I hesitate to even mention this disaster, because I know what you all will say, “What the heck was she thinking?” If you don’t know me in real life, let’s just say I like to live life dangerously. If someone says to me, “you really shouldn’t try that at home”, I probably will. I’m a bit of a risk-taker. Enter the Frixion Pen.
I love these pens! I use them to mark fabric, not ALL fabric, but most fabric. And they work beautifully! I can use a really dark colored pen to mark the lightest fabric! Finally, I don’t have to strain my eyes to find the correct markings on my fabric pieces as I’m sewing. This is truly marking heaven…or is it?
I’m making a white, yes white, jacket/blouse combo. The fabric is a lovely cotton-lycra jacquard from Marcy Tilton. So what color Frixion pen did I decide to use? Purple, of course. You know where this is going.
The idea of the Frixion pen is that when you iron the marks, they disappear. It usually works that way, too. But I think I’ve discovered a kink. Whenever I iron away marks accidentally, and then go back over the area to replace the marks, that’s when I have a problem. Here are some pictures to explain the issue:
Here are the original marks on the fabric:
This is after ironing marks the first time:
See, marks are gone. Now I replace the marks because I still need them, and this is what happens after I iron the replaced marks:
Holy, moly! Fortunately, because the fabric is white cotton, I was able to take a bleach-soaked q-tip and bleach out the marks. Some are coming out better than others:
I’m still working on these.
Will I continue to use the Frixion pens? Yes indeed. I’ll just be more careful about double marking.
What are your marking tool disasters? Misery loves company!
You don't understand anything until you learn it more than one way. ~Marvin Minsky
Grainlines and Biases 
Frixon always leaves a ghost. Always test, test, test and use the lightest color you have with light pressure on the pin.
Ann, I did test. Sometimes it comes off with the iron, and sometimes it doesn’t. So when you test and it comes off, you think you’re good to go. : )
Oh no, hope they are not in an obvious spot!
Some of the spots are pretty obvious. I’m going ahead and finishing the project, then I’m going to tackle the marks in earnest.
I had never heard of these pens, apparently I live under a rock. I did a search on them and found this blog post, interesting.
http://mythreesonsknit.blogspot.ca/2012/05/pilot-frixion-pen-sewers-warning.html
Now I’m off to Walmart to get me some of these suckers.
Thanks for the link, Elle. I think it’s best to use these in inconspicuous places. I’m addicted to them, though. 🙂
Like I said, I went and bought some of these yesterday and today I tested them. I washed my samples with my standard stain remover, equal parts Dawn dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide. I have had them in the freezer for 6 hours and still the marks still haven’t come out. Might be worth a try, I would test it on scrap before using.
PS-love them
Thanks Elle. I will try your little potion.
Yikes! Thanks for this heads up. I’ve had no problems, but can’t say that I have remarked as you describe. Will be careful.