Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Gel Pens…get the Cold Shoulder..

Several readers commented about the Pilot Gel Pens (see yesterdays posting)…they had read on Pam Kitty Mornings blog that although the ink is invisible when ironed when chilled the ink returns!!  YIKES! Check Pam’s blog HERE!

I had to investigate on my own…I threw my piece of fabric in the fridge and waited a few hours and the ink was still invisible.  So then I threw it in the freezer, left it for a couple of hours and to my dismay I could see the ink!  Not the magical pen that I thought it was!!P1110993

Like Pam I still think the pens are pretty neat…so I will give the pens a shot.  If the quilt gets that cold (freezing temperature) and the ink returns I will just iron the fabric or try throwing the item in the dryer.  Pretty easy to fix! 

BUT be warned…you may want to give these pens the Cold Shoulder!!

Hey, have you seen these rulers!!  They are pretty slick! 

P1110941

Do you see that there are slots cut out to put your Rotary Cutter blade in…you just whack away…no veering off course!

P1110942

They are great if you have to cut a lot of strips…first you fold your fabric in half, put your rotary cutter in the grooves and cut away!

Made by June Tailor…

P1110943

Here is Pauline cutting her fabric into strips.

P1110952

Almost as easy as the GO!  These rulers sell at JoAnn’s for about $22! (without a coupon.)

P1110954

So readers what do you think?  Is it a yeah or a neigh? 

Just got this from Staci…and she said~

I am seriously in love with these rulers. Over the past year I have become the proud owner of three of them. I have the great big one that is marked in 2 1/2 inch increments (think jelly roll strips, charms squares and layer cake squares), the medium sized one marked in 1/2 inch increments, like you are showing on your blog today, and my newest is the little one marked in 1/4 inch increments. I use a small rotary cutter with my rulers, rather than the normal 45mm. When I doing a lot of repetitive cutting, I stick colored adhesive dots on under the slots I need to use so I won't mindlessly stick the rotary cutter in the wrong one.  

Thanks so much Staci!!

Thanks for all the input and for setting the record straight!!

Have a wild Wednesday and Happy Quilting!~P

Posted by paulette at 7:15 AM

25 comments:

  1. Linda March 9, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Thanks for the info! If I'm ever in the freezing cold, I'll be happy I had my quilt...ink or not!! LOL! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. NicoleMarch 9, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    My plan is to use the pens for my embroidery work, where the ink will be covered up with my thicker thread. For quilting, I don't know if I would use it. Although, I have to ask, how often is a quilt going to be subjected to freezing temperatures? lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. CherylMarch 9, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    I have never used that ruler, but I have a couple friends that think it's WONDERFUL!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. louleeMarch 9, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    If it's so cold that my quilt is freezing, I think I'd just be glad to have the quilt and not worry too much about it's looks.
    Neat ruler.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 9, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    I only plan on using the pen for tracing for my embroidery work, so it wouldn't really show anyway, and I live in Southern California, if it got down to below freezing here, the last thing I'd worry about is ink showing on my quilt. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  6. StaciMarch 9, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    I am seriously in love with these rulers. Over the past year I have become the proud owner of three of them. I have the great big one that is marked in 2 1/2 inch increments (think jelly roll strips, charms squares and layer cake squares), the medium sized one marked in 1/2 inch increments, like you are showing on your blog today, and my newest is the little one marked in 1/4 inch increments. I use a small rotary cutter with my rulers, rather than the normal 45mm. When I doing a lot of repetitive cutting, I stick colored adhesive dots on under the slots I need to use so I won't mindlessly stick the rotary cutter in the wrong one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnnaMarch 9, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    I own two of the June Tailer rulers and love them!

    ReplyDelete
  8. BarbaraMarch 9, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Thank you for the info about the ruler! I do have one that cuts in one-inch increments, but have always wished for half-inch increments as well. I'll be searching for this my next trip to JoAnns (40% off coupon in hand)!

    ReplyDelete
  9. KarenMarch 9, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    I own the 1/2" ruler and I use it to mark cross hatching lines for quilting. The 45 degree lines are perfect for lining up and keeping things straight. Haven't used mine for cutting yet LOL!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. BarbMarch 9, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Thanks for the reviews, I will have to go to Joanns and take a look at this ruler.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy FeetMarch 9, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    I love this ruler to cut strips, just make sure your fabric is squared up and you will get perfect strips, I also have the GO! and this is MUCH MUCH easier and quicker for the srips. I have the one with the 1/2 inch slots on it. It is easier to use with the really little rotary cutter, you can use it with the 45mm, but you need to finagle your blade into the slot.

    ReplyDelete
  12. CardygirlMarch 9, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Good tip for the pens!

    ReplyDelete
  13. PattyMarch 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    I've used the rulers and think they are great!

    ReplyDelete
  14. StitchinByTheLakeMarch 9, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    I haven't used the rulers but I think they are a great idea. blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  15. Stray Stitches (Linda G)March 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    I just ordered the pens and haven't used them yet so can't give an opinion. However, my plan is to use them for line tracing for embroidery where it will be covered anyway. I do like the idea that I can get rid of the ink with just a little heat. Don't think I have to worry about the ink returning here in central California.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Paula, the quilterMarch 9, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    I love my ruler, it is the .5" one.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sandie @ crazy'boutquiltsMarch 9, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Thanks for the update! :-) I love my slotted ruler too. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. JackieMarch 9, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    have had these rulers..both the 1/2" and the 1/4" for a while...I use them all the time...but hadn't heard of the 2 1/2" one...hum...sounds like a trip to Joann's is in order...
    Thanks for the tip about the pens...as I was spraying the removable ink ones from the bibs I was making was wondering if there would be another way...but sounds like I need to proceed with caution...but like you said...if you have to freeze a bib something is wrong...did you try washing it and then putting it in the cold?

    ReplyDelete
  19. PoppyprintMarch 9, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Several of my friends have this ruler and LOVE it!!! There was a blooming 9-patch craze at my guild over the last 2 years and the ruler was super handy for cutting the bazillion strips we needed! I think they'd be helpful for someone with sore/weak wrists as well as they are more stable and less susceptible to swivel, so you don't have to put a lot of downward pressure on the ruler like with a 6" wide one.

    Bummer about the freezer.

    ReplyDelete
  20. QuiltSueMarch 9, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    Thinking about the pens, they would still work for me, I don't often freeze my quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  21. PaTcHwOrK jEnNMarch 10, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    Have you tried green flair pens by papermate? That is what I learned to use as a teenager. It washes out with water and doesn't leave a mark and I don't think it returns when freezing. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. CoryMarch 10, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    I was at a quilt show this weekend and a vendor selling these pens said that the gel washes out so that solves the problem of the ink returning in the cold. I personally haven't tested this out yet but I do plan on testing the pens more. Thank you for the info on the pens.

    ReplyDelete
  23. JenMarch 10, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Thanks for the update on the pens! I love my ruler. I have the .5" one and I use it to cut several strips at once. After a lot of use, the strips do come out a bit wonky. I hear that it's because the slots get a bit stretched out from so much wear. I need to replace mine. I didn't know they came in different sizes! I'd love to have the 1/4 inch one!

    ReplyDelete
  24. QuiltwhinnyMarch 11, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Wonderful post. I had to read carefully to see why the lady from Canada was wearing summer clothing! Could you please ask Mary what the name of her placemat pattern is! I'm enthralled with the swirls. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  25. racnedMay 26, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    All of the things you said about the gel pens are true but after you wash your quilt the ink will not re appear Regards CArol

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)