The Best Tool for Marking Patchwork: Frixion Pen or Marker?

There’s been a whole lot of half-rectangle triangle making going on around the studio, and observations have been made! Notably, observations related to the best tool for marking patchwork blocks using a Frixion pen vs. a Frixion marker.

It’s been eye-opening!

And I wanted to share those with you before I forget 😉 So, that’s what today’s post is all about, I’m covering:

• What Are Frixion Markers and Pens?
• Why Marking Accuracy Matters in Patchwork
• Frixion Marker vs. Pen – My Experience
• A Note on Heat and Fading
• Final Verdict – Which One Wins?

If you’ve been wondering about whether the thickness of the marker impacts your patchwork, then this one’s for you!

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What Are Frixion Markers and Pens?

Before I dive right into the comparison, I wanted to be sure we’re on the same page of what Frixion markers and pens I’m talking about in this comparison.

The concept of Frixion pens and markers is that you can draw a line and remove it simply by rubbing it with the heat from your iron.

These heat-erasable tools are made by Pilot. Both styles are popular in quilting. They’re pretty nifty and super easy to use. It’s one of the reasons why I stock them in the studio.

Why Marking Accuracy Matters in Patchwork

You might be thinking “Shannon, does such a small difference really impact my patchwork?”.

When I first started quilting, I didn’t think it would. But when you think about it, we’re specific about our ¼” vs. scant ¼” seam allowance and the difference it makes in the accuracy of our patchwork, and the same logic applies here.

Even slight deviations and differences add up and affect your points, seams, and alignment.

So, the thinner the line, the truer to size your piecing and cutting will be.

Frixion Marker vs. Pen – My Experience

My First Experience

I started by using the markers. That was my first experience, and I loved them instantly.

They come in a variety of colours, which means you can see them on a variety of fabric hues 😉 and the marker glides beautifully over the fabric.

The thing is that the line’s a little chunky. Great for my aging eyes – ha! But not amazing for precision.

I especially noticed this when I brought some pens into the studio and instantly found myself gravitating to the thinner line.

I also love that it’s a click pen. The markers have caps and if you don’t make an effort to pop it on the end while using the marker, the cap often goes missing.

The click-click is kinda satisfying, too 😉

In any event, once I started using the pens, the markers were pretty much stored. The exception to this is when I’m tracing garments. The thick smooth line of the marker is perfect for easily tracing around paper patterns. I can think of many quilted coats where I pulled out my Frixion markers 😊

Recent Test

I recently put this to the test when I was making a bunch of half-rectangle triangles (or HRT as we like to call them in the quilty world!), and I’d been using the markers since I ran out of pens.

For the first couple of sets of HRT, I used the marker to draw my lines; however, I noticed that I had very little trimming room when I was done piecing them together. On the third set, I switched to a pen, and I was amazed at how much easier my trimming sessions were.

There were several from the first round that I had to remake because I didn’t have enough fabric on the sides to make the full width of the HRT needed – bleurgh.

Line Sharpness

Since we know accuracy is important, the line sharpness will directly impact the precision you can achieve.

The pointy tip of the rollerball pen is sturdier and firmer than the marker, resulting in a more precisely drawn line.

The felt tip of the marker tends to squish out on you, making it more difficult to draw a sharp line.

Control and Glide

Both the pen and markers are easy to control; however, I’d say the markers glide a smidge better than the pens. This leads me to the fabric response.

Fabric Response

The sharp tip of the pen can snag and get caught on the fibers of your fabric. This is particularly true for linens and other wovens. Nothing you can’t work with, but it can affect the precision of your line.

A Note on Heat and Fading

I’ve shared this warning with you before, but it’s worth repeating again as I definitely don’t want this to happen to you.

Beware that Frixion pens and markers can bleach your fabric, and the lines have a tendency of reappearing when exposed to the cold.

The bleaching is still an ongoing problem, and I noticed it when making my HRT. This is why I only use Frixion pens and markers in areas that will not be visible in the final quilt.

So, if you’re thinking of entering your quilt into a show, I encourage you to avoid using these tools to mark any exposed area of your quilt. The lines can reappear during shipment when temperatures can vary.

I definitely never use them to mark my quilt lines.

Some quilters, myself included, prefer working with chalk, a ceramic pencil (shown below), or a Hera marker (my go-to for quilt marking) 😉

Final Verdict – Which One Wins?

Each have merits and their place, but for day-to-day general patchwork prep my go-to is the Frixion pen. It gives me the precision I want, lasts quite a while, and has that satisfying click-click that also means I won’t have to pause my patchwork-making to hunt for the marker cap – ha!

Once I run out of Frixion markers in the studio, I don’t plan on restocking them but I’ll still use what I have, especially for garment making.

Have you tried both? Are you team marker or team pen? I’d love to hear what works for you—drop a comment below or tag me on Instagram @shannonfraserdesigns if you do a side-by-side test of your own!

xo,

Shannon

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