chalk lines question

[Auryn]

I bet right about now you guys are longing for the days when I wasn't around to yap so much.

I am having a serious problemo today.

I have a project I have been working on since February.
I was dumb enough to use this for my chalk markings http://www.joann.com/chalk-cartridge-set/xprd357399/
well now I can't get the dang green lines off my white cotton.
I tried rinsing, washing with soap and even those tide on the go spot removers- they get blood stains out but not green chalk lines- go figure

any suggestions for getting these wretched lines out??

[Kate XXXXXX]

Non chlorine bleach?  Bit harsh...

Clothes whitening sachets: 

[Auryn]

Kate, would that harm the embroidery that is on the fabric??

[Kate XXXXXX]

You'd probably need to test it, but it certainly didn't harm my mum's embroidered cotton duvet cover after tea got spilled on it and left a stain!  Tea vanished, embroidery fresh as a daisy.

[gem]

Kate has a great idea! I'm not familiar with the product she posted, but my go-to product for cleaning delicate needlework AND budging stubborn stains is Orvus. For this, I'd use enough of the product so that the water feels slippery (when I wash needlework, I use a dishpan and put about 2 teaspoons of the Orvus in the water. For a bathtub's worth, just keep adding until the water feels right?), and soak at least overnight.

Orvus is terrific at washing away everyday grime picked up on needlework as you do it; cleaning vintage linens and quilts; and soaking out stubborn stains (we used it to soak tobacco smoke/grime and makeup off a vintage linen movie costume). I will say, though, that I used it recently on my embroidered smock, and it DIDN'T actually get out all of the water-soluble ink I used to mark the cutting line (altho' I had overmarked it with Sharpie, so I suspect that had something to do with that).

Anyway. It cannot hurt.

Good luck!!

[Rowan MacD]

 You can try soaking the project in Dreft (baby laundry detergent) overnight.
  I know that when my son was an infant, any formula that got on his clothes or bedding would stain the fabric yellow.  No amount of washing or bleaching helped, and I was faced with an ever growing pile of T-shirts with stains down the front.
  The Dreft box said it would get set in stains out of the cotton, so I soaked his old, formula stained baby shirts and Onesies over night in a bucket with Dreft per the instructions,  not really expecting much improvement.
  The set in stains were completely gone by morning! The shirts looked like new.   It is a very mild detergent and will not fade colors.

[Auryn]

Thank you ladies.
I think i will try all three.

gem, Rowen, can I get those products at the grocery store or wally world?

[gem]

For some more ideas, here's a list of similar discussions on Pattern Review:
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/sewingclasses/search.pl

If that link doesn't come through, I'll come back and post the links to the individual threads. Or you can just search the boards there for "chalk."

Good luck!

***
ETA: Auryn, just saw your post. You should be able to get Dreft at the grocery store; I buy my Orvus at a quilt shop.

[Cilean]

I use and recommend that particular chalk pen to anyone and everyone! I have not had issues with it staining cotton, I am going to use some scrap fabric and see if I can get it to come out, have you used Oxyclean? It typically works with anything my kids can get on garb.  Might I suggest the Blue Water Erasable from now on?

Cilean

[Auryn]

Well
found Dreft at the grocery store, but they wanted $11 for a little bottle and I didn't have that much cash on me.

Ended up trying the OXyclean super strength stain pretreating gel stick- didn't work at all- even with an over night soak
and
Clorox bleach pen- this worked like a charm- only had to stand the gel bleach for about 3 minutes each and it all came off- only draw back is I have to be REALLY careful not to get any on the embroidery thread because it will bleach the thread almost instantly.

Cilean, I am a magnet for things going wrong for me that don't happen to other ppl. I am always the variance in a bell curve.

I am going to hit up the fabric store this weekend to get a water soluble pencil for marking

Thank you all for putting up with me.
To prove that I really am working on something and not just messing with you

this is what I have been working on and why getting the lines off was so important. I started off just making these for myself and to give as gifts but they have been so heavily requested that I am giving a shot at selling them and seeing if people like them.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109385857/cotton-steampunk-airship-handkerchief

[gem]

Lovely! Love the clouds especially.

Interestingly enough, your chalk pens were the subject of Mary Corbet's blog today!

http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/09/bohin-chalk-liner-embroidery-design-transfer.html

You might have a read and then leave a comment about your experience.

[captmarga]

I have one tool in my arsenal that has been handy for a lot of things.  Michaels, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby all carry it.  It's called Mona Lisa Pink Soap and it will get dried oil paint out of fine-art paintbrushes.  It will also get latex-enamel paint out of a satin or taffeta dress without discoloring or harming the fabric.  I have used it on many project and I'll swear by the stuff.

Marga

[Auryn]

Gonna go read now gem

thanks captmarga, I will look for it next time I am at Joanns

This is the piece I just finished, plan on carrying it around every day and I really didn't want green marking lines all over it

[Rani Zemirah]

Soooo... this thread actually is NOT about how to remove the chalk lines from a crime scene, then...?  Hmmm... I guess that would probably have been in another forum, huh?   



Hope you found something that works!  I know how hard you've been working on these, and I would hate to think it might be wasted effort!!!