I love textue magic. I use it alot. It stands up to washing with no problems. I have been using it for rufffles on gd dresses. I just cut (for ruffls) for dresses or for ruffling on towels. Cut about 3 inches fold right sides together iron to make a band I cut about 1/2" of the tex mag and use the serpine stitch better than the zig zag about a 1/2 inch down and hold the steam iron over it. It curls like us used a ruffler. I save every scrape of if. Never goes straight in the wash would love to see it when you are done

I have it but haven't used it yet. I took a class with different techniques and we did the same look using elastic thread in the bobbin (had to hand wind it). When I got the sewing done we did the steam iron and it shrank; really cool watching it do that. I've never seen either one where you control the designs. We sewed about an inch apart but maybe if it was closer you'd have more control. I'm not sure.

I've seen it used where the person stitched around certain design elements like flowers etc and then it shrank around that, emphasizing the flower. Very pretty technique.

so then would a garment steamer work better??

Patsy Thompson has 3 tutorials: http://youtu.be/m1aOhov6I5U and Superior Threads have about 10 info. videos which may help you:http://www.superiorthreads.com/videos/texture-magic/

I am not sure about the garment steamer, but I think anything that allows you to direct the steam up onto the fabric will be much faster and more effective than trying to direct steam down - nature wants to let it rise. I think it's the position of the fabric (up/over) the heat and steam rather than the tool producing the steam that is the reason for the outcome (if that makes sense).