LadyLake Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 My step-mother gave me a set of Frixon Eraseable Gel Pens for Christmas and swears that I told her they work to mark quilts. I don't remember saying this, and thought I'd check with you all, the experts on this. It says on the instructions that the pens have thermo-sensitivegel ink formula which disappears with erasing friction. Any comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 These pens will mark on fabric and appear to disappear when heat is applied. The marks will come back however if the fabric gets cold. They told me you would have to put the fabric in the freezer to see it. I haven't tried it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 I hear the same info that Virginia shared, I use them on my own personal quilts and have had no problems... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleyl Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 I know that it also removes with the iron and the marks come back if fabric gets real cold like in the car in Wyoming winter or freezers cold then you can remove it with an iron again. I heard the marks don't come back after that. I like them for marking piecing where it wont show but I wont use it on a customer quilt. The theory is good but not sure of them yet. I would experiment. Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbm Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 We tested these pens at our Longarm Retreat last year: the marks do appear to go away and will come back with freezer-level cold. If it's for your own quilt that will never leave your house, you're probably just fine. But if it's for a customer quilt or a quilt that may someday be shipped to a show, I would be wary, 'cause those marks may come back during shipping on a plane at altitude or a truck during winter. The marks aren't gone, so there's still chemicals on your quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisae Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 What if you wash the quilt? Do the marks come back or is the chemical washed out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neher-in-law5 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 I purchased the Frixon marker/highligher and tried it with my freezer and hand washing in the sink. The highlighter marks did come back after the freezer but after washing it the marks were gone, even with a second freezer treatment. I haven't tried it with the gel pen that I received free yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 You need to test the pens on your fabric. On dark colors, they leave a line even after ironing. Its a faint grayish, sort of shiny line, and depending on your ability to quilt directly on your marked lines, that may or may not be a problem. On light fabric, the line would not be noticeable. I washed my dark sample, and the faint line remained. I use the gel pens to mark embroidery, or the placement of applique shapes. I have used them to mark the sewing line on the edges of the quilt...where you are going to sew on the binding..or to mark the cutting line for a customer quilt where its been impossible to square up the corners with the quilting. A customer showed me a satin piece that she had marked guidelines on for embroindery placement. It was ruined, as the lines were glaringly visible as white lines on the white satin even after heat removal. Like everything else, they have their place. I am not concerned about the chemical interaction on my quilts. I am not making these to outlast the next ice age. But, I would not use them to mark quilting designs on a customer quilt, because there are other products that work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted January 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Thanks for all of your information; you folks are always a reliable source for quick quilting tips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterfly Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I love these pens. I only have the black and blue ones though. I find them so much easier than messing with chalk and have never had a problem. I always tell my customers about them so that if the mark should come back they know to just use the blow dryer for a sec. So far no complaints. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 I am so glad I found this thread. I have heard that these pens are great, but I was afraid to try them. I think I will order a set and do some experimenting. It does not sound like a good way to mark customer quilts. What about the "Ultimate marking pencil"? Does it stay erased, or do those lines come back sometimes, also. I have been using the purple markers and the white pen that goes on invisible, but I'm finding lines on quilts a couple years later. I'm not sure why. I need fo find a new way of marking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klwheeler Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 I do not like them as it did not come out of the fabric I was marking and don't know why, but since I don't mark things anyway, I will not use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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