Fabric Marking Tools

Fabric Marking Tools…there are a lot of them on the market…and it can be confusing trying to decide which one to use!

Use the following guide to help you select the perfect marking tool for your next sewing or quilting project.

#1.  Tracing Wheel:

Tracing wheels are used for transferring markings from patterns onto fabric with or without tracing paper.

There are two different kinds of tracing wheels…serrated and smooth.  Serrated wheels make a dotted marking line and while it is suitable for most fabrics it could pierce delicate fabrics.  Smooth wheels create solid marking lines and are great to protect delicate fabrics.

You can find both kinds of tracing wheels HERE.

#2.  Dressmaker’s Tracing Paper:

Dressmaker’s tracing paper is made to be used with your choice of tracing wheels.  It is a special waxed carbon paper that is placed between fabric and the pattern (with the colored side facing the fabric) and then transfers color onto the fabric along the path that your tracing wheel takes.

This paper comes in a variety of colors and you should choose a color that is close to your fabric color but that can still be easily seen.

Dressmaker’s Tracing Paper can be found HERE.

#3.  Tailor’s Chalk

Tailors’s chalk is a kind of chalk made especially to mark on fabric.  It is easy to use because it allows you to mark directly onto your fabric and then wipes off just as easily.  However, because it does not leave permanent marks it is best employed on projects that are to be marked and then sewn immediately.

Tailor’s chalk can be found in a variety of colors and can be found HERE.

#4.  Chalk Pencils

Much like tailor’s chalk, chalk pencils are filled with chalk made especially to mark on fabric and are used the same way.  (Drawing directly onto the fabric, wiping off easily, and are best for making marking that will be soon up immediately.)

Recently these pencil have become popular with with both those who sew and those who quilt.

You can find chalk pencils HERE.

#5.  Disappearing Ink Fabric Pen

Disappearing Ink Fabric Pens come in a variety of colors and methods to make their markings disappear.  The pen in the photo above is water soluble and wipes off with water.

With any disappearing pen try it on a scrap piece of the fabric you intend to use it on and avoid pressing before it is fully removed to avoid having the color set into your fabric.  These pens are incredibly useful and efficient however they do tend to dry out quickly.

Disappearing Ink Fabric Pens can be found HERE.

#6.  Frixion Pens:

Frixion Pens are relatively new to the sewing industry.  They can be used directly on fabric and then erased instantly with the heat of an iron.  However, Frixion on pens were not created for fabric…and have been known to show “ghost lines” after being exposed to cold.  (Meaning light marks may return.)  So you may want to use them to mark areas that will not show on the final project.  (Like to mark half square triangles lines or to pinpoint where to place embroidery designs.)

And like any marking tool we recommend testing them on a scrap of the same fabric before using on your project.

Frixion Pens can be found HERE.

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