OCquilter

I am going to be making a quilt from signed squares from a wedding reception. Does anyone know the most permanent markers to use to sign the squares? It will end up being a wall hanging but still may be washed occasionally. Fabric will cotton beige neutrals.

nativetexan

I was in swaps for years and always used a Micron Pigma pen .05 in size. It doesn't say to heat set but I always did that to my blocks and to the ones I received. They are still going strong.

Donnamarie

I made one for my daughter for her wedding. I used Pigma Permanent Pens and had my neice walk around with a basket of premade squares. You should also bring a clipboard with sandpaper on it. It grasps the fabric nicely when signing on the fabric. Do not let people sign out to the edges, you must leave room for the seam allowance when piecing them together. Good luck!

Peckish

The pigma pens will work. Do not use Sharpies. I agree with the sandpaper idea, or maybe even iron the squares onto freezer paper. Either one will stabilize the fabric while people write on it.

feline fanatic

Echo the Micron Pigma pens. And agree with Peckish about the freezer paper. You may also wish to pre-mark the seam allowance with a washable pen so people don't write into it.

mckwilter

Yes, use the Pigma pens, then heat set the ink with a dry iron. Expanding on the clipboard idea, take a manila file folder and on the outside, cut out a square slightly smaller than the finished size of the block (for example, cut the fabric square at 5-1/2" for a 5" finished block; cut the hole in the file folder at 4-3/4" square. On the inside, trace the outside square and use double-sided tape to tape a 5-1/2" square of fine grit sandpaper over the tracing so you will know exactly where to place the fabric square. For the example below, I used a plain, brown manila folder, but they come in many colors. You could also set up a table, make several of these folders and write the instructions on the front. But it is always better to have someone sitting with them to make sure the signers are doing it right.
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AnnieSue

Micron Pigma and Freezer paper are the way to go.

AliKat

Pigma pens - you will need more than one. Also, do make the file folder similar to what mckwilter showed but the opening made for whatever signature area your blocks have. It helps to have a baseline on the inside back of the file folder for those who need the extra help.

Painiacs

Did 2 for my daughter used fabric pens, a lot in different colors!

Scissor Queen

You can also go to the scrapbook department and use any of the pens that are marked archival. They have a bigger variety of tips and colors and are generally cheaper than Pigma pens.