Frixion pens combine gel ink and thermo ink. You are marking your quilt with a gel pen that disappears. This is some much needed information about these pens. When I first heard about them, it was from those who embroidered and really loved them. (Different application there but one that makes more sense to me.) I’ve always been hesitant to use these pens on quilts because there are a few really good products out there that are made specifically for use on fabric (with good results), and the Frixion pens just weren’t worth the risk. How Do Frixion Pens Work? “Pilot Frixion pen” by matsuyuki is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Oh I am so sorry to hear this Christine. You may want to try one or both of the products I mentioned in my post. The Frixion pen people (Pilot) never intended their pens to be used on fabric but made them for kids to write secret messages to each other. I hope you are able to resurrect your piece. Thank you for commenting.

Although most people know the ink system as thermo-sensitive ink, its official name is Metamo ink and unlike a regular pen ink, the ink in your Pilot Frixion pen has a number of microcapsules in it that contain three different substances. These are leuco dye, color developer, and a temperature regulator with each being an essential part of how your Frixion pens ink can be erased. They are great for marking seams on the wrong side of the fabric, for marking appliqué placement, and for embroidery lines. These markings get covered up and I’ve never had a problem. I do not use them to mark quilting lines. Again – thanks and hopefully this will put to the bed the story of why you shouldn’t use Frixion pens on your quilt!!!!! I just have to chime in here and THANK YOU AGAIN.. without all the time, research and information you have provided on these pens and the comments from your readers.. it is without a doubt that an embroidery panel I had at least 9 to 11 hours into —- would have been ruined! I know of a person who filled out some paperwork with a Frixion pen, and gave the papers to someone else. Of course she left them in a hot car, not knowing what could happen. Oh no! It’s blank! So the author re-wrote the paper, not knowing that the freezer would solve this issue. I do think we need to continue to pass the word about the “hazards” of using these pens.I have Amodex at my home. I find it’s great for removing ink from hands and fabric. I can’t recall if I got it at Michael’s (Maybe) or my fountain pen ink supplier (more likely). Goulet Pen Co., which is a lovely family-owned business. https://www.gouletpens.com/ What a great job of investigating and reporting about these pens. I have never used them on my show quilts. I will say they are great for marking practice pieces. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I have not yet found anything to beat my beloved Crayola Washable markers if I am going to get my quilt wet. You can even iron over them and they still come out every time (I once had to wash something the second time when I used a brown marker on a light color, but that is all). Since I sometimes don’t wash some of my art quilts (though I do some), I have been hunting around from SOMETHING that stays in place on cotton/silk Radiance that doesn’t have to be washed out. I’ve almost given up the hunt on that one. Cheers and thanks!!!!!!! Save yourself money and be kind to the environment by refilling your FriXion Ball pen instead of buying a new one - it's never been easier to be green!

Write smoothly with the fine tip FriXion Ball, erase with the FriXion eraser and rewrite immediately. Pilot's best-selling rollerball allows you to cleanly write, erase the ink by friction and rewrite - all with the same pen. Simply rub out your mistakes with the eraser stud and watch the ink disappear as if by magic! The unique gel ink responds to the heat generated by the rubbing out, and lets you write over your mistake immediately with the same pen. Frixion pens sometimes leave a ghost mark after steaming. This is the thermo ink showing on the quilt, not the gel. The Pilot rep said to rid the piece of ghost marks you would need to treat it with the ink removers listed above. Yes, I wondered about that too because it does a great job at removing ink. But since the Pilot people used those 2 specific cleaners, I’d start there first. I think you use whatever works for you-testing first to make sure you don’t do more damage! Thanks for the comment Carol. That is absolutely the case-when someone writes that the ink did not reappear in the cold, I know it must have been some odd combination of circumstances, who knows what! I am reluctant to use anything that is permanent on my quilts. I remember those cardboard templates Jan! I appreciate your research and well-thought out reply. I thought these pens were great for regular sewing and then used them to mark crosshairs for machine embroidery positions on t’shirt and found the ghosting on some of them and was confused as to why in the world. Well, now I know! Thank you for this and will definitely use another method for marking! Sure can’t risk my granddaughters going around with cross hairs on their shirts. LOLTRY EITHER ALCOHOL OR HAIRSPRAY, BOTH WILL WORK BUT WHEN YOU APPLY IN IT MAKES THE INK SPREAD AND LOOKS PRETTY SCARY. NEXT APPLY DAWN OR JUST WASH AS USUAL AND IT WILL COME RIGHT OUT. Personally, I love the Frixion pens but, am well aware of the ghosting. So, What I try to do is only use the Frixion on an area of fabic that will not show on the finished quilt. Also, never use them on white or very light colored fabric where a mark might possibly show through the fabric from a seam or whatever if it should reappear. I have several methods for marking fabric and it does get to be a hassle sometimes because of marks not coming out of the fabric or reappearing later as well as ghosting. But, I try to do whatever works best for the fabric and project at hand. I have a friend who just got one! Too bad they weren’t available in 2007 when the pens came out. I’m still unclear what their main target market was. It was Japan, but I’m not sure exactly what. Thanks for all the information Jenny. When I first started using the pens I did my own test case. I always wash my quilts when I’m done, so I was curious if washing, with regular laundry detergent, would remove the ink and the ghost marks. What I found is that washing always removes the ghost marks, but not always the ink. I tried four different fabrics. After washing I put the samples in the freezer for several hours. Three of the four fabrics had no marks, one still had some very faint marks. If you had quilted on the line you probably wouldn’t see them. I’m comfortable using the pens on placemats, baby quilts, table runners, things I know will get washed. I’m not using them on wall hangings, which I only wash once.

My first comment didn’t come through. So I try it again. How are the experiences with washing? I always wash my Quilts and Cushions before I use them or gift them. So far I never saw a mark reappear. Did pilot say something to that? Because I really do not like use harsh stain removers on my sewn stuff, especially when it’s made for kids. Hi Rosemary; About the starch. I haven’t researched it yet but I know that Mary Ellen’s is not corn based and therefore I don’t think will attract bugs. Any true starch is based on corn and the bugs go after the corn. You will note that Mary Ellen’s is not starch but “a clear starch alternative”. I think that sizing is also corn free and may not attract bugs. I have not researched this yet so don’t take this as gospel!Thank you for this post – excellent information. I only have one of those pens and will not be using it anymore. If it’s not for fabric what is it designed for? They were made to have the versatility of a pencil and allow the user to erase mistakes. I think some shop owners are not aware of their issues. Keep in mind though, there are all kinds of applications in the quilting/fabric world for which they are useful. Thank you for your comment Judy! Great, worked with your particular set of circumstances! Go for it. If these pens worked for me I would be all over that-such an easy, clear, crisp mark. I think no matter what we use, we have to test. Thanks Maggie. If you’re not familiar with Frixion pens, they are a line of pens and highlighters made by Pilot that are heat erasable. Frixion pens make a crisp, clear mark which goes on smoothly and easily with no skipping. After quilting, you simply steam the ink lines away and poof, they are gone! This seems like the Holy Grail of marking methods for us quilters. It is important to note that Pilot did not design the pens for fabric and did not test them on fabric while developing the concept. Thank you for the definitive clarification. Now I look forward to seeing the quilts wherein quilt artists intentionally use this pen to use the ghost marks as part of their design.