The story below is from our June 2023 newsletter. It was a great share sent in by one of our customer friends, and I've been suggesting using hairspray before pouncing ever since. This is an excellent answer for when chalk doesn't want to cooperate. We all need refreshers from time to time, so even if it's not new to you, it may be something you've forgotten. If it is new to you, I think you're going to agree it's a game-changer. 

It's wonderful to have the opportunity to learn from one another and grow together in our quilting journey. Pati Vitt, whom we got to know as our $100 Shopping Spree Winner back in March 2022, wrote to me about a breakthrough she had while working with some uncooperative batik fabric. The chalk was not staying on the fabric.

She wrote me this: "I wanted to share something I discovered over the weekend. I've been working on a quilt using batiks and have just recently upgraded to a longarm on a frame. The chalk powder - including the ultimate white, blue and pink - wasn't adhering to the batik very well, so I tried using hairspray after I applied the chalk. Pink worked best, but I had to swipe it on thickly so I could see it well enough. But! The lines would essentially evaporate from the vibrations of the machine as I approached them, sometimes even before I got there.

So…I tried something different…I sprayed the hairspray on the area I wanted to mark BEFORE applying the chalk! It worked so very well! First, the damp hairspray held the stencil in place while I was swiping the powder on. Second, because the stencil stayed in place, the lines were very clear and adhered well to the fabric. I let the spray dry and then loaded the quilt onto the frame. The lines stayed on better than I ever expected! It worked really well and will likely be my go-to method for tightly woven fabrics like batik. I use Suave Extra Hold - an aerosol. 

We are so blessed to have people in this community who generously share their breakthroughs! I try, but I can't think of everything! Your tips and discoveries are always welcome here.