My Favorite Quilt Marking Tools | Live Chat with Angela Walters

[@aprilblood9351]

Hello Angela - I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful generosity in sharing quilting free to all of us that cannot afford all the different classes. It has made a big difference in what I am able to do..

[@roycarraway4270]

Where do you find the free patterns? I went to her web site and it showed that the pattern was free but when I placed the order they charged me $5.99.

[@jlhoeting]

You’ve covered thread and batting... maybe a livestream on quilting on different fabrics...different weights of cotton, silks, batiks, and even t-shirts.

[@amymutispaugh7795]

Yes, I'd love to know what other fabrics do in the washer and dryer.

[@the_bevinwilliams]

I would love a live chat about machine feet! Your favorites? Piecing vs quilting? Differences for stationary and standing machines? Specific one for rulers or free motion? Do you change yours often depending what you're working on? This video was so helpful, thanks! I have been trying to choose a marking tool but they make me so nervous. I don't want to ruin all that work! I am going to try the blue marker, thanks!

[@katiemartin6625]

It would be fun to have you go through a few of the different types of long arms and discuss pros and cons. Pros and cons of domestic machine vs taking the long arm plunge.. What about putting your existing machine on a frame? Etc. Especially for those of us who may never get to that really high end price point. Also maybe a 'repair' type of episode. Like old quilts where the quilting is coming undone or there are rips in the fabric. How to prevent your quilting from coming out, etc. Love love love these chats! Thank you!

[@tiliciasmith]

Yesss! I would love to hear her thoughts on the new Handi Quilter Moxie also.

[@tinarytting3799]

Good one!

[@mary-annz.reynolds7778]

yes. I would like a video on different mid-arms. is the moxie a sit-down machine?

[@katiemartin6625]

@@mary-annz.reynolds7778 I am pretty sure the moxie is a stand-up long arm. Sweet sixteen, which is in a similar price point, is a sit down 'long arm' where you move the quilt. I don't really know if something like the moxie could be adjusted for sitting--another good question for angela!

[@briteddy9759]

My granddaughter had fun with the friction pens. First she ironed the marks away. Then she stuck the fabric in the freezer and the marks became visible again. Fainter yes, but you could definitely see marks. While I don’t store quilts in the freezer, I do keep one or two in the car, especially in the winter.

[@michelleprice5584]

Idea's for future show topics.... My adult step-daughter has asked me several times to make her a Whole Cloth Quilt. There are not a lot of tutorials on KZbin that really get into the mechanics of how to do this. How do you figure out a center design? How do you grid out the whole swath of fabric, and what fabric is best? And she wants a King size quilt. I have never done a Whole Cloth Quilt, but have made and quilted King size quilts on my longarm. I've seen you're Whole Cloth Quilt and could you possibly show a tutorial on how you came up with the design elements and decided on the layout? Plus, what batting did you use?

[@tinarytting3799]

Great idea!

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

Oh that is a great idea!!

[@shellyphillips5919]

Hi Angela! Your videos have been an inspiration to me. I have finally gotten to the point in my FMQ that I learned about "trusting your hands to get you there". The first time I did it, I thought "that's so cool! I wish I could tell Angela Walters I just did that!"

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

You just did...and it's so great isn't it!

[@robintroup4368]

I would like to suggest a topic idea for a future episode. Can you talk about how to quilt an overall design on a large/bed size quilt on a domestic machine and for those of us who are less experienced or accomplished at fmqing. Thanks for the videos. They are fun and inspirational.

[@mary-annz.reynolds7778]

I have pounce and it works great 💕 My quilting is so much better than when I first began watching you. I've never been a doodler, so I keep practicing that🤦‍♀️

[@quiltcavequilter6952]

I’d love the kit...my son is now a State Trooper and is getting married this June so a t shirt quilt would be a cool wedding gift using all of his high school/USMC/trooper school t shirts.

[@dorothymullaney9494]

You're an excellent instructor. Thank you!

[@cindydriedger7797]

I’d love a chat about using one colour of thread on the top of the quilt and a different colour on the back. No one seems to discuss the problems you encounter with that. But I always seem to use a darker fabric on the back and want to use a matching thread for the back so the quilting blends into the back

[@marymannion4445]

I’ve started planning my thread colors around my backing as well as the quilt top. And I ignore the tension issues unless it’s really bad.

