I love burlap and use lots of it in my crafts and DIY projects. It’s affordable and comes in lots of great colors. However, burlap can be a messy fabric because it tends to shred, unravel and hold creases. Luckily, you can easily prepare burlap for crafts in a few simple steps.
1. The loose weave of burlap allows you to pull out individual threads, leaving the perfect cutting channel.Measure the amount of burlap needed. Find the closest strand and give it a gently pull.
2. Continue to pull the thread it will bunch up your burlap as it comes out of the fabric. Don’t worry if it breaks, simply look down the “path,” find the rest of the strand, and continue to pull.
3. If desired pull a second strand out to make the channel wider. Pull a thread from the side of the cloth to make perfect rectangles or squares.
4. Cut the burlap.
5. Burlap holds lots of creases. To smooth and straighten your burlap, spray with my homemade spray starch and iron on medium heat. You can add a few drops of essential oil to make it smell great. I love using lavender or lemongrass. If your burlap is extremely smelly (it sometime has a strong earthy or grass smell) spray it with my Homemade Air Freshener for Fabric and Rooms or white vinegar before the spray starch. (If you use vinegar the smell will dissipate as the fabric dries leaving it odorless.)
6. To stop fraying, add a bit of school glue around the edge.
Rub the glue into the weave of the fabric a bit with your finger or a q-tip. Allow the glue to dry completely.
7. You’re now ready to continue crafting! I use these techniques to make perfect banner pennants quickly and easily.
You can try some of my easy burlap projects:
I hope these tips help you complete burlap projects more quickly and easily! Comment below and let me know what you are making with burlap!
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Marybeth
October 15, 2018 at 5:32 pmHi there!
I have an abundance of burlap fabric and would like to create a wreath similar to the ones crafters make using spools of “hemmed” burlap ribbon. Can you suggest a way to do this with my burlap? If I cut it into strips, it will look a mess.
Bren
October 18, 2018 at 12:30 pmI think you would have to sew multiple hems down the fabirc and then cut between the stitched rows. You might also try to with glue and see how it works. It will be hard to make the fabric look as good as hemmed ribbon.
Marybeth
November 13, 2018 at 5:23 pmThanks for the tip!
gloria kourounis
January 27, 2017 at 9:04 amGlad I read this post before trying to make burlap roses. Thanks!
Bren
January 27, 2017 at 9:12 amI’m glad you found it helpful, Gloria!
Karen
March 18, 2016 at 5:46 pmMany thanks for the tips! I’m wanting to put burlap bunting outdoors, what would you use instead of school glue in that case?
Bren
March 21, 2016 at 11:30 pmI would use a washable fabric glue such as this one (affiliate link). It should hold up to humidity and a bit of rain or water.
Sofia Gomes
February 3, 2016 at 11:02 amThank you so much for advice! 😀
Bren
February 3, 2016 at 1:48 pmYou are welcome, Sofia! I hope it is helpful.
Gina
December 15, 2015 at 8:25 pmI’m making stockings to go with my Christmas tree skirt that I am also making. For the Christmas tree skirt I am using burlap that I got at Walmart it is already in strips with hem’s so I didn’t have to worry about that. The stockings have been a hassle until now! Thank you for the easy tips!
Bren
December 15, 2015 at 8:57 pmThanks Gina! Glad I could help!
colleen
November 17, 2015 at 7:38 amGlue is such an easy fix! Why didn’t I think of that!! Thanks.
Bren
November 17, 2015 at 10:05 amThanks Colleen! Glad you found the post helpful!