Short answer
Sharpie Stained fabric markers are brush-tip markers made for cloth. The listing says the ink adheres to a wide array of fabrics and resists fading during normal wash cycles. Prewash the fabric, let designs dry fully, and follow the care steps on the pack. They show best on white and light fabrics; on black, use an opaque white fabric marker first.
What Stained by Sharpie is
Stained by Sharpie is Sharpie’s fabric marker line. The core product is an 8-color brush-tip set (black, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple, per the Amazon listing in the picks below). The listing says the brush tip lays down both thick and thin lines, that the ink adheres to a wide array of fabric types, and that it resists fading during normal wash cycles. Those are maker claims; we found no independent wash test.
Regular Sharpie permanent markers are not the same thing. They use translucent dye ink sold for paper and hard surfaces, not for cloth, so expect bleeding and fading in the wash. Use Stained or another fabric marker for anything you will wear.
Stained vs other Sharpie markers on fabric
Listing claims plus general guidance
| Marker | Made for fabric? | What to expect on clothes |
|---|---|---|
| Stained by Sharpie | Yes | Listed as resisting fading in normal wash cycles |
| Classic Sharpie permanent | No | Can bleed, feather and fade with washing |
| Sharpie Creative (acrylic) | Not sold for fabric | Water-based paint for paper and crafts; test before washing |
| Sharpie oil-based paint marker | No | Stiff, solvent paint; better for shoes’ rubber soles and hard surfaces |
How to use Sharpie Stained fabric markers
- Prewash the fabric.
Wash and dry unworn clothes first, without fabric softener, so sizing and softener do not block the ink.
- Put cardboard inside.
Slip card or a shirt board between layers so ink does not bleed through to the back.
- Draw with the brush tip.
Use the tip for thin lines and the side for fills. Light, steady strokes bleed less than slow, heavy ones.
- Let it dry fully.
Leave the piece flat until the ink is completely dry, and follow the drying time on the pack before the first wash.
- Wash gently, inside out.
Turn the item inside out and use a gentle cycle; a cool wash and air drying are kinder to any fabric design. This is general care advice, so the pack instructions win.
Results vary by fabric, so try a hidden spot or a scrap of the same material first. Tightly woven cotton and canvas give the crispest lines. For more on prep and heat-set paints, read our guide to paint pens on fabric.
Dark fabric: what to do
Stained ink is a dye-style fabric ink, so it is less vivid on black and navy. One workaround is a white or light opaque base first, colored over once dry. Simpler still, an opaque fabric paint marker is the simpler choice for dark clothes: see white fabric markers and black fabric markers for picks.
Sharpie Stained and alternatives
Stained first, then fabric markers that cover what it does not. All listings checked by hand.
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Sharpie Stained Fabric Markers, brush tip, 8 count
The Sharpie fabric line: eight brush-tip colors for T-shirts, totes and canvas shoes.
- Brush tip
- 8 colors
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Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers, fine tip, 20 pack
A bigger palette with fine tips for lettering and outlines on light fabric.
- Fine tip
- 20 colors
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Tulip Dual Tip Fabric Markers, 14 pack
Fine and brush tips on one pen, a close match to how Stained is used.
- Fine and brush tips
- 14 colors
-
edding 4500 Textile Marker, black
A textile marker for crisp black lines and names on clothes.
- Round nib 2 to 3 mm
- Black
-
Artline Fabric Marker, white, 3 pack
White for dark clothing, where Stained colors look faint.
- 1.2 mm
- White, for dark fabric
-
Crayola Fabric Markers, fine tip, set of 10
A kid-friendly fabric set for class T-shirts and craft days.
- Fine tip
- 10 colors
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Need names on laundry rather than designs? Rub-a-Dub is compared with Stained in Sharpie fabric markers. Made a mistake with a regular Sharpie? See how to get permanent marker out of fabric.
Is Stained the right fabric marker for you?
- Yes, if you are decorating white or light cotton and want brush strokes.
- Choose Tulip if you want more colors or fine writers; see Tulip fabric markers.
- Choose an opaque paint marker for dark fabric or bold graphics.
- Choose a laundry marker for names on labels; small and high contrast beats color.
Compare all options in fabric markers and permanent fabric markers, or go back to the Sharpie paint markers overview.
Questions people ask
How to erase permanent marker from fabric?
Act before washing, because heat can set the stain. A common method is to put a towel under the stain and dab the back of it with rubbing alcohol so the ink transfers to the towel, then rinse and launder as usual. Test on a hidden seam first, since alcohol can lift some dyes. Results vary by fabric and ink, and fabric markers are designed not to come out.
Does Sharpie come off glass?
Usually, yes. Glass is smooth and non-porous, so ink sits on top. Rubbing alcohol on a cloth removes most classic Sharpie marks. Dried oil-based paint marker usually needs a solvent such as rubbing alcohol; test on a small area first. Sharpie marks on glass will also wear off with handling and washing.
Are Sharpie pens waterproof?
Once dry, classic Sharpie permanent marker resists water on paper and most hard surfaces, and Sharpie’s oil-based paint marker listings describe ink that resists water. Clothing is different: regular permanent markers are not sold for fabric and often fade or bleed in the wash, which is why Sharpie sells Stained for fabric.
What marker works best on fabric?
A marker made for fabric. Stained by Sharpie, Tulip fabric markers and edding 4500 are all sold for clothes. For light fabric, a brush or fine tip fabric marker works well. For dark fabric, use an opaque fabric paint marker in white or a bright color, since dye-style fabric markers barely show on black.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.