Aster was a young girl who lived in a small village surrounded by a dense forest. From a very young age, she was always fascinated by magic. She would spend hours reading books and learning about different spells and potions. However, despite her curiosity, she had never been able to perform any magic herself. One sunny day, while exploring the forest near her house, Aster stumbled upon an old, dusty book with a worn-out cover. Intrigued, she picked it up and started flipping through the pages.
Since I wasn’t here when she treated it, I wasn’t able to take pictures of the process, but this is how it works.
I put a new blade in my rotary cutter as I am cutting through 6 layers of fabric, but with the treated fabric, cutting is really easy and you won t wear yourself out by the time you cut all of your shapes. I put a new blade in my rotary cutter as I am cutting through 6 layers of fabric, but with the treated fabric, cutting is really easy and you won t wear yourself out by the time you cut all of your shapes.
Intrigued, she picked it up and started flipping through the pages. To her surprise, the book was filled with unusual spells and enchantments. It was as if the book was meant for her.
Imagine What You Can Do with Fabric as Stiff as Paper
Every once in a while we come across a product that really gets our heads buzzing with creative ideas. That’s certainly true with this inventive fabric stabilizer.
Terial Magic is a spray stabilizer that gives fabric the stiffness of paper. Once treated and pressed, fabric will not fray, it will crease nicely and it can be used in so many creative ways.
Origami ornament made with fabric treated with Terial Magic. Found at The Quilt Show (no instructions provided. Google paper origami projects).
Plus, it will not flake or gum up the iron like starch can. And, it will not gum up a machine needle. And, unlike starch, hand sewing is just as easy as it is with untreated fabric.
The stabilizer can remain in the fabric indefinitely without attracting bugs like starch can. It also washes out completely. Consequently, it can be used for stiffened fabric projects as well as for simplifying several aspects of quilt construction.
The following video is a nice introduction to the product and how the stiffened fabric can be used.
Click here to watch the video at YouTube if it doesn’t play on your device.
Terial Magic can be used for any project where you’d use starch or a stabilizer, or when you want to avoid frayed edges. That includes, but is not limited to:
- Machine Embroidery – without a backing
- Reverse Applique
- Paper Piecing
- Raw Edge Applique
- Hand Applique – crease edges so they stay folded under
- Tee Shirt Quilts – remove the stretch while cutting and sewing
- EPP Hexagons – without paper or tacking down seam allowances
- Standard Quilt Piecing – to avoid stretchy bias edges and to otherwise keep patches in shape
- Stamping on Fabric
- Scrapbooking and Card Making with Fabric
- Printing on Fabric – without a backing
- 3d Flowers
- Die Cutting
The next video, by the product’s designer Terry McFeely, goes into more detail about using Terial Magic. Notice the beautiful fabric flowers she created.
Click here to watch the video at YouTube if it doesn’t play on your device.
Toward the end of that video, the designer suggests spraying folded and other 3D projects with an acrylic matte spray to protect them from drops of water. This will also work if you’re concerned about them drooping with high humidity (although that has not been reported to be a problem).
Fabric flowers made using Terial Magic. Find more fun projects on the Terial Arts Facebook page.
Judy Gula, Fiber and Mixed Media Artist has written a nice overview and lists some of the ways the stabilizer can be used. It’s great for stiffening fabric for printing, for die-cutting machines, hand applique, and many other uses. See her photos of using it to stabilize fabric for machine embroidery at the link below.
Suzy from Suzy Quilts is also excited about this product. She shares her thoughts in the following article and provides a free PDF of printable sewing labels for use with it.
Jenny from Craft Test Dummies did several experiments with Terial Magic. Read her review below for more insights about the product, including its use in making a mini quilt.
Finally, Clair Passmore has also written an informative review. She shares her comparison between Terial Magic and starch as well as other valuable insights.
Terial Magic comes in several sizes. You might want to start with a small bottle to experiment with.
We’ve found two free tutorials to get you started experimenting with Terial Magic.
The first is for a beautiful folded fabric angel from Punch with Judy.
