Now you see it...now you still do! (3 pics)

[Miss*Laurence]

A little story I had forgotten about until last night when it reappeared  by magic (but very creased!).

Once upon a time, on a bright and crafty morning... bla bla bla ...
and then She thought "I will copy the design on the other side of the belt and with my new Vanishing pen "...

2 years later... look who's still here.  

-The end-
No amount of sun exposure, or water or soap made a scrap of difference at the time - nor since, shame because I really liked it 

[sthomson]

oh that's such a shame! Have you tried rubbing alcohol? (it's also known as dilute Isopropyl alcohol) I've had luck using it to get out ink stains, or at least dilute them enough so that they're less noticeable.

[violentlyknits]

well.... that is a totally amazing embroidery anyway! really really beautiful... man... wow.... I wish I had the patience...

[Miss*Laurence]

Sthomson, Thanks for the idea , I'll try that next- can't really get worth 

violentlyknits, you're too kind!
I was into belly dancing then, and I had just bought a really good issue of stitches, I think it took some 5-6 hrs at the most - and that's because I had not done shisha before.

[BYA]

The alcohol should work. It might take a couple of applications though. One of the best things to remove inks is hair spray. I used it for years before someone told me the reason hair spray works so well is because it is full of alcohol. So now I have a pump bottle full of alcohol near the washing machine.

[Miss*Laurence]

Well I tried the alcohol, I did not mess about with it - I just applied it neat on the calico until it was soaked... Then scrubbed with soap and water as it was not disappearing - I think it made a very very small difference, but that's it.     

I'm starting to think that I should just get on following the pattern and cover it as much as I can.

What's making the vanishing ink vanish anyway?

[yvonnevantpadje]

Perhaps a pen that makes normal inkt invisable ("removes inkt") would help?

[jennette]

That really is beautiful.  I'm sorry I don't have a tip to help with the (non)vanishing ink, but at least now you have the experience with shisha and your next project will take less time and be even more beautiful.   

[BelovedGoddess]

What they don't tell you is that vanishing pen has a tendency to reappear at a later time.  Have you ironed it?  Because ironing the pen can do that and unfortunately set it, just as water soluable pen marks should never be ironed, even if you have sprayed them to make them disappear, always take the time to wash the item properly first.

If all else fails you may have to extend the embroidery to cover it.   

[Miss*Laurence]

What they don't tell you is that vanishing pen has a tendency to reappear at a later time.  Have you ironed it?  Because ironing the pen can do that and unfortunately set it, just as water soluable pen marks should never be ironed, even if you have sprayed them to make them disappear, always take the time to wash the item properly first.

If all else fails you may have to extend the embroidery to cover it.   

Hi belovedgoddess
Well thanks for this insight. I have ironed it last week when I tried to remove it with alcohol, so that's now set forever  !
I am sorry to hear that it would have reappeared eventually as well! what a drag! I have 2 kinds of vanishing pens, one that vanishes when in contact with water and one (the one on my belt) that is supposed to disappear after 2-3 days in daylight.  I've not used the latter again I can tell you that! 

But is there a marking method that always works and doesn't leave its mark at all?