[@teresavarnhagen6281]

Hi, Angela. This chat was one I didn’t expect to learn a lot from, but there were great nuggets and tips here! I heard so many details about your process that I’ve never heard in other videos. I will definitely try the thumbnail idea . Lots of encouragement about “guidelines””. And I agree that once you trust tools and they’re easy to see, you don’t tend to change. I love the wash away blue pen. Yourregistration lines stencils are great and everybody should buy them from you. I agree about marking too much at a time and losing your path, but you articulated it so well. Thank you!!

[@elizabethdanskin1479]

These are great. Suggested topic is that it would be good to understand the flow of how you quilted something. For example you had the combining designs recently and showed the circular quilt and some patterns, but what would be helpful is if you can show what your flow was in doing it. For example, how did you mark your points around that circle to do the dot to dot? Did you do that first and then quilt the swirls. I know the filler was last. thanks and I love your videos!

[@cindychamilton7609]

Hellos and a big thank you for your videos and generosity in sharing your knowledge

[@jennifermoss5927]

Thank you so much for the live chats. They are very helpful. So glad you are willing to teach us for free during a pandemic.

[@barbrowe5821]

Hi Angela! Thank you so much for your Thursday vids, I am loving them and learning a lot! I have a stack of your challenge quilts completed and use them as reference all the time. You requested suggestions for future topics. Could you possibly talk about how different types of batting and thread effect the look of your quilting? I am finding that the thinner batting does not show the quilting so much but a heavier batting makes it stand out. I would love to know more about this so I can try to achieve my desired effect with the final outcome! Thank you!!!

[@carmenbailey1560]

Thanks for sharing all your information for free motion quilting 👍❤️😊

[@terrimorfey5106]

Thanks so much for your videos. I haven’t been machine quilting for very long, and it’s amazing how much i have learned, even if it’s not the specific topic of the video. It’s so nice to have someone willing to share their expertise without charging $100 for a series of lessons. You are amazing!

[@sheilabernadetteclairemcin1107]

Delighted with this video. Very inspirational and educational. 🌷🌷🌷🌷

[@lydiafranko1619]

I love your chats. I always get something that I can use from them. I look forward to what you have for us in the next challenge. I have done all but one of them. I call the quilts from the challenges my working quilts. I use them as a reference. Thank you for all that you give us. Please know how much you are appreciated.

[@kathyparyl1551]

I love your video chats. So much great information! I once marked a quilt with the Frixon pens and had no problem with it coming back. I have heard that the quilt gets really cold, the markings can come back, but if you wash it again and warm it up, the markings disappear again. Also I was told in a demonstration on the pounce pad, that if you spray it with hairspray, the Mark's last a little longer. Also, you didn't mention it, but the blue pounce powder should never be ironed, only brushed or washed.

[@dawnkelly7751]

Thank you, Angela. It would be fun to have you share your thought process on quilting a block. I loved learning about your breaking down the space. That combined with the description of the swirls in the last two Tula Pink quilts has really helped me feel like I can do the kind of quilting I want. I just need to learn/have confidence in my ability to break down the quilt into quiltable sections!

[@carmenbailey1560]

Just to share, I made the mistake and used Clover’s yellow chalk marker on Micheal Miller white shiny fabric and having issues to remove them. Thankfully I used it in just one area. I even used a toothbrush method with oxyclean paste. Lesson learnt.😩

[@melanezoe]

One marking tool I use often is masking tape. I use a magic marker to mark increments such as along a whole border or sashing or block. I can just peel it off and move to the next element without having to do any marking again.

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

Such a great idea!

[@sunflowerbaby1853]

I do that all the time. I love masking tape❗

[@noreencutler4971]

Me too. I always have a roll in my sewing room

[@kellymontgomery3051]

Or blue painter's tape will work as well.

[@christyhernandez8625]

Whoohoo pounce pad power pen. I love my pounce pad. Cant wait to get the pen.

[@stephiepeterson]

Excited for the next challenge!

[@QuilterGeny]

Hi Angela! Your video was super helpful, I enjoy every tip that you teach us. Can I ask a video about quilting in a low shank sewing machine? Some tips for consistency. There is gonna be more quilting rulers for low shank machines? Thanks So Much!

[@mimzyriepensell1423]

Idea's for future show topics......Functionality and comfort in the sewing room....Chairs...what style is best, with arms, without, with wheels or without?One that can raise and lower height? Is it best to face your sewing machine toward a wall ( I see many do this) or window....OR onto a large table.....?What is the best lighting?....

[@zazmau]

It's pretty much personal preference.

