craftgrrl | Quick Question

I'm going to hand embriorder a simple design onto fabric and I want to sketch out the design onto it first so that I have something to follow. Last time I tried this I stupidely used a red marker because it blended into the fabric but it really just ended up turning my white tread red. I don't have a done of knowledge about the types of products that are out there for marking fabric with. What do you recommend? Thanks in advance!!