When you look at your sewing pattern instructions, you will often see you are required to transfer some of the markings from your pattern on the fabric. If you have been scratching your head as to the best fabric marking tools for sewing, then read on!
Table of Contents
Best Marking Tools for Sewing
There are 6 main marking tools for sewing that will mark fabrics. Grab a few pieces of scrap fabric and test to see which ones work the best for your sewing project.
All of these are inexpensive options so you can keep a supply in your beginner’s sewing kit.
- Tailors Chalk
- Chalk Pencils
- Disappearing Pens
- Washable Markers
- Carbon Paper and Tracing Wheel
- Regular Pens
- Soap
Your decision as to which marking tools for sewing works best will depend on the type and color of fabric you are using for your project and whether the marking will be visible in the final product.
Where possible, always mark on the wrong side of the fabric so that any residue is not visible in the final product.
1. Tailors Chalk
These distinctive triangle or rectangle chalk pieces are one of the more traditional methods for marking fabrics in sewing.
With their pointed edges, you can make fine lines on nearly all fabrics while feeling like a professional.
Choose a color that will show up on your fabric. White and yellow will show up on dark fabrics while the red and blue work well on lighter fabrics.
TIP: If you find the edges getting blunt, run the chalk at an angle on a piece of cardboard to sharpen it again.
2. Chalk pencils
Chalk pencils are cheap and easy to find. They normally come in traditional blue, white and pink so will show up on most fabric colors.
Just brush off the markings with the end of the pencil when you have finished.
One of the advantages of chalk pencils as marking tools for sewing over the rectangle variety is that you can sharpen them with a regular pencil sharpener resulting in better marking accuracy. They are also less messy and won’t get all over your fingers or clothing.
3. Disappearing Pens
These pens look like a felt tipped pen but disappear with either time, heat or water.
They are one of my favorite marking tools as they are easy to see on most fabrics.
If you live in a hot climate, or it is the middle of Summer, then steer clear of the heat-activated variety as sometimes they disappear faster than you can work.
4. Children’s Washable Markers
While these are not strictly designed as marking tools for sewing, they are inexpensive and readily available at your local supermarket or stationery store. Lots of different colors to choose from means they will mark a variety of fabrics.
Just do a test first to make sure it completely comes out in the wash.
5. Carbon Paper and Tracing Wheel
This is not your regular carbon paper from your Stationer but rather specialized dressmaking paper.
Sandwich the paper between your pattern and the fabric and then trace over the pattern with the tracing wheel. Make sure the carbon paper is face down so the color will transfer onto your fabric.
A tracing wheel is great for transferring curved lines and whole pattern pieces.
The paper is available in different colors to show up on different colored fabrics.
6. Regular Pens
I always have a few regular biros (ballpoint) pens handy near my sewing machine.
You can use them to quickly mark fabric when all else fails. Just make sure the marks will not show through to the other side of the fabric or run when washed.
I tend to buy fancy pens so they are less likely to disappear into a junk drawer. The flamingo is my favorite!
7. Marking with Soap
This is an old fashioned way of marking that works well on dark-colored, easily washed fabrics such as denim. Use a sliver of white soap for your markings.
The soap marks will disappear first in your items first wash.
Just test a scrap first to make sure this works for your fabric.
Brands of Fabric Marking Tools
You don’t need to spend a lot on marking tools. Look for brands such as Singer, Birch and Dritz who all offer a wide assortment of items for marking fabrics.
Do you have any other tools you use for marking fabric? Please share your preferred method below in the comments.
Moving Forward – How to Mark Fabric
So now you have all the right marking tools for sewing, it is time to learn how to mark the fabric.
There are various methods depending on which tools you purchased.
Pins and Chalk
This is the method that my mother taught me and one of the easiest for beginners where you need to transfer dot markings. It works best with chalk pencils rather than the rectangles of chalk.
You pierce through your pattern piece in the marked position with a pin and then lift the paper and mark underneath with the chalk pencil.
Marking Darts
Darts can easily be marked by several methods but I think the easiest is to cut up one side of the dart and fold back the paper.
Using chalk or removable pen, draw the dart legs.
Read my full article on 3 more ways how to mark darts.
Tracing Wheel and Carbon
This is an old method of marking and is very simple provided you have good quality carbon paper. It is more suited to long markings rather than dots.
Place the carbon paper right side down between the fabric and the paper pattern and trace over the pattern piece. When you remove the paper, you will be left with a dotted outline of the pattern.
Read the full tutorial on how to use a tracing wheel and carbon.
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