Monday, November 14, 2011

More applique and testing new marking pens

I've made some progress on my Coxcombs and Currants quilt and the more blocks that get added, the more I love this quilt.
I have had a couple of enquiries about making the block available but I've lost the emails so if you'd like a copy, please email me and I'll be happy to send it to you. My address is available in my profile on the side bar, just click "Janet" and put "coxcomb block" in the subject line and let me know.
I'm so mad keen to keep going that I decided to draw up the design for the hand quilting and trapunto planned for the plain squares.
I do have the fabric marked but it's hard to see in the photo above so I pinned the master pattern up for you to see.  
I decided to mark my quilting design as I go so it won't be such a tedious job later on. These are the new pens I'm using. They're quite safe to stay in the quilt long term and will wash out completely after the quilt is finished.
I wrote about the washable Berol pens here and was thrilled to see they've bought the coloured ones out. They're made in England and I purchased them on EBay for a great price and the postage was excellent too.
I test all my marking pens before using them and I thought you might like to see how.
The test piece on the right has been steam pressed with a really hot iron, and the one on the left has not.
I plunged the samples into cold water, left them for five minutes and you can see the colour coming out quite well except for the dark blue.
The photo below shows the samples after I plunged my fingertips in and swirled the water a few times. The ink has dissipated into the water. Except for that dark blue.
These are the samples after drying and pressing. It's hard to make out but every bit of ink has washed out except that dark blue which is very faint in both pieces. The blue is a fail. The fabric with the pin is the steam pressed one. As you can see, steam pressing made no difference to how the ink washed out.
I'm very confident about using these pens, I had more trouble with the red fabric bleeding on a couple of blocks so they're going to get another bath with some colour remover.

53 comments:

Raewyn said...

Your Coxcombs and currants look more gorgeous every time I see them:-) Thanks for the run-down on your pen testing... that is a really thorough test and I can see you being confident to use them after that.

Chookyblue...... said...

your blocks look great.........thanks for the pen testing...........

regan said...

Your blocks are so beautiful....and the plan for the quilting and trapunto is gorgeous! Thanks for the info on the pens, and that is a great way of testing. I will be looking for those pens now....love that they come in so many colors!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Wow - that appliqué is so absolutely beautiful Janet.! Thanks for sharing your marking pen test. I am going to try to find them.

Anonymous said...

Love the blocks, thanks for the info on the pens, I have just ordered mine

Donna Keating said...

Your idea to mark the quilting design as you go is a good one. The one you have chosen looks like it will add a lot of depth and character to the quilt.

MulticoloredPieces said...

Your C& C blocks are so lovely--classics! Also like the Kaffe Fassette design. And then there's the vine quilt--to die for!
best from Tunisia,
nadia

Janet said...

I can see why you are excited about this project. Your blocks are so beautiful and look gorgeous together! So how many blocks are you planning to make?? Your plan for the quilting is wonderful! I am finding that I really enjoy drawing quilting designs too. I found your review of the marking pens very interesting. I will have to try to find some.

Oops-Lah said...

Your Coxcombs and Currants blocks look fantastic. I LOVE the colours; I think I said that before ;)! Thanks for the info about the Berol pens. Sounds like a great product.

Rachaeldaisy said...

Janet, Your blocks are so stunning. I love your plan for the quilting as well. Your marker test is so interesting, thank you for sharing it with us.

liz said...

Great post. I'd like to be a fly on your design wall. Thanks for the info re the pens.

Shirley said...

I had forgotten that I had those pens and so now will have to give them a go. Thank you for the research and testing. Beautiful work as ever. You are the best.

antique quilter said...

the blocks look amazing :) guess I need to order these pens too, I am usually a purist here and just use the chalk pencils but I am finding for hand quilting its wearing off quicker then when I get to lines I marked
I may have to be a convert!
kathie

Julia said...

Just gorgeous Janet..love the quilting design... .always on the lookout for good marking pens..

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

Thanks for sharing your experiment with the pens. I will go and have a look for them.
Your quilt is looking fantastic!

Salley said...

Wonderful sharing of info Janet.
Will you use a light box to transfer the design?
Your lovely blocks look like an aerial view of whirling dervishes... guaranteed to provoke happiness.

Carol said...

Beautiful blocks and the quilting design is beyond beautiful. You are truly AMAZING!

Terry said...

Your blocks look wonderful! I'm always amazed by all the different marking pens people use. I never knew there were so many options!

Teresa Rawson said...

This quilt is absolutely stunning. I am drawn to red/green quilts anyway, and I love how delicate your motifs are in the applique. Sometimes I looks at patterns for these old favorites and wish the motifs weren't so bulky. The balance in your design is so very pleasing and peaceful. The trapunto and quilting will add to make this a real winner.

In stitches,
Teresa :o)

Mary said...

Absolutely fabulous, Janet! Thank you for the review of the pens! I am always looking for good tools and these seem to do the trick....thank you!

beaquilter said...

very nice, good to know

Janet said...

Just beautiful. Can't wait to see the quilting.
Thank you for the informative info on the pens. I know that took some time to do.

Miriam said...

Another stunning quilt, Janet! Those 2 shades of red and green are magic together.
Love your quilting plan.

