Are FriXion Pens the Best Fabric Marking Tool? I Tested Them on 8 Popular Fabrics

Nichole Jensen
May 31
2 min read

Colorful fabrics with patterns and prints surround three PILOT FriXion pens—black, red, and blue—on a white wood surface.

Trying Something New in My Sewing Toolkit

If you sew regularly, you know the struggle of finding the perfect fabric marking tool. Some don’t show up on certain fabrics. Others stain or dry out after just a few uses. Over the years, I’ve tried chalks, disappearing markers, water-soluble pens—you name it.

Lately, I’ve been noticing fellow sewists using PILOT FriXion Pens as their go-to tool. They’re not marketed for fabric at all—they’re actually gel pens with thermo-sensitive ink that erases with friction. But I figured if heat can erase them on paper, why not fabric?

So, I bought a pack and put them to the test.

Watch the video:

What Are PILOT FriXion Pens?

FriXion Pens are regular gel pens designed to erase with the rubber tip on the back. On paper, they work amazingly well—smooth to write with, and the ink disappears completely with a bit of friction.

But for sewing? It was time to experiment.

Supplies:

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My Test Setup

I tried the pens on 8 fabrics I commonly use in sewing projects:

Cotton Woven
Fleece
Felt
Waterproof Canvas
Vinyl
PUL (Polyurethane Laminate)
Flannel
Minky

Hands drawing on fabric with a marker on a teal grid cutting mat. Fabric has cherries.

I used a thin plastic template to trace a shape onto each fabric. Then I tested two removal methods:

The rubber eraser tip on the pen
Heat from my Cricut EasyPress Mini (any dry iron would work!)

Writing Performance

✅ Cotton, felt, flannel, vinyl, canvas, and PUL: The pens wrote very clearly with smooth, dark lines.

⚠️ Fleece and Minky: Because of their fluffy texture, I had to go over the lines a few times to make them visible—but they still worked.

Hands ironing small cherry fabric on gray surface with a Cricut EasyPress Mini. Nails painted blue, floral pattern visible. Calm, focused setting.

Erasing with Heat: Magic!

This part blew me away.

I used my Cricut EasyPress Mini (no steam) and watched the marks vanish instantly—like magic! No scrubbing or residue.

Hand holding cherry-patterned white fabric square, set on a gray background. A beige and black device is visible on the right side.

Even on tricky materials like vinyl and waterproof canvas, the ink disappeared completely.

Hand holding a Cricut EasyPress Mini on parchment paper, with a green cutting mat and black pen nearby. Blue text reads "sew" on a white sheet.

I did lay a piece of parchment paper between the heat press and the fabric to prevent melting or burning but it didn't affect the ease of removal at all.

Hands holding bright yellow fleece on a gray fabric and green cutting mat background with grid lines, creating a crafty mood.

📝 Note: On fleece, there was a slight indentation—likely from pressure—not ink.

Hand tracing a fabric piece on a green cutting mat. Blue nails with floral design. Clear template says "No sew cord keeper."

Erasing with the Pen’s Rubber Tip

I tested the rubber eraser out of curiosity. It technically worked on some fabrics but stretched the fabric slightly. I wouldn’t recommend it for most projects although it would work great for small areas where a stray pen line was visible in a seam.

Final Verdict: Will I Use Them Again?

Absolutely! These pens are smooth, clean, affordable, and super easy to remove with heat.

They’ve now earned a permanent spot in my sewing toolkit—and I’m even considering getting a lighter color for dark fabrics.

Have You Tried FriXion Pens for Fabric?

I’d love to hear your experience! Drop a comment below if you’ve used FriXion Pens in your projects—or if you have another favorite fabric marking tool.

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