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If you are going to alter clothing, pinning and marking fabric is an important step. Using the right fabric marking tools can make this task easier. It’s important that you can see your markings, but for them to also disappear when you need them too.

Before you mark your fabric

If you are altering something, try it on inside out if possible before doing any pinning. That way your fabric will be pinned with the right sides together, ready to sew.

Always test your marking tool on a small amount of fabric in an area that isn’t easily visible. Some markers won’t show up well, and some are easier to remove than others on different fabrics.

Fabric marking tools for sewing clothes

Disappearing ink pen

I like using these pens, especially when very precise sewing is required, such as for darts. It gives the finest line and is the easiest to see on light fabric. However, this tool is the one I use with the most caution. I use a heat-erasable ink pen, but on some fabrics, there is the possibility that it can show or not disappear.

I’ve also marked darts on my fabric, then pressed another area at the iron and accidentally erased my dart marking.

That said, I like this tool and find it works well for tailoring and marking fabric when cutting out patterns.

Tailor’s chalk

I use this most often when I’m marking dark fabrics where my marking pen won’t show up well.

In most cases, this comes off fabric fairly easily with a damp cloth and is easy to use.

The one downside is that the line tends to be on the thicker side, and not quite as precise as the marking pen. The chalk needs to be sharpened regularly.

Sometimes I will combine using tailor’s chalk with another method such as thread marking or using pins.

Chalk Wheels

These are handy fabric marking tools – chalk powder is in a cartridge that comes out of a wheel. This allows the ease of using chalk in a more precise, finer line.

I do find these a little harder to see than pens or tailor’s chalk on dark fabric like in the picture above. These are often available in different colors.

Fabric marking tools you probably already have

Thread as a fabric marking tool

On very fine fabric, or anything where your marking tool might not show up or you are worried about stains, thread marking can be a good alternative. Use a needle and thread to create stitches that can be used as a guideline for when you sew.

Tailor’s Tacks

I often use these for the tip of a dart. Double your thread and create a spot with 4 thread marks coming out around the middle. I did a video on how to sew a tailor’s tack on Instagram.

Soap slivers

You probably have this fabric marking tool at home and don’t even know it! I don’t usually use this one myself, but try it out if you don’t have chalk. Use slivers of an old bar of soap to mark fabric. It will steam or wash out. However, it’s a good idea to test this on your fabric first to make sure it comes out easily.

What is your favorite fabric marking tool? Let us know in the comments below.