Before using the pen, put a piece of masking tape on the back of the fabric...this holds it tightly in place, and makes it easier to write on. many advocate ironing it to freezer paper, which does work, but using the tape accomplishes the same thing without having to get out the ironing board.

I found years ago that the .5 tips were hard to use. I've now got 3 other different kinds and still have not found any that I'm totally satisfied with using.

neat tip about the masking tape.

One time I dampened the fabric with a little mist to make it easier to press, and the ink blurred badly! Even if you iron the inking afterward, let it dry--I leave it for 24-48 hours, just to be double-triple sure. Only then will I wet the fabric.
Use a very light hand, letting the pen stay in contact with the fiber for the shortest time possible, so the fibers don't draw up more ink. If you are tracing something, using a light table of course, scotch tape on the back is even easier to see through than masking tape or freezer paper.
BE SURE TO REMOVE THE TAPE BEFORE IRONING.
BlueBars

I have used the Micron pens for ever, .5,.1, and brush. I must have been lucky as I have never experienced a problem. I usually use them when the quilt is finished so taping wouldn't work for me. Jayne

Jayne, you are a brave girl to write on a finished quilt!
To stabilize a section of a finished quilt for writing, lay it over a sturdy cardboard box, then stick straight pins (with round ball heads -- safer for removal) through the quilt and into the box outside the writing area.
(I've also used this method to stabilize a section of quilt prior to repair.)
BlueBars

Regarding the "dragging" feeling you get from using the finest pens on fabric: Press only as much as necessary to transfer the ink to the fabric. It is a different way of writing. Most people find it difficult at first. You might need to take tiny strokes, lifting the pen after each stroke.

I don't affix the fabric to anything, but I give it a good pressing first, with a little bit of starch. Also, I iron immediately after writing. It might set the ink better than just air drying. I haven't had any bleeding.

Sometimes I write free handed, sometimes I trace something I've printed (in a decorative font) on the computer. I tape it to the window, so the light shows through.

I write on the fabric that is to be my label, press, then piece it into the quilt back. I usually make the back design much more simple than the front.

I also have used them for a long time with no problem.I make sure my fabric has been washed and dried first,then i iron it to freezer paper which is no problem for me as my ironing board is set up in my sewing/craft room 24/7.I then let it set up overnight and re-iron it in the morning.Been doing it for years that way.
Kathi

My fabric label was washed, dried, ironed, pressed to dbl sided fusible with backing...so I think I did everything I was supposed to do. The dragging was horrible & I think that's what created the bleeding instead of the washing (after more thought). I was trying to "sign" my quilt & found it almost impossible to write normal. I can use them in a pinch if needed for quilt labels, but I can also use them for scrapbooking. What a bummer. Maybe I should go to the Micron website & ask the company personally...see if they have any further recommendations.

Micron pens can be tricky. I had a friend who wanted to do a personalized label on a gift quilt. This involved three people signing the label and one of them was left handed. I noticed the left handed person had the worst time writing on the fabric. I ended up using the pen and paying close attention to exactly what I did so I could teach him how to write on fabric. I learned a lot about how I use the pens during this experience. Quick light strokes are key. Never try to push the pen, always pull the pen in the direction you want to go. This is why the left handed person had such trouble using the pen.

I love the tape idea! I hate pulling out the iron for such a quick task so I have been roughing it without anything to hold the fabric.

Foxy.

Maybe this is cheating, but if time is short, or signers are far away or unavailable, or don't have the right pen, forgot to sign, or whatever, you can carefully trace their signature for them, with their permission.
I had a block exchange once, and one friend who made a block for me was terrified to write on the fabric, after spending so much time with applique on the block. She wrote me a nice letter apologizing, with a signature at the bottom for me to trace if I wish. You can photocopy a block or pattern and have them sign on paper so it fits correctly.
My handwriting is so unattractive, I print my name with cursive computer fonts and then trace my name. Yeah, it's cheating but it looks pretty.
BlueBars

Good ideas BlueBars! My handwriting isn't the greatest either so your second tip will be very useful.

Foxy.

Maybe it was just the fabric I was using. I'm working on the Grandma's Kitchen quilt again & needed to use the pigma pens to write a recipe on the applique recipe card. This time...it didn't bleed. I don't know what was different except for the fabric & maybe I was a bit more careful. Maybe they just take some getting used to. And short strokes do help. Also, if you are rt handed, you can't make marks that go right to left.

It's probably the cheaters way...but I'm using red ink to transfer so I can embroider in red thread right over top.