Thank you for the information about the Berol pens.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Great tip, I really need to get some of these and give them a try!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Oops....The Coxcomb is beyond beautiful I can see why you are so excited about working on it! Gorgeous!!!

Ann Champion said...

The CoxComb quilt is gorgeous and it seems like you're getting the blocks done in no time! I really like your quilting/trapunto plan.
Thank you for your review of the pens. I'll have to look for those. :)

Heather said...

I love your beautiful blocks. Those pens look great, Thanks for testing them and showing us the great results, very helpful.

Linda said...

I've been reading your blog and really appreciate your beautiful work. I'm going to try the pens and would have like to get the coxcomb pattern, but unfortunately blogger requires the use of Microsoft Outlook and I won't use that program. If this post identifies me with an e-mail address, perhaps you'll pick it up here. Thanks for sharing.

Sujata Shah said...

Janet,

That quilt is going to be so gorgeous! I love your quilting/trapunto design.
Thanks for sharing the tips of the markers. I used to use their pencil colors while in art school. Best brand ever!I will give these a try.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Your amazing handwork is only going to make this quilt even more stunning. Great review on the pens. Guess you won't be using the dark blue.

Thimbleanna said...

Oh Janet -- they're looking so gorgeous! I can't wait to see the quilting!!!

Barb said...

I love your applique (I always say that but it is true) and will have to look for some of these pens!

Judy said...

What a gorgeous quilt and the quilting pattern that you've chosen will look great. Thanks so much for sharing your testing of the pens with us. I was thinking about that the other day that I'd love to have a marking pen that would wash out with no worries. Great timing!

Pat said...

Your quilt is beyond stunning, Janet...

Thank you for the FYI on the new pens and the followup on the failed blue...that color seems to be a problem no matter which company makes them...they all have a nasty habit of returning or leaving ghost-like lines. One of my friends had worked for years on an applique quilt - all her own design, etc. and the blue marking lines never did come out, even after repeated rinses. Yellow can also be a cautionary color to watch, though your Berols look very safe!

Darlene said...

Your blocks are stunning, Janet.

Thanks for the review of the Berol pens. I'm very leery of most pens so I appreciate your testing. :-)

Mary said...

The blocks are beautiful and the quilt will be a real show stopper when it's finished. And thanks for testing the marking pens. It's always so nice to know if they come out before they go on! So, no blue....

FlourishingPalms said...

Thank you for telling us about Berol pens, and then for making the effort to test them and tell us about the results. This is excellent information! I recently did the same sort of testing with Pilot Frixion pens which are all the quilters' rage here in the Midwest (can't speak for the rest of the US). Frixion ink DOES disappear with steam, but then "magically" reappears when quilt fabric is exposed to cold temperatures (like 0C)... which we most definitely have here in Iowa. So, it's nice to know there are different pens available for different quiltmaking circumstances.

Karen said...

I wish I could come take a lesson from you - amazing!!!!

Teri said...

I love,love,love the quilt, but every time I see the picture I say the same thing. It is just getting better..... the more you do.

Interesting tutorial on the pens. I will start looking for them.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Great post about the pens! Thanks for that!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

The blocks are great and I can't wait to see the quilting and trapunto! Thanks for the information about the Berol pens - I'm off to the shop tomorrow!!

Susie said...

Lovely, lovely blocks!

Dixie Howard said...

Your blocks look amazing together, Janet! Looking forward to trying out the pens. Really look forward to your posts at the end of a long work day-always so inspiring! Thank you!

Kristen said...

This is sweet! I was thinking of doing the same sort of test. Someone said washable crayons would work for quilting. Nice to know these might work too. Are they acid free?

Deb said...

Your blocks are looking great. Such a beautiful pattern.

Unknown said...

Oh my heavens!! I just can't get past your applique. I so envy your mad skills! Just gorgeous. Those pens look awesome!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for sharing! I've got my test block all cut out and today I'll arrange all the pieces and see if I like the colors I've chosen. Thank you for being so kind, I've been in a bit of a rut lately starting something new and you helped to boost my spirits a bit! You are such a generous person! (((HUG)))

Barb said...

Your blocks seems to dance and spin and are just wonderful!
thanks for the info on the pens.
I haven't seen them, but will try to order them.

Mariasun said...

Mucha gracias,por la información de los rotuladores,voy a ver si los encuentro.
Saludos

Carrie P. said...

thanks for sharing those pens and how the work on fabric. Always a good thing to know.

M and M plus 3 said...

I can tell, it's been sometime since I've visited. I almost didn't recognized your page with the new pic at the top. Thanks for the tips on the markers and I really like your applique. Coxcombs is one I like but have yet to do with my current project. I'm working to get it finished.

Robin Gold said...

Hello, I've been looking for your profile on your blog to send you an email, and I'm feeling quite dumb because I can't find it. Your lovely coxcomb and currants block appeared (to me, anyhow) at a timely time. I'm about to start a BAQ, and I have the Mary Mannakee pattern, but I decided I wanted to draw my own blocks, so I was looking in the DAR's book for ideas and came across the coxcomb and currants quilt and decided I would use something similar to that as my center. So, I'd love to contact you. Thank you! Robin

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