[@marietteforget7804]

Thanks a million ! Very helpful!🌺🌸

[@janiepennock7991]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@angiesewtherapy6628]

This is an awesome pattern. I love the 2ndary pattern that comes through.

[@scooterpuggle]

My idea for a future show: When you are designing a quilt, how do you decide on the colors. What I mean is there are thousands of each color value, how do you know what colors go with what? I know just going to the shop and picking is what I mainly do, but it would be nice to know if there are really general rules.

[@3952Mom]

An idea: turning corners with your free motion quilting design. Thanks

[@lindawilk1442]

Hi Angela, I’ve learned so much from your videos and chats. Wondering if you could have a future chat about some of the fabric companies and designers. Do you have any favorites, inside information?

[@bratmamma]

I have trouble with using pounce pad while on the machine. It isn’t a clear marking. And I also have trouble with chalk bouncing off. I usually use hair spray on the lines so they stay. But why am I having a problem chalking while on the machine. Do I need to mark on top of the ruler table? Or wind the quilt tighter ?

[@dianeduplissis4567]

I can’t believe your son is graduation from high school! I’d love to win this fabric as I have a tshirt quilt to make for my great nephew for his HS graduation. This would be perfect! Love your love chats and videos.

[@dianeelwood8542]

Hello ,new here and enjoying it 😀

[@amymutispaugh7795]

Hi Angela, I'm a beginning quilter of a year and a half. What practice books/seminars/classes/etc do you recommend to help beginners to become seasoned? Also, how many hours a week helped you to become as good at free motion quilting as you are? Your work is amazing. Thank you for all you offer our community.

[@pjinlaca5489]

Just a live and learn lesson I just ran into with a Frixion felt tip marker. I tested it and it came out. He next morning I went to continue the process and the Frixion ghosted. I live in Los Angeles and it wasn’t a temperature issue. It was the fabric. The rest of the marks on the quilt didn’t reappear. Only ghosted on a solid medium color gray. The thread matched the material. I’ve subsequently discovered that it will wash out. But talk about a panic day. I’ve not had it happen with the Frixion pen, only the felt tip one.

[@sharinsherri2558]

I can't wait for the next challenge!! Thanks for the great info on marking tools Angela!

[@lucydegroot6338]

great video! Thank you!

[@BJ7481]

I would love to see if this fabric will marry with my & my sons military TShirts. I love all of your videos, I've learned so much over the years. BJ

[@user-mp9ur3bj1f]

Thank you for all the marking tool tips I have a quite a few of the same ones you do I finally found my pounce pad that I had bought a while back.🤦‍♀️I’ve been following you for years and I always enjoy your tips and I love the midnight quilter then and especially now and yes I remember the episode when you made that T-shirt quilt for your husband. That was the best one ever as far as a tee shirt quilt it’s classy.

[@cynthiaradobenko955]

Excellent!

[@cindyswoveland2277]

About the Frixion pens - my grandson (then 12 - now, like your son, in his grad year) and I did an experiment. He wrote his name on a scrap of my quilting fabric, then ironed it and saw it disappear. Then we put it in a plastic sandwich bag and into my freezer. When we took it out next day, his name had magically reappeared! So, I guess, if you took the quilt in your checked luggage on a plane, it might reappear (or used it to wrap up in the stands at a Saskatchewan Roughriders game...). I also found that sometimes on batiks it doesn't entirely disappear. Recently, I had to draw diagonal lines on a bunch of layer cakes for the 8 at a time half square triangles and I borrowed Pica-Dry Mechanical Pencil from my husband's workshop. Not erasable but doesn't matter as you are cutting on the line anyway. It is the best tool I have found for this kind of marking!

[@denisestilling2810]

Go Riders Go

[@jackie2850]

I have been meaning to do one of these for so long... Thank you for the inspiration Angela! I think mine would be a “spirit” themed collage of my sons high school, JROTC, and orchestra tshirts with Halloween themed print blocks... Halloween has always been a favorite in our lives. 😀 👻

[@sunflowerbaby1853]

What is the easiest way to block a large quilt? I've been pinning it to the carpet with lots of pins and the cats think it's their amusement park.

