How to Create a Faux Grain Sack Fabric Finish on Furniture Using Chalk Paint & Glaze

Do you love grain sack fabric as much as I do?  That thickly woven fabric with stripes reminiscent of the farm....now very popular in French Country, Farmhouse, Cottage and Vintage decor?  Also called "Ticking Fabric" or "Flour Sack", Grain Sack had humble beginnings as bags used to carry animal feed or mattress covers to prevent straw or feathers from poking out.  Old European grain sacks were made from handwoven linen with a burlap-like texture and were marked with vertical stripes in a variety of thicknesses and patterns that identified the farmer when they transported their grain to the mill.  One common pattern is a thick stripe flanked by two pin stripes that repeat at various intervals; but, you'll find grain sack or ticking fabric in various styles.  The stripes come in blue, red, green, gray or black....  

Once relegated to fabric made into inexpensive kitchen linens, now you'll pay a pretty penny for real grain sack fabric, especially if it has the stripes woven directly into the fabric (instead of painted on).  It is used for pillows, upholstery, table runners or place settings, and other home decor items.  It is also the inspiration for a furniture finish that I have created. 

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Check out my three part tutorial video on how to make a faux grain sack fabric finish on a piece of furniture using chalk paint, glaze and wax.  This unique finish mimics the look of real fabric and will have people wondering how you did it.

The materials you will need for this project include:

• Furniture Piece
• Chalk-based Paint in Two Tones (One beige/gray tone, and one cream/yellow tone).
• Clear Faux Finish Glazing Medium.
• A large (long) wall paper brush with stiff plastic or nylon bristles.
• Chalk Paint in either red, green, blue, etc. (for your stripe)
• Paint pen with a narrow tip in the same color as your stripe paint -or- an artists brush with a thin pointed tip.
• Painters tape in the width of the large stripe of your "faux grain sack".
• A straight edge.
• Measuring Tape
• A Square
• Light brown furniture wax.

*You may also wish to stencil an image on your faux grain sack.  Check out my other video on stenciling with no messy paint bleed! 

Regards,

Vintage Veneers Decor LLC  Copyright 2020