Grid lines on dark fabric

SallySue

Does anyone have any suggestions for making grid lines on dark fabric?  I purchased a white Dritz mark b gone pen for this but it doesnt work well.  The lines dont appear until the ink is totally dry which takes about 24 hours.  Its kind of hard to make the grid when you cant see the lines youve just drawn!  Any suggestions would be appreciated!  Thanks!

CraftyLouAnna

I use finishing line to grid my fabric, it does take awhile but I do sections, like 1/4 or 1/2 the fabric and grid the last area when I get to it.
The fishing line comes in different colours too, like bright orange, red or green.     Cant help with marking your fabric with a pen as I wont use a pen
a "just in case" it wont wash out in the end scenario.

SallySue

So, how do you use the fishing line?  Do you run it along the "holes" in the aida cloth?  Ive heard of this before but the fishing line that Ive had seems like it would be way too thick and would damage the fabric.

CraftyLouAnna

I use 5lb width which is fairly fine purchased from Walmart.   Some people could use mono filament which is the clear sewing nylon thread used for manufactured items.
It is also used for beading, which is why I have a spool of it as I used to loom bead many years ago.  Ive not had any problem with using fishing line
on my projects and have used it on 32 count linen to aida and it comes out clean as long as its not bent at a 90 degree angle.   

SallySue

Thanks for the information.  I guess Ill have to go to town and buy some fish line.  I have used the Mark B Gone pen (blue ink) on light fabrics with no problem at all.  Its washed out beautifully and hasnt left any coloring behind.  The pen for dark fabrics just doesnt work.  

qna

You can do it with a white yarn, for example. I attached 3 pics how do this the women in mu group in FB. Most of us, bulgarian women use this method when we stitch.

qna

You can find tricks about it in this thema "Gridding Cross Stitch Fabric" too.

pachi

gracias :)

stitcherex

Hi there.  For gridding, I just use sewing thread, in the brightest colours that do not clash with the first few stitches of the design.  The grid lines will be cut (and sometimes removed) as I stitch along.

On dark fabric, you may use white or some bright green or flourescent colour.  I grid using a running stitch, every 6 linen threads, equivalent to 3 aida threads.  This way, I don veer off, missing holes.

Hope this helps.

qessie

Interesting advice given here. I would have thought using dressmakers chalk would have been good enough, but I havent worked on dark fabric before.