Quilting supplies. When you think of quilting supplies, what do you think of? I know that I think of sections at my favorite fabric store, just packed with all kinds of different thing that you can use to while making a quilt. If you’re a beginner at quilting just thinking about all the different supplies that there is for making a quilt, can seem overwhelming. But, making a quilt for the first time is not that hard or complicated. Quilting is a super enjoyable craft, a great way to relax and I love it.
The piece of quilting supplies that I’m going to talk about it this post are fabric markers and pens. Marking tools are great to use to help keep your quilting lines to be straight lines, or those little quilting designs you’re stitching to stay uniformed. I will also use marking tools on clothes patterns, to copy the pattern marking to the fabric. You know like the darts, or where the buttons and buttonholes go.
Don’t need this post now, save for later on your Pinterest Here.
* This Post may contain affiliate links.*
What fabric to use for a quilt
You can use all kinds of different beautiful fabrics. I love to use just regular calico cotton fabric, because quilt fabrics comes in different colors and designs. But, you can really use any type of fabric. I know that sometimes silk fabric is used to make a quilt. You can use wool fabric to create a heavier winter quilt, I love that you can use different fabrics. And the kind of fabric you use is up to you.
And the great thing about making a quilt so that you can use scrap fabric. You know all that fabric you have left from other projects that’s too small for bigger projects and too big to throw away. I like to keep all my fabric scraps that I think are big enough to use for a quilt.
You don’t even have to buy new fabric off the bolt. You can use the material from clothes. Using old clothes to make a quilt is the most budget-friendly way I know how to make a quilt. Thrift stores always have a great selection of used clothing just waiting to be used for a quilt.
And when you go to cut up all your fabric whether new or old. I like to use rotary cutters to cut the fabric accurately. If you would like to have the least amount of cutting. You can get a jelly roll, fat quarter bundles, or any other pre-cut fabric bundles for your quilting projects. They’re a great option to save time on cutting.
Tips for using a marking tool
First off, please read the instructions. Because it will be much easier on yourself, if you have read the instructions and you know how to erase the markings. The markings on the quilt top can usually be removed with a damp cloth or a hot iron. But, a word of caution some markings can be set with a iron, meaning you can’t get them off, so make sure you follow the instructions before you do anything with the quilt. And test whichever marking tool you use on a scrap piece of all the fabric that you made your quilt top with. Test it a couple of time just to be on the safe side and to make sure that you can remove the visible marks.
When using the marking tools don’t press down too hard. Because the sharp point of a pencil could damage the fabric. You also shouldn’t have to put too much pressure on the erasable pens to make a nice visible line.
What not to use as a marking tool
A permanent marker or permanent pens. Just thinking about using anything with the word permanent makes me cringe. You’ll never be able to get it off without ruining the fabric.
A regular or mechanical pencil. These are also not going to want to come off. I will sometimes use a pencil to lightly mark the wrong side of fabric, so I know where to stitch. But, you can’t see the mark on the right side of the fabric, so I don’t have to worry about getting the mark off.
Ink pen. This is also one of those cringe worthy ones. A ink pen is not a good choice for marking a quilt.
The best fabric marking tools
Here is 4 great quilt marking tools to use to mark fabric. And these are suggestions of what to use, but you can use other marking pens. Just be sure to read the reviews and make sure they’re erasable.
1. Clover Chalk Pen
I love chalk for marking fabric. Whether it’s chalk pencils, chalk markers or like this one chalk pens. I like the white chalk for regular or dark fabrics. But, this brand of chalk pens also come in blue, silver and pink. And you could use one of those for light fabrics or white fabric. I personally love this one.
Usually with chalk you just have to brush it off or wipe it with a wet cloth.
2. Water Soluble Pencils
Yes, this is another clover brand. These come in a variety of colours, three to be exact, so you should just have to buy this one pack of pencils for any color of fabric. These are also water soluble so all you should have to do is wipe with a wet cloth.
3. Heat Erasable Marking Pen
These are fabric marking pens that the ink disappears when you run a iron over it. They have a fine point, so you can create a precise line. And this is a heat erasable ink pen.
4. Tailor’s Chalk
Okay, I know I have already put a chalk pen in this post. But, I also thought that these little triangles of tailors chalk would be great. Chalk is my favorite marking tool for fabric. I don’t know why, but it is. And with this pack you have a variety of colors for any color of fabric.
These are also all great for tracing a quilting stencil. Then you can take the marked fabric over to your machine and start quilting.
And you maybe worried about using any type of marker to trace the top of the quilt. You’ve probably heard all kinds of horror stories about irremovable or so called phantom guide marks. You know those lines you think you erased then you turned around and they’re back again. Just, make sure to test the marker on scraps of the fabric that you used to make the quilt with.
And make sure to read the instructions completely. I know I’ve already said that, but it’s very important.
