I am so surprised to hear that this happened with a cotton jacket. Typically cotton is pretty bombproof, in my experience anyway. So sorry, Angie!

Thanks, Dana. *sigh*. What can you do.

Thanks for the hairspray rec, VC.

Julie, what is hand cleaner?

What a bummer

Angie, I suspect she means hand sanitzer (like Purell). That stuff gets off ANYTHING. Marker off walls, crayon off tables (ask me how I know).

No useful advice but I am so sorry. It was Chicago citron blazer, right?
I hope you can get it off without a damage to the jacket!

id consult with a high end cleaner, the ones that do weddings and other formal ideas. they may have some ideas.

Angie, can you launder the entire thing to even out the color?

My understanding is that rubbing alcohol helps to remove most ink stains.

Failing all else, my husband has successfully used turpentine to remove an unknown stain from his fairly new nylon coat. Of course, that was a totally different stain and fabric, but it IS used to remove paint from brushes, so if all else fails and it's ruined either way it might be worth the risk!

ACK!! Angie, I am so sorry. That jacket is such a stunner on you. Do they still have any in your size in this colour? If worst came to worst, perhaps you could dye (or simply donate) the spoiled one.

I have had some luck with ink stains on cotton sheets using a combination of the recommended methods. First I tried the hair spray idea. No use. Then I tried the rubbing alcohol/ blotting technique. It lifted a huge amount of the stain away, but not all of it. I then resorted to glycerine soap and Shout soaking...and was amazed that the stain disappeared.

I wish you luck. Please keep us posted.

Oh dear - I know exactly how you feel. Keeping my clothes, shoes, and bags pristine is very important to me, too. I have some books with home cleaning tips, and for ink they recommend hair spray. Maybe the item just needs to dry out thoroughly. Often, fabrics change color when wet but return to their original state after drying out.

Angie, I'm sorry about your jacket!! I hope some of these suggestions work. I would try the hairspray before the hand sanitizer. It could discolor your garment.

Old school hairspray and hand sanitizer all work because they have a high percentage of alcohol in them. If you have plain old rubbing alcohol, you're good to go. And then you don't have the added concern of extra ingredients that might further discolor your garment. But it's always a good idea to spot test in a hidden area first. Cotton fabrics like Angie's are tricky. Polyester is not as delicate and stains come out easier.

I hate to bring dissent but I'm afraid the alcohol based products will lift the color along with the stain. Angie, I would test In a non visible area first.

Totally agree with that, Zapotee. Especially since the colour has already faded a bit with what Angie did already. So testing first would be wise.

Oh crud! I have no additional advice, but I'm hoping it can be saved! I sympathize, Angie!

I'm so sorry! I loved that jacket.

Angie, this may not help, but I sometimes save things by "Project Alabama"-ing over stains with reverse embroidery and (sometimes, but rarely for me) beading. Is it *possible* that a tiny touch of RATE might swing with this, worst comes to worst?

Oh Angie I am so sorry. I hope it came out . I have used the hairspray before and had excellent luck.

Angie I am so sorry! I have no further suggestions. Do let us know the final outcome.

So sorry to hear this Angie. Hope suggestions from all our Fabbers work out like a miracle. I sometimes try kerosene/ tomato rub in case of tough stains.

By now you have most likely drowned your sorrow over the pen mark incident with a glass of wine (at least I would have!) but I want to offer my vibes that it dries the proper color and stain lifts out. I once ruined a pretty peach blazer when the cap of a purple marker came off in a pocket so I understand.

This *is* what annoys me about cleaners... I will not wear an item because it is ruined by a stain and yet the cleaners will not touch it in case it they ruin it, senseless and pointless.

If the stain comes out could the blazer be overdyed back to its former glory?

*fingers crossed*

I have no other tips to add, Angie, I just want to say that I hope you can still save your gorgeous blazer!

This stinks, with a capital S.

Oh no! : (

I hope it looks better once it dries.

Oh no - sorry to hear, Angie!

Hope what you tried worked!

If your local cleaners won't touch it, perhaps the team at The Laundress in New York can help. They accept laundry and will clean it for a fee and ship it back to you. http://www.thelaundress.com/AboutUs/about-us.asp

Thanks for all your support, ladies. I really appreciate the creative solutions and chuckles along the way.

Dana, I'm just not a RATE gal. I love to wear pristine and crisp clothing. But like your thoughtful comment big time

It as dried and looks *a little* better. I will try hairspray next. I need to buy some today.

eech, this is just nasty. I'd go for rubbing alcohol before hairspray, get the highest percentage you can find (i used to work in a sign shop and we had to use a variety of solvents in the course of working with various adhesives). The stronger stuff will work better for you (if that is the right solvent for that particular ink).

You can also try Folex carpet cleaner - we actually used this to remove * an entire bottle of red wine * which we spilled on our beige carpet (moving 'the wine cellar" - thank goodness it was a cheap bottle, hubby has a few really pricey ones!)

i'd actually try the Folex before the alcohol. Sheila of Ephemera uses it on everything, with good results. Best of luck, i'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, steph

Many years ago I spotted my shirt with blue ink while in class. My teacher proposed rubbing it with milk, which made me look at her as if she had gone crazy. Well, crazy or not it worked! I'm sorry I didn't see this before Hope you can save your blazer somehow!

Angie, handcleaner is what mechanics and such use on their hands. Dissolves tough greasy dirt, but is gentle on skin. Don't use the type with the pumice in it, though.

Chemically, is gellied mineral spirits with lanolin added to protect skin. I find if works wonderfully on any greasy mark, even salad oil. Won't harm most fabrics or colours. You should be able to find some at any automotive store under the Loctite or Permatex brand. Small containers are available.