Hey there, quilting enthusiasts! It’s Gina here, your go-to gal for all things quilting. So, let’s dive into a fun tidbit I recently explored – the world of marking pencils and their removal!
I remember working on a fabulous 20-inch-square, hand-quilted, white-work wall decor. To sketch my designs, I opted for a regular 0.5 mm mechanical pencil. But, oh dear! Later, panic struck me, doubting if those lines would ever come off. That’s when I found a knight in shining armor – the Marking-Pencil Removal (MPR) by Quilter’s Rule International. It promises to vanish those pesky pencil marks.
Fast forward to when my quilt was all stitched up, I breezed into the laundry room, a tad too confidently maybe! Without a glance at the MPR instructions (naughty me!), I generously sprayed it on my quilt’s markings. And just like that, it went into the washing machine with some other whites and a splash of Orvis detergent.
Result? Fresh out of the dryer, my quilt was pristine! Not a trace of pencil left. Yay!
But then, curiosity piqued! I wondered, “What about other marking pencils?” MPR claims compatibility with certain pencils like Berol Verithin, EZ pencils, and more. But, hey, not everyone’s equipped with MPR before they begin their quilting journey. Hence, they might employ different pencils.
So, ever the experimentalist, I decided to put MPR to the test in three distinct ways. But first, let’s decipher MPR’s cryptic instructions. It begins with a sample fabric test suggestion, followed by a sequence of spraying and wiping procedures. Honestly, it felt a bit ambiguous if it was only for testing or the actual process.
Test Time! My trials included:
1. The official MPR method (better late than never, right? ).
2. Spray, let it sit, then a clear water rinse.
3. An imitation of my initial method – spray, sit, and then a detergent wash.
I didn’t just stop there. I pulled out every marking pencil from my stash and marked them on three different fabric shades. The idea was to witness how MPR interacts with each of these. And for good measure, I added ball-point pens and some special fabric markers.
After marking and categorizing them, into the tests they went! And the results were quite eye-opening. Especially on white-on-white fabric, while most marks vanished, a few like the Sanford permanent marker, Pigma pen, and a couple more left a faint trace. The beige and wine fabric tests showcased almost perfect results, save for a couple of stubborn marks.
Note: Before you go MPR-happy on all your quilts, caution! If you’ve got labels or any cherished writings you wish to remain intact, maybe give MPR a skip. Sadly, this product is not in the market anymore. But on the bright side, I’ve had success with Dritz Quilting Fabric Eraser too. And my recent favorite is the Dritz Fine Line Water Erasable Marking Pen. Easy to use, affordable, and absolutely quilt-friendly!
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Product Used | Marking-Pencil Removal (MPR) by Quilter’s Rule International |
| Main Objective | Remove pencil marks from quilting |
| Test Fabrics | White-on-White, Beige, Wine |
| Test Methods | MPR Method, Clear Water Rinse, Detergent Wash |
| Alternative Product | Dritz Quilting Fabric Eraser & Dritz Fine Line Water Erasable Marking Pen |
