Sewing Burlap

Now that you know how to cut burlap, maybe you are ready to sew something. As I said before, burlap is a fairly sturdy fabric once it is finished. It's great for making shopping bags and purses. You could also use burlap to make pillows for your patio or even Christmas stockings. The possibilities are endless.

Whatever you plan on creating, here are a couple tips for sewing and creating with burlap:

1. Wash and dry your fabric before you start crafting - Burlap has a rather strong scent when you bring it home from the store. It also sheds countless little bits of fiber, so make sure to clean your dryer's lint trap when it's don.
2. Iron it - Burlap can be ironed on high with lots of steam to get out the wrinkles.
3. Handle it carefully - The more times you touch the fabric, the more strands will unravel. If you can, sew your project as soon as possible after you cut the fabric.
4. Finish all the edges -  If you only use a straight stitch to attach pieces of burlap together, they will still unravel or fray with use. Try a zig zag stitch. I have a Brother XL 3030 sewing machine and love using the Elastic Overlock Stitch with burlap. The stitch is straight on one side so that seams open up nicely, but it has a zig zag portion, too, that hold multiple strands of the burlap together.
5. Clean you sewing machine - Burlap releases tons of little fibers as you sew that can quickly clog up your machine. Take the time to clean out your machine before you begin working with another type of fabric.
6. Compost it - Burlap is a natural fiber. If you have small scraps of undyed burlap, go ahead and toss them in the compost and they will decompose along with everything else.