Permanent fabric markers, or other ideas
 

I would like to make a crossword quilt as a gift. I have a friend with a large family. I am thinking this is something she would not expect.

I bought black “Tulip” brand at Walmart and when I tried on a sample of white cotton fabric, the markers bled..
Any recommendations? Or where I could get preprinted letters?
Thank you

I make hand printed/signed quilt labels. I haven't had any issues with the bleeding or the ink spreading out while I was writing on the fabric. I use the Sakura Pigma Micron Pens -- they do come in different size tips, so you have a choice of what you like. I've tried different sizes of the tips and prefer to use the 08 size for signing my quilts as it was a better width. The 08 isn't a thick or even a medium that you would think of in a 'marker', but it wasn't as thin and light as the finer Sakura Pigma Micron Pens.

Here is a picture of the label I was putting on my grandson's quilt, to show you what the 08 size looks like.

How big were you planning on making the letter spaces/squares? Here is a sample of iron/sew on fabric letters letter patches These ones are 1.8" to 1.6". A search for fabric sew on letters or fabric letter patches, might give you more to look through as well.

Here are some 1" ones from Joann's Fabric and some at Michael's Crafts

Sharpies, although labelled permanent, will bleed when they get wet.

Yes they will, Patrice. I learned this the hard way. ;->(

Me, too. I had to re-do a section of a Christmas quilt a couple years ago.

Letters could be done via ....
* Hand or machine embroidery
* Applique (make your own letters)
* Paper Piecing

If you want to go this way, just get an alphabet stencil. or like this one alphabet stencil. There are lots of others out there. I've seen them from 1/2" size to over 6" plus -- the stencil will contain all the letters of the alphabet.

I have terrible handwriting and try to avoid showing it as much as possible -- but this sounds like a great personalized project!

There is also the option to print letters on fabric. There are many ways to do this and some printers/processes need some added treatments to be stable. You can also print iron on transfers -- if doing this follow instructions so you don't get reversed letters. With printing you can choose fonts and sizes.

Some of the printer options are easier to find in an office supply store rather than a craft or fabric store, look where they have "fancy" papers.
https://www.avery.com/campaign/fabric-transfers
https://www.avery.com/products/labels/3384
There are a number of brands other than Avery, can find a lot of options on Amazon or from searches for printable fabric sheets.

My b&w laserjet did very good with ironing regular (prewashed, no softener or other wash additives) freezer paper to fabric. You can do searches on the freezer paper technique.