't move. I also use this for hemming sheets, drapes or attaching binding. I know that this tool is available for most brands of machine and usually attaches to the back of the shank. It looks like a hockey stick and when I taught begginner sewing classes I always recommended it.
Even after years of sewing I still use these for sewing. For top stitching collars I use an adjustable blindhem foot or 1/4 foot. Again these give you a guide to line up the fabric edge against. I do use the marking pencils for marking darts and buttonhole placement. They are also good tools to have on hand too.
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