Review: The Morgan Marking System
To me this is big news: a marker that marks clearly, precisely and removes fairly easily. It’s a marker that’s been around for awhile-Morgan’s-and some of you may have already tried it. I rediscovered it in Houston at the vendor’s booth. I probably even have an old one somewhere in the catacombs of my quilt paraphernelia! 
I am curious if any of you have used this before and what your impressions were of it, whether good or bad. I put it right to the test after I got back and marked a grid in graphite on WHITE silk dupioni, so if I was going to have a problem, it would be on this project. I “swish washed” in the bathtub, moving it around lightly with my feet-I only did this for 2 min, just to test it. And hallelujah, the marks completely disappeared. 
The marker comes with 2 marking methods, one graphite and one soapstone. I purchased it with a high quality sharpener and both sharpened up sharp as a tack-yes! So my marks were therefore very clear, very skinny, very precise. Both methods are so soft that it goes on with the lightest touch, so the fabric is not moving around. Even a skinny blue marker leaves a wider line that this marker. When you’re quilting a grid, it’s so much easier to quilt accurately without wobble if your line is skinny.
I think the graphite would stand up on a large sized project, but I am thinking the soapstone is not quite as durable and you might have to mark as you quilted. But the soapstone worked beautifully on the dark side of my small challenge project.
I had also used a blue washout marker earlier in the project and I marked pretty heavily with that. I actually saw the graphite completely disappear before some of the heavier areas of blue wash out did. Of course it was my error to have marked that hard with the blue marker….
So what do you think-ever tried it?
I bought this same package 3 yrs ago at QuiltFest Jacksonville. Love the washable graphite and use it almost exclusively on light fabrics. I’m not as crazy for the soapstone but have not really given it much of a chance. Maybe I’ll try it again on your recommendation.
I liked how easily the soapstone went on but it’s definitely softer and therefore easier to rub off. Let me know if you try it again-love to know what you thought.
I have a set in my drawer and I’m guessing it is pushing 10 years old. As I recall, the problem I had is that the marks would not show up on my fabric. That was a long time ago. Perhaps I should give it another try.
If you sharpen it with a good sharpener, I think you’ll find that both go on very easily and will show up. Of course, the lightest hand possible is the best-you have to get it out too!
Sounds good. I haven’t heard of it before. I’ve been using the Frixion pen with some trepidation because it marks so easily. There’s got to be something wrong with that!
Oh please check out my posts on frixion pens! They are wonderful except when they’re not! Check out my posts on them by going to the right hand column under “tags” and clicking on the “Frixion Pen” tag. They are great in the right circumstances.
I’ve used the soapstone but never the graphite. That is going on my list of things to try!
I think the graphite actually works better than the soapstone, but I’ve not tried it on a larger project yet.
I have never seen this, but now I must try! I have been using a Frixion pen but it makes a rather wide line. Thanks for the info!
Love the Frixions though in the right situation!
Not tried this one yet, but then I don’t mark a lot :)
That is a good way to live-don’t mark!!
I’ve not tried this brand but I have used soapstone markers without problems. They did not seem to disappear too soon but they do come out easily when you brush them away. I did notice that as you mark with soapstone you ‘polish’ the end of the marker so it is handy to have an emery board or a piece of sandpaper nearby to remove the shiny tip that appears on the soapstone.
Good to know. With this marker I didn’t have the shiny issue-perhaps because the tip is so very sharp? It does seem to be one of the better ways to mark dark or busy fabrics.
You probably remember that I bought the markers too. As usual, you are several steps ahead of me. I’m going to get it out and give it a try. Thanks for the kick!
I’m trying it on a real quilt this week-yikes!