[@crystalcortega37]

Love you and your shop. To answer the question about the Frixon pen, yes, they will ghost if you don't wash your quilt. I use them all the time BUT I wash my quilts so the ink washes out😉

[@jlhoeting]

Funny story... my husband wrapped my Christmas presents and grabbed the nearest marker to write on the tags... a purple air erase marker.... he put the gifts under the tree and the next day they were all anonymous. 😂

[@adriennecoutts1099]

Hilarious

[@marywiggins7411]

Links to product in description box would be nice, please. Also how about a live chat on pieced backs - lining such a back straight, keeping rolled even on the longarm, etc etc (if you have not already done this)

[@roxy8230]

I am very afraid to mark my quilt with anything. I have tried painters tape for straighter lines. Love your videos. you have helped me so much. Thank you!

[@elsafischer3247]

Hi Angela I enjoy your talks. From Switzerland

[@kathyeilenstine3731]

I love your shows they are so helpful.

[@catherinegilius5531]

I have a pounce pad in my desk - but never really felt confident about using it - Thanks for the demo ! An idea for future shows - what to do if you really have made a mess of your quilting - any tips for rescuing disasters???

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

Great idea!!

[@valeriesmith8364]

I would be interested in learning more about the different feet even though they vary from machine to machine. I was reading that someone was using a zipper foot to sew the binding on a quilt. Very clever, but not sure how that would work. Thanks!

[@quiltcavequilter6952]

Great idea about marking the design, quilting it then marking again 💪🏼👏🏻🤯🤩

[@bonniegold3342]

Love your live chats! Thank you. Topic idea.. how do you decide which quilting pattern to use on a quilt.

[@wendyhenderson8894]

After watching this, I need to get some marking tools to help me. I am so struggling with machine quilting and I do want to learn it. I loose track at where I have been and where I am going. Maybe some people like me will never learn. I will make a purchase of marking tools and try again.

[@cyndemccall7713]

Just started watching your chats. I am just practicing swirls. Thank you!,

[@stephiepeterson]

I love your t-shirt quilt! Sorry I missed the live stream. Busy day!

[@lyndaplamann32]

Good information Angela. Thank you! I also just watched your T-shirt quilt video... that’s the best looking t-shirt quilt pattern that I’ve seen!

[@BAMom780]

I just started quilting my first quilt where I'm not just using the presser foot as my guide. I drew my design with a Hera marker and it worked great. I'm still just doing straight line quilting but I'm finding it difficult to be continuous. I would enjoy more videos about straight line quilting for those of us who are not yet brave enough for FMQ.

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

Great idea!

[@zazmau]

Blue painters tape works great as a guide for straightline quilting.

[@BAMom780]

Thanks I will have to try both of those. I have another quilt waiting in the wings and more fabric on the way!

[@Dragonflies08]

I've been looking and looking for marking tools...and just not happy with what I've found locally. Thank you, today's chat has been an answer.

[@quentinandshanel]

I love watching you, so informative and I always learn a bunch!! We’re you aware the frixion pen comes off with heat? ( as in the heat caused by rubbing the tip) therefore it Irons/steams off like a breeze!!

[@carolward3043]

Thank you for this valuable information. Affirmation of some things I’ve used and some new ideas to try as well. Love the stencils as a fairly new quilter I struggle with my quilting and the stencils look like a great way to improve!

[@deborahstephan1978]

Hi Angela can you show us how you load your quilt tops please

[@lisaa6232]

Love your chats. I study your videos so much l feel like we know each other. Lol Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@naomimataioru4505]

Intrested in ur quilt program n still doing mi bedspread

[@naomimataioru4505]

As for me, been trying to buy a quilt tools apart 4m d sewing machine

[@browntq123]

Thanks so much - very helpful!

[@pgklowak]

I use white chalk alot, but I had an issue on a quilt that was marking out using a yellow chalk. The yellow chalk would not come out. I had to soak and soak and scrub the lines. I can still faintly see the lines.

[@hopejones4842]

Great information!! A question- does the pounce pad system work well for marking flannel quilts?

[@debbiestallard694]

I just finished making a flannel quilt and some of the seams are quite bulky can you talk about the challenges in solutions about using flannels and how to "them. Also if you have any ideas on how to reduce the bulk so that you dissed don't end up making square block Flannel designs because it gets to built up when you make the seams on half square triangles.

[@zazmau]

Open seams in conjested areas to help eliminate bulk.

[@lylianjettar3637]

Thank you for all your help and tips

[@barbarawilliams9874]

I have an off topic suggestion for a topic! When piecing I just have the hardest time when I get to the end of the seam line. I can go along straight but at the very end my corners(specially bias) will bend one way or the other when going under the foot. Any helpful hints, suggestions, fixes would really help a lot !

[@endangraharjao-san3075]

Just lovely

[@alixanderiashay4049]

How can I get that T-shirt quilt kit?

