So the other night, I had a minor stress attack when my iron transferred brown stuff onto a very important quilt with a white background. Essentially, it left a skiddy on my fabric. I KNOW! My darling scientist-husband got right to work to clean it off (soap and water did the trick) and then cleaned the iron too. Following his great success, and avoiding addressing my fear of it happening again, I set him to work to finish what I had started – ironing off the Frixion pen lines I had drawn on for quilting. He did not believe me that it worked, but it did. He then didn’t believe me that making the fabric really cold brings it back again. So, an experiment was born…
METHODS
Using a scrap piece of white homsepun fabric, “plain black Frixion pen” was written in the middle using a black Frixion pen. The writing was ironed to erase the writing, and a small square drawn in the bottom corner as a control to examine what would happen to normal black Frixion pen when placed in a freezer. The piece of fabric was placed in the freezer on the top of some frozen food and left for 5 minutes to get cold. The exact temperature of the freezer has not been ascertained, but it is known that it freezes food and keeps it frozen successfully.
The fabric was removed after 5 minutes and it was observed that the writing had indeed returned faintly. It was not bold, black writing, but it was observable under normal lighting and brighter lamp lighting and from a distance too. The experiment was repeated on the same piece of fabric – ironing to remove the ink and placing in the freezer. This time the fabric was checked after 1 minute and the return of the writing had already occured, and to the same level of visibility as before.
It is important to note that there was the slightest hint of yellowing around the pen markings when they reappeared.
RESULTS
Black Frixion pen is visibly removed with the use of an iron, but below zero temperatures will bring it back, albeit faintly. Nothing occured to the control square – it remained exactly the same throughout the experiment.
DISCUSSION
As to why this phenomenon occurs, no one is certain. One possibility is that the pen is water-soluble and the steam from the iron removes the fine layer sitting on top of the cotton. Once the cotton is cooled, the remaining ink that had soaked into the cotton is reconstituted. It would be interesting to see what would happen should the fabric be placed in the fridge at around 4 degrees Celsius. Conversely, the effect of heat on Frixion markers has also been observed within the planner community where planners left in hot cars have had the notes and appointments written in Frixion pen removed by the heat.
Many apologies to the real scientists within our midst. I have not written up a science experiment in 10 years!
Sandra says
I have done similar tests myself with frixion pens in blue, red and black. Ironing removed them perfectly. Then I put them 10 min in the fridge – the marks did not return
5 min in the freezer – faintly visible
30 min in the freezer – marks were back as clearly as they were first made
Washing my scrap removed most of the mark (I checked by freezing after washing), but proper washing may do a better job.
My worry would be the long term effect of the ink on the fabric if the mark should stay in the fabric (even if you don’t see it), so I probably would check that it completely washes out before I would use it on an heirloom…
– And yes, I am a scientist, too! –
Lisa Mc says
I did a similar experiment, although mine was a supposed friction erasable pen (which with heat). But i don’t use steam and it still erases the pen.
Johanna says
I believe it is the heat not the steam, even though I would prefer steam! I left my pens in the sun (accidentally) and they won’t write anymore – even after leaving them in the freezer for a few days…
Carole @ From My Carolina Home says
While I was at the AQS show, I took a class with Jamie Wallen. He says never use Frixon pens because the markings can return in some instances, not necessarily just cold weather. He uses water soluable blue markers and takes them off with a citrus blend called Sew Clean. He has never had any markings return no matter what is done to the quilt – washer, drier, heat, cold, whatever.
Carla says
I use Frixion pens a lot, but only where they will not show – just in case. Proper washing should remove the marks, but I still only use them for marking appliqué (where the marks will be hidden) and not for marking quilting lines (where there is no place to hide). I have yet to finish and wash my Frixion WIP.
DeborahGun says
Oh I love it – quilting and science combined – my favourite!
Anne says
Warning! It can leave a thin bleached line. The kona solids don’t respond well to it at all. Always test before using. I love it for drawing the line through centre on HST blocks or writing block placement on seams at back of block. Love your experiment! 🙂
Kathleen says
I was going to say the same thing as Anne did. I don’t know if I was using Kona solid or not, but I used a black Frixion pen on navy blue scrap, just to practice writing with it. I found the scrap again probably months later and for the heck of it, I ironed the marks and it did leave a very clear bleached area. So, use carefully on dark fabrics.
Seraphym handmade says
I used on on some navy flannel, and if left a faint bleached mark then also. I’m really hesitant in using them now.
Lucy @ charmaboutyou says
This made me giggle! I love using my frixion pen and don’t really care how it works, just that is does! 😉
Paula K. says
I think i will use the two,pens i bought sparingly AND only where marks won’t be seen. Thanks for the tip about the blue pen as i have had that return even after numerous times damping the quilt. Will keep an eye out for the fitrus solution. Thanks for all the comments. This was definitely a learning blog! Sincerely, Paula K.
Paula K. says
Citrus solution! Opps
Rachel @ Quiltineering says
I so enjoyed your little experiment! Thanks for a thoughtful post 🙂
Vicki says
Very interesting.
Jeneta says
I was just asking your good friend Joshua about his Frixion pen. I bought some a couple of weeks ago as stocking stuffers for my older kids. I don’t think they’ll be making it anywhere near a Christmas stocking! Do you think it matters what colour the Frixion pen is? I bought a range of colours!
Carrie @Gotcha Covered Quilting says
Thankfully it doesn’t get cold enough in these parts or my daughter would have lovely blue Frixion pen marks all over her quilt. Interesting though, and thanks for testing it out!
Dai says
Acoording to the manufacturer, Fixxon markers work by chemical bonding. Explained in detail here:
Likely kona solids dye contains pigments that are bondable to the chemicals involved in the reaction and are resulting in “bleaching”.
Alyce says
Ahhhh, interesting!
Vicki says
a small hair dryer works great and is safe for kids