Hi Toledo---

If you look in the stitching aid section under item categories here at Everything, they make a pen called Mark-b-gone that is water soluble so when you wash the fabric it should wash out when you're finished stitching. I think they also make quilter's pens like this but I would always test any pen like this on a small piece of any fabric (separate from your project since you do not want to wash away your stamped project or a portion of it by mistake) first and rinse under water to be sure it comes out or check with the sewing department in a store. I hope this is helpful. Happy stitching.

there are special marking pencils for drawing patterns on quilting material that I've used to mark out grids on x-stitch material. It washes out when you're finished your project. You can get them at x-stitch stores or even at Wal-Mart. I think they come in various clours; I've used the blue colour on white or ivory coloured material.

Thank you very much for your suggestion. I'll look into it. Do you think that ironing (without steam) the stamped design would help to "set" the design so that the blue X's won't disappear as I work the design? Or do you know of any other tricks that would help preserve the blue X's of the design?

I would be concerned that the ironing would cause it to set the ink. I had the same problem with a Dimension bib stamped kit. I found that (being right handed) that if I stitched right to left my hand would only touch the work I had finished. I also got a pen from the local quilting shop that was water soluable . I was told to be careful in my choice though b/c there are pens out there that the ink is very temporary (lasts only hrs).

Thanks to this group of women, I learned about the pens.

The pens where the ink goes away quickly are called "Air Eraseable". I had one once. It was violet instead of blue. Vanishes too quickly!