This tutorial was written by Thorn Trace forher blog.
Reposted with permission.You can see the original post here.
Abstract: MostCrayola Washable Markercolors wash out of fabric with an hour or two of soaking.Thevioletmarker was the most stubborn.Overnight soaking removed all marks.These washable markers may be suitable to use for marking embroidery and quilting patterns.
Crayola makes a line ofwashable markers.When I saw them in my kids’ art and school supplies, I wondered if they might be suitable for marking embroidery and quilting patterns.So I decided an experiment was called for.I wanted to cover a fair number of variables in my little experiment so a little planning at the front end was essential.
I did a quick feasibility test by writing all over a piece of fabric in marker then washing it cold water.Just one marker, one fabric, and immediate washing.No pictures, but the marks came out.Sure the fresh marks came out, but what if they sat a while? What about different colors? Different fabrics? This definitely called for more study.
First I decided that I need to test at least three different time points.I finish most of my embroidery projects inside of a week, but sometimes go to 2 weeks.If I had a large quilting project I figured it might take me up to a month of work.So I needed swatches for each time point: 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks (It’s nicely exponential).
While I usually use cotton for all my crafts, I sometimes branch out.I needed a representative sample the different kinds of fibers I might use.I cut swatches from cotton, screen printed cotton (what if the marks came out of the cotton but not the screen print ink?), cotton/poly blend, and a pure synthetic fiber (I don’t know precisely what it is, but someone gave me a bunch of it and I sometimes embroider on it).
Next I needed to test a range of colors.I decided to make a series of marks using different colors that would be the same on each swatch.This way I could observe if any of the colors would behave differently and I would know where to look on each swatch.ROYGBIV=Red,Orange,Yellow,Blue,Indigo,Violet.Scheduled wash date in black and fiber content inbrown.
After one week, I took my first set of swatches and soaked them in cold water for an hour.The nice blue water soluble fabric marker I use generally washes out within a few minutes, so an hour seemed fair.I did not scrub, stir or agitate the swatches, only soaked.As you can see from the picture, most of the marks came out.TheViolet was a little stubborn.
After two weeks, I soaked the next set of swatches.As you may recall, I did pilfer these markers from my kids’ art box.As any parent will understand, I got distracted by the demands of my offspring and these swatches ended up soaking overnight and a little bit into the next day.What’s interesting is that in these swatches, even theViolet Vwashed out.
After four weeks, I soaked the last set of swatches.To split the difference, I soaked these for 2 hours in cold water.TheViolet Vremained, but is more faint than in the 1 week set that was soaked for 1 hour.So when in doubt, soak it longer, maybe even agitate a little.
So the lesson here (if you’re miraculously still reading) is thatCrayola Washable Markers are indeed washable.I feelcomfortable enough in using them to mark my own patterns.It’s likely that other brands of washable markers will behave similarly, but I have not tested them yet, so please run your own experiment if you want to know!
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Sure, I'd be glad to provide insights and information related to the concepts mentioned in the article about Crayola Washable Markers and their suitability for marking embroidery and quilting patterns.
Firstly, the Crayola Washable Markers are known for their water-based ink formula, making them easy to wash out from various surfaces, including fabric, with water. The article explores the washability of these markers on different fabrics over varying time intervals, examining how different colors behave on different fabric types.
Here are the key concepts covered in the article and related information:
Crayola Washable Markers:
Crayola produces a line of washable markers known for their non-toxic, water-based ink that is designed to easily wash out of fabrics. The markers are commonly used in arts and crafts and are favored for their washability and vibrant colors.
Fabric Types:
- Cotton: A commonly used fabric in embroidery and quilting due to its versatility, breathability, and ease of handling.
- Screen Printed Cotton: This type of cotton has undergone a screen printing process, possibly affecting how the marker ink interacts with the fabric.
- Cotton/Poly Blend: A combination of cotton and polyester, which might react differently to the marker ink due to its synthetic component.
- Pure Synthetic Fiber: A fabric of unknown specifics but used occasionally in embroidery, which presents a different challenge for marker washability due to its synthetic nature.
Time Intervals:
The article examines the marker's washability over different time points: 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks, simulating the duration a project might take. This allows for observation of how the marker ink behaves over time when left on the fabric before washing.
Colors Tested (ROYGBIV):
The experiment used the colors Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Indigo, and Violet (the most stubborn color) across all fabric types. This systematic approach helped identify if certain colors exhibited different washability characteristics.
Washability Observations:
- 1 Week Soak: Most marks washed out, except the Violet marker, which was somewhat stubborn.
- 2 Weeks Soak: Even the Violet marker washed out after an overnight soak, surprising the experimenter.
- 4 Weeks Soak: The Violet marker remained faintly visible but less prominent compared to the 1-week soak, suggesting longer soaking or agitation could further improve washability.
Conclusion:
The experimenter concluded that Crayola Washable Markers are indeed suitable for marking embroidery and quilting patterns based on the observed washability across different fabrics and time intervals. They also hinted at the possibility that other washable marker brands might behave similarly but advised conducting personal experiments for verification.
This comprehensive testing of markers on various fabrics and timeframes provides valuable insights for craft enthusiasts considering using washable markers for fabric marking purposes.
