Updated July 2025
By Anita Gastaldo
The right set of tools can make or break your crafting experience. Whether you’re sewing, knitting, or crocheting, having a reliable marking tool by your side ensures accuracy, enhances creativity, and makes workflows easier. This summer, why not take a moment to explore and refresh your collection of notions? With so many marking options available, choosing the right one for your specific project can feel overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in.
From classic chalk to modern disappearing ink pens and everything in between, we’re taking a deep dive into some of the best sewing, knitting, and crochet marking tools. Discover their benefits, potential drawbacks, and practical tips for getting the most out of each one.
Grab those beautiful notions from Blue Bird Makery or your favorites online and get ready for some creative inspiration!
Marking Tools for Sewing Projects
When it comes to sewing, precision is key. The best marking tools help you transfer sewing lines, darts, and patterns accurately without compromising the fabric. Here are a few must-haves for your sewing kit:
Tailor’s Chalk—A Timeless Classic
Tailor’s chalk is one of the oldest and most reliable marking tools for sewing. Compact and easy to handle, it’s perfect for basic marking tasks like seam allowances, darts, or pleats. The classic triangle-shaped chalks are incredibly affordable and produce bold, easily visible lines that stay in place with mild handling.
Pros:
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Durable and long-lasting markings
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Available in various colors to contrast against fabrics
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Works well on medium to heavyweight fabrics
Cons:
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Colored chalks risk staining fabrics, especially light or delicate ones
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The lines can sometimes be too thick for precision markings
Best For:
Beginner sewists, straight stitch lines, or quick markings where precision isn’t critical.
If you’re looking for a modern variation, consider the Clover Chaco Liner. This handy tool produces a thin, dotted line out of chalk powder for finer control, making it great for intricate sewing designs such as sashiko or embroidery.
These pens come in a range of colors and are refillable, but the line isn’t as bold or long-lasting as with your old school tailor’s chalk.
Tips:
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Use white chalk for areas where markings might be tricky to remove, like the front or visible portions of a garment.
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Apply colored chalks only to the wrong side of the fabric or seam allowances.
Disappearing Ink Pens—Temporary Precision
If you’ve worked with disappearing fabric marking pens, you know how magical they can feel. Popular brands like Dritz offer pens with ink that vanishes over time or with water, leaving your project clean after completion.
Disappearing ink pens work beautifully on light and medium-colored fabrics and provide crisp, fine lines for precision sewing.
Pros:
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Excellent for temporary markings
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Sharp and precise for detailed work
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No chalk dust or residue
Cons:
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Doesn’t show on dark fabrics
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Heat or ironing can permanently set the ink
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Requires cautious use, especially with sensitive materials
Best For:
Projects with clear deadlines (e.g., quilting stitch lines or embroidery guides).
For sewists on tight schedules, we recommend using the blue, water-soluble pens over the time-sensitive purple ones. Water-soluble ink allows you to take your time and make adjustments before removing markings with a quick spritz.
Tips:
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Always test the pen on a fabric scrap before using it on your project to ensure it disappears completely.
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Avoid ironing fabrics before wiping away markings to prevent permanent ink adherence.
Frixion Pens—Innovative and Convenient
Frixion erasable pens by Pilot weren’t initially created for sewing, but their unique properties make them a game-changer for sewists. Simply iron over the ink marks to make them disappear! The fine lines and vibrant colors make these pens particularly helpful for quilting or designing intricate stitch patterns.
Erasable gel pens make a great marking tool option for getting fine lines on rougher fabrics.
Pros:
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Extremely versatile and easy to use
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Comes in a range of vibrant colors for high visibility
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Produces fine, precise lines
Cons:
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Ink reappears in extreme cold (e.g., during shipping or long-term storage)
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Might leave a faint “ghost line” on shiny or smooth fabrics
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Highlighter models may have inconsistent removal
Best For:
Quilting projects, garment markings on non-shiny fabrics, and detailed seam guides.
Tip:
Frixion pens are the way of the future, BUT, although the pigment disappears, the gel medium it sits in does not, and that can be visible on satin/sateen or other shiny fabric.
Happy Crafting
Whether you prefer the timeless reliability of tailor’s chalk, the temporary precision of disappearing ink pens, or the innovative convenience of erasable gel pens, there’s a perfect tool for every maker. Experiment with these options to discover what works best for your unique needs, and let your creativity shine with confidence.
About the Author
Anita Gastaldo is the original owner of Sew to Speak and, since selling the business in 2023, has been a teacher at the shop. She brings boundless passion for sewing and decades of expertise to every class.
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