Sometimes we need to remove pencil marks from fabrics before machine quilting.

Ah ha, here it is...found it, safely tucked away in a drawer -- my favorite recipe, "how to remove pencil marks from fabrics". This is the recipe I feared lost. It is tested and true, and have mixed up many a batch. And if I had to go find it on the internet it might not be the same one. But there it is, on the internet at a very interesting site that you may find extremely valuable.

So you may want to bookmark this page and pass it on.... http://www.quilthistory.com/stain.htm

1/4 cup water
3/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1 drop clear dishwashing liquid

Mix and apply with a soft toothbrush

It has also been suggested to use the new clear Windex...untested in my studio.

Because we work with fabrics we already know that if we are to complete a quilt top, no matter how old it is...we must machine quilt it the way we receive it, dirty or not. There was one quilt that actually made me ill for several days. What ever dirt was deeply embedded in the fabric, even an occassional spritz of soapy water would not remove. How can you launder the fabric without having the seam margins shred away and thread break from the agitation? Have heard you can put it in a pillow case and wash it that way, but have not dared to try. Also you can soak it in a bath tub with a sheet under it, removing without putting any stress on the seams and fabric from the weight of the water draining away, by pulling it up by the four corners of the sheet. This also works for washing old completed quilts by supporting the batting as well.

Hope this helps, sally