Chalk, marker or pen: what else to choose for working with fabric
Drawing tools are indispensable things in a seamstress’ arsenal. Without them it will not be possible to cut a product, make the necessary markings. Each seamstress has her own favorite: some like the new markers, and some are loyal to chalk. We have made a review of the most popular “drawers” for the fabric.
Tailor's soap
A classic drawing tool that’s always on hand. You can buy a set of special tailor’s soap – the pieces will be thin and easy to draw with. Or you can take a bar of the most common soap, but it should not be with very bright dyes, they may not wash off the fabric.
Tailor's chalk
A time-tested tool. Easy to wash off, will not stain your hands. Convenient shape, so it does not slip out of your hands. Do not confuse tailor’s chalk and school chalk. Of course, if you draw on the fabric with school chalk, nothing will happen, but it can crumble and get your hands very dirty, unlike tailor’s chalk. Sometimes the thin tailor’s chalk breaks, then you can choose a pencil chalk with a plastic holder or the same soap.
Erasable fabric paint markers
Sometimes you need to make a marking in a prominent place, such as where buttons or decorations are sewn on. In this case, a marker is simply a masthead.
Usually traces of the marker disappear after 24-72 hours. But it is better to test the marker on the fabric from which you will sew. It happens that on the skin marker does not disappear – be careful. And one more nuance: do not iron the fabric along these lines and do not apply adhesive compositions to the lines – then the marking will never disappear.
Washable markers
The only difference from disappearing markers is that they are washed off the fabric with water, not disappearing on their own. The advantage of such a marker is that the marking stays as long as necessary. This is relevant if the work with marking is not designed for one day. With a disappearing marker you will need to constantly renew the marking.
A classic drawing tool that’s always on hand. You can buy a set of special tailor’s soap – the pieces will be thin and easy to draw with. Or you can take a bar of the most common soap, but it should not be with very bright dyes, they may not wash off the fabric.
Tailor's chalk
A time-tested tool. Easy to wash off, will not stain your hands. Convenient shape, so it does not slip out of your hands. Do not confuse tailor’s chalk and school chalk. Of course, if you draw on the fabric with school chalk, nothing will happen, but it can crumble and get your hands very dirty, unlike tailor’s chalk. Sometimes the thin tailor’s chalk breaks, then you can choose a pencil chalk with a plastic holder or the same soap.
