faux grain bag fabric

I'm in the process of making a slip cover for my couch out of painters drop cloth.  It's a bunch of work but will give the living room a fresh new look when it's done.  Along with the slip cover I'm making pieces to cover the arms and sides where the kitties lay all the time.  I'm also making a couple of table runners and maybe a few dish towels.  Drop cloths are sturdy fabric that can be washed and bleached when they get dirty.  I spent $60.00 for two drop clothes, I like the brand from Menards better than from Lowes because it washes up softer.  I already had everything else I used.
Back to the main idea of the post.  I wanted some of the pieces I'm making to look like grain sacks so this is how I did it.  I cut the washed fabric adding 2" for hems.  I pressed each article and laid out my pattern on scratch paper.  I then made pencil marks where each line went.  Using a steel yard stick and Bic fine line permanent markers, I drew the lines coloring in the wider lines.  I think they turned out great.  I had tried this project using acrylic paints and  fabric additive but I didn't like the stiff feeling of the fabric.
With many real grain bags selling on the Internet for over $50.00 I'm loving how much money I'm saving.  Yes you will be able to tell they aren't real up close, but your looking that close you are just being too darn nosy.