The second is for a folded fabric box with a lid from 30 Minute Crafts.
There is so much you can do with Terial Magic that it’s likely to become a staple in your sewing room. With it on hand you can forget about starch and other stabilizers, as well.
Check out the Terial Magic website for videos to help you get started.
In case you missed it, here’s another link to purchase some for yourself.
PLEASE NOTE: Quilting Digest has featured many patterns from vendors participating in the Craftsy Marketplace, most of which have been deleted by Craftsy. It's going to take awhile for us to hunt down new sources for those patterns. In the meantime there are many links to patterns on our site that no longer work. We apologize if this article contains one or more of those links and appreciate your patience while we straighten things out. Thank you!
PLEASE NOTE: Quilting Digest does not sell or otherwise provide patterns directly. We showcase patterns and projects from various vendors, bloggers and other sources. Please make a note of where you access a pattern (the link in the yellow box toward the end of each Quilting Digest article). That way you can contact Support for that source if you have downloading problems or other issues. Thank you!
Related Posts
- Two Ways to Bind a Quilt with Rickrack
When I had everything cut, I laid out all of the rows on the table next to my sewing machine so that I could easily grab them as I went.
Excited, Aster decided to try out one of the simpler spells mentioned in the book. She carefully followed the instructions, gathering the necessary ingredients and casting the spell with all her might. But nothing happened. Disappointed, she thought that maybe magic was not meant for her after all. However, as she was about to close the book and walk away, she noticed a faint glow emanating from one of the pages. Curious, she turned to that page and saw a spell she had not noticed before. It was a difficult spell called the "Accidental Magic." Intrigued, Aster decided to give it a try. Following the intricate instructions, Aster cast the spell with caution. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the forest, and leaves began swirling around her. Astonished, Aster realized that she had actually performed magic. The accidental magic had worked! From that day on, Aster's life changed completely. She continued to experiment with different spells and potions, learning more and more about the world of magic. The villagers also began to notice her talent and sought her help with their own magical needs. However, as Aster delved deeper into the world of magic, she also discovered that it could be a double-edged sword. She learned that magic should be used responsibly and with caution. She came across stories of individuals who had misused their magical powers and caused harm. Determined to use her newfound abilities for the greater good, Aster decided to dedicate herself to mastering the art of magic. With time, Aster not only honed her magical skills but also became a teacher, passing on her knowledge to young aspiring wizards and witches. She became known as a wise and respected figure in the magical community. Aster's accidental magic had not only fulfilled her childhood dream but had led her on a path of self-discovery and responsibility. She realized that magic was a powerful tool that needed to be respected and used wisely. With her talent and dedication, Aster became an inspiration to many, and her legacy lived on for generations to come..
Reviews for "The journey to control Aster's accidental magic"
1. Lisa - 2/5 - I found "Aster and the Accidental Magic" to be a disappointing read. The story lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot felt rushed and I had a hard time connecting with the main character, Aster. The magical elements introduced in the book seemed forced and didn't add much to the overall narrative. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book.
2. David - 1/5 - "Aster and the Accidental Magic" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was juvenile and the dialogue felt forced. The plot was predictable, and there were no surprises or twists that kept me engaged. The book also raised several unanswered questions and failed to tie up loose ends, leaving me frustrated. I expected much more from this book and unfortunately, it fell flat.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I was expecting a captivating and enchanting book, but "Aster and the Accidental Magic" didn't meet my expectations. The pacing was off, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through others. The magical world-building felt underdeveloped, leaving me with more questions than answers. The character development was lacking, and I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters on an emotional level. Overall, it was a mediocre read that didn't leave a lasting impression.
4. Michael - 2.5/5 - While "Aster and the Accidental Magic" had its moments, I ultimately found it to be a lackluster read. The storyline had potential, but it lacked depth and failed to fully explore the magical elements introduced. The writing style felt choppy and disjointed at times, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the character motivations and actions were often questionable, making it hard to root for any of them. Overall, it was an average book that didn't leave a lasting impact.