CraftShare: Texture Magic & The Around Town Bag

Welcome to week 3 of CraftShare! I have to say you all knocked me out with the fab ideas for the shopping bag fabric giveaway last week! SO many fun projects to make the most of this fabric, I can't wait to try some of them out.  I did a random drawing for the giveaway:

Congratulations to Jackie, who was comment #11

& the lucky winner of a fat quarter of the cherry and blue damask fabrics.  We've got another giveaway coming up soon, so stay tuned for your chance to win some fun fabric for yourself!

For this week's topic, we'll be checking out a fairly new sewing product called Texture Magic.  I ordered it from fabric.com since Joann's & Michael's didn't even know what it is, but if you have some local quilt or fabric shops near you (which I don't, sniff, sniff), they probably will have it.

What is it? This fabric product looks & feels like acetate and comes in 11”x47” sheets. You stitch it to the back of the fabric you want to texturize and then hit it with the steam from your iron so it shrinks up and gives a crinkly effect. This is an easy way to add some pretty detail to projects like bags, quilts, pillows & clothing without having to do anything complicated or require special tools. If you can sew a straight line, you can use Texture Magic! Behold the results:

Tips I've Learned:

• You get the most texture from 100% cotton fabrics
• It looks best on solid color fabrics or those with a small uniform print
• The shrinkage is about 30% so make sure the fabric piece is that much larger to accommodate your project (the package comes with a handy conversion chart to help)
• The pattern and closeness of your stitching affects the pattern appearance (rows 1” inch apart gives more texture than wider rows, wavy rows gives a more ruffled look, etc.)
• Texturize your fabric before you cut it, so you're sure the finished size is just what you need
• This product is best for accenting or on small projects since it's not super cheap & you do have to sewing it on. Throw pillows, bags & edging/appliqueing on clothes are ideal, but I wouldn't recommend try to do something like a bedspread or curtains (unless you have loads of money & time).

I decided to try it out on my new Around Town Bag design. I really like how fun it makes this plain lime fabric look. Gives a fancy feel to the everyday, which God knows a mom like me needs. I'd been waiting for just the right project for this flocked rooster fabric too. The ruffles put a bit of chic in this chicken (and yes I went there with the lame joke). I made the bag reversible so it could be ruffle-y one minute:

And then rooster chic the next:

Since a number of people have asked if I could make my bag designs available & there's been such a great response to my Reversible Serena Dress & Emmeline Bonnet patterns, I'm working on getting some additional reversible patterns up in my Etsy shop soon.  Then everyone can go wild with reversible stuff too!

Sharing this with my fave link parties too so check them out here!