The Sewing Place
Tools of the Trade => The Haberdashery => Topic started by: Marniesews on September 08, 2020, 01:27:32 AM
-
I like frixion pens but they don't always mark lycra that well I've bought a few different chalk wheel markers over the last few years but not been entirely satisfied by one. The Prym one was dreadful - lumpy uneven line.
In the end, I plumped for a Japanese Chakoner which is very good but also by far the most expensive of the lot. I've used it a couple of times but simply couldn't find it when I needed it yesterday for black cotton lawn. I'm a champion mislayer of sewing stuff at any time, even when it's in plain sight...so, in desperation knowing the chaco pen wouldn't survive the handling, I dashed up to the bathroom and grabbed a sliver of soap that I'd meant to throw away last week :| and used that - don't know why I'm so absurdly thrifty with soap particularly but I am. Disposal, not usage I hasten to add!!!
I've known about using soap slivers for marking fabric for some years so why have I never tried it? :headbang: I probably thought it wouldn't be easy to wipe off but I was wrong. It takes a bit more brushing than chalk but I couldn't see a residue (yes, even with my reading glasses on) and the quality of line is perfect with a nice thin sliver.
It's the best thing I've ever used. DH uses hand wash a lot but I'm hiding that until I've got a nice stock of slivers. ;)
-
... there’s an idea, there’s a bit in the bathroom soap dish!
-
I've used soap slivers for marking for years :thumbsup:
I had a nice collection in a tin which has been mislaid in the sewing room reorganisation earlier this summer :(
-
Good tip, thank you @Marniesews and Marniesews gran!
-
Excellent idea- thanks for the tip! 0_0
-
Great idea. I don’t think I’ve got any soap but my mum uses it!
-
For the most part I cant get soap to work, but I have a soapstone pencil that my great grandma used.
My grandmother was all about the chalk. I use that if I don't thread baste or tailor tack.
-
I only started buying liquid soap again when all my adopted nevoos and nieces grew up and stopped pumping the liquid stuff. They loved it! :rolleyes: I have one small sliver. I must put it somewhere safe.
-
I love soap slivers for use on dark fabrics, find them very handy.
-
When I was little, we didn't have much money so my mum was v frugal. She would save up all the slivers of soap and when she had enough would make a new bar of soap by melting them in a clean tin can in a saucepan of water on the hob! I personally couldn't be bothered with that now but will defo save them for fabric marking.
-
Way back in the late 60's I did a Tailoring course and was introduced to Wax Chalk, this was shaped exactly like the tailor's chalk that was used but was so different. Once a line was drawn it stayed put until this got removed by the iron. I only have a tiny piece left which is a shame. At that time a very enterprising haberdashery shop in a nearby village got on the bandwagon and started stocking all the bits and pieces we used in that class, like this waxed tailors chalk, linen stay tape, something called Shrunk Duck this was a lovely linen interfacing - sadly all these things are now almost impossible to get anyway.
Then a few years ago I found a shop that used to stock all manner of items, but these were not immediately seen as they were hidden away in drawers and cupboards, and I came across some other form of wax chalk, only this time this was an oblong shape and seems to have a slight glitter in it. The only way of finding that this shop had all sorts of weird and wonderful items was to ask if they could order something for you, and the reply was 'Oh we have some of that' and into the various cupboards and drawers they would go. Sadly again the oblongs of this chalk do not have any name stamped on them which is a great pity. Also the shop no longer exists.
-
@Missie my mum used to do that too. We didn’t have a lot of money either.
-
@Elnnina shame about postage and such because I have an entire box of it I will never use you can have.
-
Kwaaked thank you for such a lovely thought but as you say the postage etc. would be prohibitive, and then of course the Customs would want their share. But it does show that these sorts of products did exist - so why are they so hard to come by now.
-
Here, you can buy them from Wawak, which is where I got mine.
-
@Elnnina Amazon has this (https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Tailors-Dressmakers-Garment-Accessories-Assorted/dp/B077QG4F64) and this. (https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Zipperstop-Tailors-Crayon-Chalks-Yellow/dp/B01H63IV04/)
-
Acorn, thank you for finding that but I really only want white. I believe there is always a chance that the colours would not remove totally, which could totally be a disaster. Thanks for looking though.
-
I believe there is always a chance that the colours would not remove totally, which could totally be a disaster.
I've seen several warnings to be aware that it can leave a grease stain upon removal rather than colour stain on some fabrics. I've avoided it as a result when the sensible thing is just to test it beforehand of course. :rolleyes: I am very forgetful though so that may be part of it too.
-
Would white waxed garment chalk (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waxed-Garment-Chalk-Dustless-Chinagraph-Equivalent-Sewing-Dressmaking-Tailor/323624886286?var=512629313674&hash=item4b598be00e:g:ePwAAOSwa1hcI1RT) be what you're looking for @Elnnina?
-
Thank you Lilian for finding that, this looks very similar the the shape and colour of the unknown white wax chalk I have the one that looks like pieces of glitter are in it. I have bookmarked this for future reference.
My little piece of wax chalk left over from the 60's is not a solid white, it is sort of transparent, but that really is not the right word, it is so precious that I am very sparing with it. When I was doing the tailoring course, we had to make a sampler which consisted of half a back of a jacket, so top half of the back so that we could fit a collar on, and I was using a dark grey piece of flannel and this wax chalk showed up beautifully. It is such a shame that certain things we have used and loved have totally disappeared - why when they worked so well.
-
@Elnnina There are quite a few different types of fabric marking options here. Hancock's Garment marking (https://h-h-hancock.co.uk/our-products/tailors-wax/)
-
PollyWally thank you so much for that information, and now I have seen those boxes of chalk, they do seem similar to the white chalk that seems to glitter came from. They mention the wax chalk came in natural, so whilst I couldn't describe my small piece yesterday, I will now say it is natural, it is almost transparent.