Transforming Ugly Fabric into beautiful textiles
When I do pop into fabric shops these days, I tend to keep an eye out for interesting pieces of fabric I would like to transform. Boring fabric that no one wants to use is usually what I will be looking out for. My intention is to give an ugly fabric a lease of life and use it for display or teaching purposes. The technique used on these fabrics could be used for clothing, by creating an accent piece or detail on the garment.
Here is an example of the type of fabric I am talking about. You may have seen some of these samples in my past fabric manipulation blogs. The type of fabric that catches my eye are usually something that has a bit of body to it and not too fluid. The print is very important because I need it to be repetitive. It must have lines, grids or dots that are evenly spaced out. By using these markings as reference, it saves me time drawing out my own grids. By using the North American Smocking technique, I play around with stitching only selected points on the fabric until I create a pattern.
Here are a few examples where I think the fabric really worked using the smocking technique.
I got this fabric from Adam Ross in the UK. This fabric was very fun to play with since there were so many choices to choose from. I could use any reference points to concentrate on. I took advantage of the polyester property of this fabric. It was springy so I knew it would hold its shape if I were to use the Flower/Diamond Smocking technique on it. The fabric had a few blemishes/smudges on the print. This was fine since most of the pattern would be concealed anyway.
By only selecting to sew on the wrong side and concentrating on sewing the green squares, I end up with yellow crosses on the back and only the purple and pink showing on the right side. By sewing other combinations of squares, you will end up changing the pattern on the fabric even further.
This technique drastically reduces the pattern down, also creating a pleated look. Here I demonstrate where this might be used. I found this look quite nice as a cape where the reduced part of the fabric is sitting on the top chest and shoulders while the fullness is draped over the bust and arms.
By continuing this smocking to all over the fabric, I ended up with the purple and pink side rolling inwards. On the other side the yellow crosses stood out on the raised pattern.
The final outcome:
Here is another sample of what this fabric can transform into. This is a very good example why the Flower/Diamond Smocking is one of my favourite techniques to use. The fabric has a 3D look to the print as it stands out of the fabric. The print is transformed so it is not only showing flat square grids but also diamond shaped crosses. The back/wrong side of the fabric is still showing the original pattern but with diamond grids running all over it. If you prefer to use this side then you will just have to reverse the technique.
I hope I have given you some ideas on how to manipulate fabric. Remember you don’t have to have grids or lines on your fabric. Dots could do the same as long as they are in an evenly spaced format or laid out in a square grid. If you don’t have this type of fabric, you could always draw your own. Use a dot grid if you want to use the marked side of the fabric or a line grid on the wrong side of the fabric.
Have fun and check out my other fabric manipulation posts!
Shan x
Thank you Karen for your kind words. I love all things traditional, handmade, crafty, making and sewing. I have so much to share, but not time to do them because I’m so busy with just one kid. Lol. I’m glad I have inspired you and gain you as a follower. You won’t be disappointed. Stay safe. x
I love your imagination and all of the items you make — I am an American — and have had so much fun following you. You inspire me. Thank you