# Embroidery and/or sewing question-help!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 5, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171 "2013-06-05T01:04:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pussycat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pussycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pussycat)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171/1 "2013-06-05T01:04:04Z")

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Does anyone know of an effective way of getting rid of light pencil marks on sailcloth? I was embroidering something for my granddaughter, and I needed to trace her names so I could embroider over the pencil tracing, and her second name did not come out well, I want to try it again, but the pencil marks are still there (and can’t be erased by that pencil’s eraser without making a mess.) Is there some detergent or technique that will take it out? It’s off-white, I don’t want to use bleach for fear of ruining the rest of the work I have already done. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171/2 "2013-06-05T01:07:26Z")

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Hiya **pussycat** , regular mild delicate-wash type liquid soap should get rid of pencil marks on sailcloth. You’ll have to wet the item, but I presume that’s not a problem?

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**Author:** ![pussycat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pussycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pussycat)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171/3 "2013-06-05T02:04:46Z")

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Thanks, I will try it…

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171/4 "2013-06-05T15:08:09Z")

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Did it work? Don’t forget to show it off in the “Crafty Dopers” thread once it’s done! 🙂

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embroidery-and-or-sewing-question-help/660171/5 "2013-06-05T23:17:32Z")

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I too would like to know if this worked. I hope so!

Shameless plug for “crafty Dopers” thread

> **[Crafty Dopers, what are you working on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=691544)**
>
> I’ve added some recent projects here. Show your work!

🙂