As a fabric lover, I have a question: Is there a Fabric Design in you that’s just waiting to come out? Now that might feel like it’s coming out of the blue, so let me ask a couple of other questions.

Do you scour through your fabric stash looking for a piece that is “just right” – but come up empty handed? Or what about this… Do you get to the end of a project and have a twinge of regret that your lovely new handbag, garment or quilt looks a little too much the “same” as those made by others?

If you said yes, read on! There’s a very cool way for you to create your own design – and to put that design on fabric – and experience the joy of an unending stream of compliments!

Imagine the Possibilities

Like many of you, I’m a bit of a “bag lady.” I love, love, love carrying a bag made with my custom fabric. People are forever commenting on my handbags and asking where I purchased them. It’s great fun to tell them I created the fabric – and the bag.

But, there’s another possibility as well. You can take an ordinary tote, and turn it into something special! Gina Milano, one of my students, stenciled one of her personal designs on a straw tote. What a fabulous idea!

 

If you’re a quilter, your custom fabric has a multitude of uses. Want the look of appliqué without all the work? Check. Want an accent fabric that is “perfect” for your project? Check. Need a border fabric with a specific design motif? Check, check, check! Your custom fabric design is the perfect way to make your project stand out from the crowd.

 

And for those of you who make your own clothes and accessories, adding your personal fabric design to your creations has never been easier.

Let’s see how this design process works!

 

Fabric Design in Three Simple Steps

Now it may seem to good to be true, but you can create fabric designs – and put them on fabric – in three simple steps. Here’s how:

 

Step 1: Create a Design

To create a fabric design with the Design Magic method, you start with a square of dark paper and a pair of scissors (or a craft knife). That’s right, you simply cut shapes from a square of paper!

Once the shapes are cut, we organize the bits and pieces on a Design Page and turn them into a repeating pattern. The most “techie” step in the design process is making copies, so you can see that we don’t need special design skills to create a personal pattern.

 

Step 2: Cut Stencils

Once we have a design we like, it’s time to make some stencils. My tried and true method calls for cutting the stencils from freezer paper with a craft knife. (It works like a champ!) If you happen to have one of the amazing cutting machines in your studio, you certainly take advantage of that.

 

Step 3: Paint on Fabric

Finally, it’s time to paint our images on fabric to make our one-of-a-kind personal prints! Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks are my paint of choice because they don’t run, drip or seep under the edges of stencils.

Join us for the Design Magic Online Course

If you love the idea of creating your own designs and custom fabric, join us for the Design Magic online course that begins February 6th.

You’ll learn to create fabric designs, turn them into stencils, and create custom fabric prints with a stencil brush and paint. Better yet, you learn it all in six short weeks! Click the button now to learn more.

Tell me more about Design Magic!