Marking fabric accurately is one of those jobs that separates a garment that fits from one that merely resembles the pattern. This Milward water-soluble chalk pencil is a mechanical, interchangeable design, so when a chalk wears down you swap in a fresh one rather than reaching for a new pencil. The set comes with twelve chalk refills across six colours (white, red, yellow, blue, pink and grey), which means there is always something that shows up on your fabric, whether it is pale cotton or dark wool.
The cap has a built-in sharpener, so template lines and seam allowances can be kept as fine as you like. Marks wipe away with a damp cloth or wash out in cold water. The one rule worth remembering is to make sure they are gone before you iron, as heat can set a mark that would otherwise have vanished. It is a small thing, but it has ruined more than one afternoon's work.
This is part of Milward's Green range, which means the packaging is 100% recyclable paper. A tidy, sensible bit of kit for sewing, quilting, dressmaking and anything else that starts with a line on a piece of fabric.
- Mechanical interchangeable chalk pencil with built-in sharpener in the cap
- 12 chalk refills in 6 colours: white, red, yellow, blue, pink, grey
- Water-soluble: wipe with a damp cloth or wash in cold water
- Remove marks before ironing
- Recyclable paper packaging
- Product code: 9299788
- Brand: Milward
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the chalk wash out completely?
Yes, the chalk is water-soluble. For most fabrics a damp cloth is enough, and a cold wash will remove the rest. Do check the marks have gone before you iron, because heat can fix them in place. It is sensible to test on an offcut first if you are working with something delicate or expensive.
Can I buy refills separately?
Yes. Milward sell a matching refill pack of twelve chalks in six colours under the code 9299788.R, so the pencil itself only needs buying once.
Which colours show up best on dark fabric?
White and yellow are the usual choices for dark fabrics, with pink and grey doing well on mid-tones. Red and blue suit pale fabrics, where white would disappear. Having all six in the set means you are covered for most projects.
How do I keep a fine line?
Use the sharpener in the cap whenever the point starts to flatten. A sharp chalk gives a thin, accurate line, which matters for seam allowances and pattern notches.
What is it suitable for?
Dressmaking, quilting, general sewing and any craft where you need to mark fabric temporarily. It is particularly handy for transferring pattern markings and drawing template outlines.
