Darts that do not match, pockets that sit a centimetre apart, a hem that wanders. These are rarely sewing mistakes. They are marking mistakes, made before the machine was even switched on.
The trouble is that a good mark has to do two opposite things. It must be clear enough to sew by, and then it must disappear completely. Biro and pencil do the first and fail at the second, which is why a proper marking tool is worth having.
Four ways to mark fabric
For quick lines that vanish
Prym Magic Chalk, self-erasing
KES 900
A white chalk whose marks fade away by themselves, with no brushing or washing. It shows up beautifully on dark fabrics, where most pens are invisible, and it is ideal for hems, pocket positions and anything you will sew the same day.
See the Magic ChalkFor fine, accurate detail
Clover Chacopen with eraser
KES 1,600
A pen gives you a thinner line than chalk ever can, which matters for dart points, buttonholes and embroidery outlines. The blue Chacopen washes out with water, the pink one fades in the air, and the eraser end removes a wrong mark straight away.
See the ChacopenFor copying pattern markings
Prym tracing paper and tracing wheel
Paper KES 630 · Wheel KES 2,500
The dressmaker's method for moving darts, pleats and seam lines from a paper pattern onto fabric. Slip the tracing paper between pattern and fabric, run the wheel along the line, and a dotted copy appears on the cloth. On folded fabric it marks both sides at once, so left and right match exactly.
See the tracing paperFor embroidery designs
DMC Magic Paper
KES 1,300
The simplest way to get an embroidery design onto fabric. Draw or print the design on the sheet, stick it to the fabric, and stitch straight through it. When you are done, rinse the piece in water and the paper dissolves, leaving only your stitching.
See DMC Magic PaperWhich tool for which job
| The job | Reach for |
|---|---|
| Hems and cutting lines on dark fabric | Self-erasing chalk |
| Dart points, buttonholes, pocket corners | Erasable pen |
| Copying a whole pattern piece | Tracing paper and wheel |
| Hand embroidery designs | Water-soluble transfer paper |
Test first, and keep the iron away
Always try your marker on a scrap of the same fabric before marking the real thing. And remove water-erasable marks before you press, because heat can set them into the cloth for good.
Good marking habits
Mark on the wrong side of the fabric whenever you can.
Use the lightest touch that still gives a line you can see.
Air-erasable marks fade within hours or days, so use them only for work you will finish soon.
Keep one tool for light fabrics and one for dark, and you are covered for almost everything.
Bring a scrap of your fabric
We will test the markers on it with you at our shop on the 1st floor of Sarit Centre, so you know the marks will come out.
Shop marking toolsOr call us on +254 798 316860
In Stitches is the authorised Prym, Clover and DMC distributor in Kenya.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
