I would appreciate some suggestions on this as well.

At a recent quilt guild meeting the speaker recommended Quilter's Choice pencils. I googled them and came up with the attached article. I don't often mark my fabric before quilting but I'm going to try this.

I'm sure we talked about these pencils in a recent post too but I couldn't find it when I searched. As I recall, there were some very positive comments about them.

I think whatever kind you use, you would need a light and a dark for black/white fabric.

Hope this helps,
Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: marking pencils

Couldn't you mark your pattern on the quilt backing?
Or would that create problems sewing with the backside up?
Cathy

I often find that graphite will work on both, but a silver pencil works the best.

I have a blue pen that washes out with water (I can use a damp towel and blot, too). I use it to mark my blocks for my hand applique. I think the blue is bright enough it would show up on black.

I find that I use my gray pencil the most. It shows on both light and dark fabric. I have a white one for the medium tones.