Below is a list of commonly asked questions. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to call or write. Thanks!

Happy Quilting!

Marilyn Deas

1.    Which  color Quilt Pounce should I pick?

            In order to decide which color chalk is best for you,  you need to know a few things. First, both colors show up on a wide variety of fabrics. The blue, obviously won't show up well on the medium shade of blue and the white obviously won't show up well on white fabric. If you do a lot of quilting involving light colors blue chalk may be better than white and if you like to work with pastels and blue's the white may be the second best choice. The best choice of course is to have one of each!

2.    What is the difference between the Quilt Pounces with Chalk and the Ultimate Quilt Pounce?

            The Quilt Pounces with either the white or blue chalk powders mark your quilt top well and then they must be removed by brushing or washing. The Ultimate Pounce Powder which is sold with the Ultimate Quilt Pounce is a light white powder, a type of tailors chalk that irons off with a steam or dry iron.

3.    What is the difference between the white and blue chalk?

          The white chalk is basically chalk and the blue is the same as the white except for a small amount of a concentrated blue pigment added to it. Blue is a non-staining color unlike yellow but you must test your fabric to be sure, especially if you don't want to wash your quilt. Both chalks are non-permanent and will wash out when laundered. Fabrics vary so be sure and test!   

4.     Do I need a different Quilt Pounce for each color chalk?

            We recommend that you have one Quilt Pounce for each color. If you do switch, be prepared for a long transition time until it is completely changed to the second color.

5.     How long does the chalk last?

            The Quilt Pounce comes with 4 oz. of chalk or 2 oz. of Ultimate Pounce Powder. Regardless, the volume of both powders is the same. They should fill your Quilt Pounce about 4 times and allow you to mark a couple of large quilts of an average amount of quilting and probably more.     

6.     I can't see my lines, what's wrong?   

            A Quilt Pounce is a very simple device. If you can't see the lines there really is only one possible reason. The pad you're using is not completely primed. When you first fill your Quilt Pounce with either the chalk or the Ultimate Pounce Powder it is necessary to "prime" the pad. To do this, fill the pad as full as you can, replace the red caplug and set it into the bottom tray. Using your hand or something semi-soft, tap the pad to get the powder flowing through the layers that make it up and the outer terrycloth. This is not exactly a gentle process. If you can't see your lines, you've been too gentle. It may take up to 5 minutes to really get it primed and ready to transfer your stencils. Once it is primed a periodic tap in the palm of your hand (with the bottom tray on) will keep it working nicely.  If you're putting a stencil pattern on to a quilt that's stretched into the rolls of a longarm machine you may want to use something to support it from underneath. The Pounce Pad works best when used on a hard surface.

7.    Am I supposed to "pounce" the pad onto the stencil?

        No! I have heard numerous times when I demo the Quilt Pounce and stencils, "mine doesn't work like that!".  I ask them to show me how they use their Quilt Pounce and invariably they are making tiny repetitive taps across the stencil. This will yield very unsatisfactory results - not to mention wasting chalk and creating a lot of dusting for yourself! The way to "pounce" the pad is by making one firm tap and then without picking it up again rubbing the pad for about the next 4 inches then repeating the process. It's not an exact science, if you understand that you need to get the powder out of the pad and then rub what comes out into your fabric you will find a way that suits you.  There shouldn't be a cloud of chalk rising from transferring a stencil! 

8.    How do I stop my chalk lines from disappearing?

            Sometimes, depending on our fabric, the chalk wants to disappear before we're ready to have it gone. Some fabrics require nothing be done and the chalk grips the fibers and adheres well. Other fabric are not so cooperative. To solve this problem there is an easy solution - ordinary hair spray. After you transfer your stencil just spray a coat of hair spray over it from about 8 inches away. Spray enough to wet it but not too much to where the moisture soaks the lines away. Use an aerosol spray as opposed to a pump and the less expensive the better. You can spray the Ultimate Pounce Powder too although it's adhesion is already really great. You may run across a fabric that even it won't want to adhere to. Spraying over it with hairspray doesn't effect how it irons off at all.

9.    Can I wash off the Ultimate Pounce Powder?

            Yes! Ironing it off is the easiest way to remove it but by no means the only way. Sometimes when you're using a poly batting or metallic thread you may not want to iron it away. It will come off easily with a damp cloth. It also brushes off. It will iron off from the back if you have delicate appliqué you may not want to iron over.

10.  Is there any particular way I should store the Quilt Pounce when I'm not using it?

            You may want to store it in its tray upside down. This keeps the powder from settling in the pad and  over-saturating it.