[@tanyagormankeith7325]

Thank you.

[@laurimecklenburg7703]

Love this pattern.

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

Thanks!!!!

[@ronbradstreet7720]

Frixon pens have two properties...one can be ironed off but the other must be taken off with water...so if you don’t want the lines to come back you must do both...then no worries...Kathy Bradstreet

[@susaemilia1]

Angela gracias por tus maravillosos chat

[@LauraKoller69]

Is the info for the next challenge out already?

[@marlynanderson8564]

Regular tailors chalk has a wax base, so when you iron it it will leave a darker ghost mark. Just be aware of this.

[@laurelwhite6379]

I am currently making a log cabin quilt with scrappy lights and darks. I stitched the darks in the ditch & am making feathery designs on the lights. I used a pounce pad & stencil that worked well on most of the lights, but not all. I had to go back & retrace some of the lines with different colored chalk markers. Is there any way to easily mark multi-colored blocks with one type of marker? I have been quilting for many years, but continue to learn so much from your videos! Thank you for all that you share!

[@DeviSisk]

love your tips and tricks

[@lindawilk1442]

Hi Angela, love your videos and chats. I have learned so much. Suggestion for future, could you talk about some of the big fabric companies and designers. Do you have any favorites, inside knowledge etc?

[@aliceolivares-chawk8307]

I don't like the friction pens, it doesn't totally go away. I made a baby quilt and when my nephew sent me a picture of the quilt that he had received the quilt, I could see the pen marks. I washed the quilt before I mailed it to him. ☹️

[@christyhernandez8625]

Pounce pad power irons off and never returns.....Love it..

[@davidandmercywhipple]

Such helpful information, nice to know if I want to learn about quilts this is a good place to go!

[@marycox8875]

I have had a terrible trying to order longarm quilting rulers. Help. Just tell me in elementary steps how to order ones

[@madelinesantiago5764]

🥰Thank you! All the info..

[@laureneberhard1577]

Great job again. Thanks!

[@cherib104]

I would love to know how you do the combo pattern you have/had on your dark blue postcards. I just can't figure out how to do the switches between the designs.

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

Great suggestion! I'll definitely have to do that!

[@sherriwallon8130]

Hi Angela, my thread seems to eyelash on the back of my quilts when doing free motion.Any suggestions?

[@naomimataioru4505]

Hi Angela m watching 4m d Cook Islands

[@janedornfeld3751]

What is your process for planning out your quilting when there is a lot of wide open negative space?

[@zazmau]

Subdivide and fill in with what you like.

[@debbiebrown7095]

Do you sell these stencils?

[@judijordan7546]

What about those Clover chalk wheel marking tools? I used a yellow one one time and couldn't get it off afterwards. I was so upset. I tried everything even washing the quilt.

[@mariamcphail]

I had the same problem with the pink one.

[@edithmonteith9557]

I only use the white because of this.

[@lindaoleary2316]

I have had that same problem with the blue, so I won't use blue on white fabric anymore. I'm going to have to try something else.

[@mariamcphail]

@@edithmonteith9557 yes, I only stick with the white now as well.

[@kayelliott7218]

When I got my pounce I tried it and it just wouldn't work. Finally figured out you wipe it across the fabric not pounce.

[@zazmau]

I've seen people use a dollor store fluffy makeup brush and also a sponge paintbrush.

[@pattypritchett3865]

I can’t see the link to your marking tools.

[@jaclynramsier5271]

Just watch out on freshly painted nails sometimes you can finger-crease and actually leave a nailpolish mark! After a couple of days that polish right on the edge of your nail wears away and it should stop doing that. Never hurts to do a test-swipe on spare fabric just in case! Nail polish remover is probably not great for quilts.

[@lynneschultz316]

A little feedback: What are registration marks and what do you mean by dot-to-dot? Defining terms would be most helpful for this newbie. Thanks.

[@melanezoe]

Lynne, registration marks are just little dots or lines or marks that you put on the quilt top to guide you. You don’t actually Quilt on the line usually. It’s just a guide that you might put circles around or flowers or whatever your quilting pattern is. It guides you so that you stay consistent in spacing. Dot to dot is marking just a little dot on the quilt that you use as a target, such as a dot at the center of a block and one in the middle of each side. The corners may act as dots, but because you can see them, you don’t actually have to mark them. Then you sew from dot to dot to quilt. Angela can explain better, and you can go back and watch her old videos where she shows how to do it.