One Pen, Two Ways to Make Marks That Disappear
Every quilter needs to mark fabric — a quilting line to follow, a seam allowance to check, or a pattern design to transfer — but no one wants those marks to stay on the finished quilt. The Dual Purpose Marking Pen by Dritz solves that problem by putting two different disappearing inks in a single pen. One end is a blue Mark-B-Gone pen, and the other end is a purple disappearing ink pen. You choose the end that suits your fabric and your timeline, make your marks with confidence, and then remove them when the work is done.
What This Marking Pen Is
This is a double-ended fabric marking pen. The blue end uses Mark-B-Gone ink, which is water soluble and wipes off with a damp cloth. The purple end uses disappearing ink, which is both air and water soluble, so it fades away on its own as well as washing out. Having both inks in one tool means you do not have to keep two separate pens in your sewing kit, and you can switch ends in seconds as you move between light and darker fabrics or between quick marks and longer projects.
The pen is made for transferring pattern markings and quilting and needlecraft designs onto fabric. It is also handy for everyday sewing tasks such as marking size alterations and seam allowances.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
Accurate marking is the quiet step that makes the visible steps go well. A clearly marked quilting design is easier to stitch evenly, marked seam allowances help pieces join at the right size, and transferred pattern markings put darts, placements, and design lines exactly where they belong. Because both inks are removable, you can mark boldly enough to see your lines while you work, without worrying that the lines will show in the finished project. The purple disappearing end is especially useful for small, quick jobs, while the blue end suits marks you want to control yourself and remove with a damp cloth when you are ready.
How to Use It: Step by Step
- Choose your end. Pick blue or purple based on which colour shows up best on your fabric, and how soon you will finish. Use the purple disappearing ink on projects to be completed within 24 hours, so the marks do not fade before you have stitched them.
- Test on a scrap first. Make a small mark on a leftover piece of the same fabric and check that it shows clearly and removes as expected before you mark your project fabric.
- Transfer your design. Place your pattern, template, or quilting design in position and trace the lines you need — quilting motifs, embroidery or needlecraft designs, pattern markings, or alteration lines.
- Add working marks. Mark seam allowances, matching points, and any size alterations while the pieces are flat and easy to handle.
- Stitch while the marks are fresh. Follow your lines promptly, especially with the purple end, since that ink is air soluble and disappears over time.
- Remove the marks. Wipe blue Mark-B-Gone marks away with a damp cloth. Purple marks will disappear in the air, and can also be removed with water.
Practical Tips
Mark on a flat, firm surface so your lines stay smooth and even, and use a light, steady touch rather than pressing hard — a clear line matters more than a heavy one. Keep track of which end you used on each piece: if a mark needs to last until tomorrow, the blue end is the safer choice, and if a mark only needs to last for this sewing session, the purple end saves you the removal step. Cap the pen when you pause so the tips stay ready to use, and re-test whenever you move to a very different fabric.
Care and Storage
Replace the caps on both ends after each use and store the pen with your other marking tools, away from your finished fabrics. Keeping it in a pencil cup or notions pouch makes it easy to find and helps you remember you have both ink options in one place. Check your marks before long storage of a work in progress — disappearing ink will not wait, so finish purple-marked work within 24 hours as directed.
Project Ideas
Use this pen to transfer a quilting design onto a plain block before stitching, to mark embroidery and needlecraft motifs, to note seam allowances when piecing, and to mark size alterations on a garment pattern you are adjusting. It is equally useful for a quick craft project where a temporary guideline keeps stitching neat, then vanishes from the finished piece.
Shop the Dual Purpose Marking Pen at Linda's Electric Quilters.
