Whether you use a vintage feed bag or find it new by the yard, burlap is an excellent eco-friendly fabric option!
Burlap fabric is often made from jute, an exceptional plant. Here’s some information about jute and a few burlap project ideas!
Unlike conventional cotton, jute requires very few pesticides to grow. Many of the pesticides associated with growing conventional cotton are labeled as category I or type II toxins by the EPA. Those harsh chemicals aren’t healthy for the workers or for the water and wildlife near cotton plantations. The residue on the fabric isn’t so hot for you when you’re working with it, either.
Like hemp and bamboo, jute is great at absorbing CO2 and improves the soil where it’s growing. It grows fast, and burlap made from jute is fully biodegradable!
Ready to do some burlap crafting? Here are a few ideas to get you going!
- Here’s a great tutorial on making a graphic bulletin board out of a burlap sack.
- I just love this simple burlap bunting over at Maya*Made.
- Burlap is very sturdy, which is why it’s used for heavy things like coffee and rice. It’s perfect for stitching up a super-strong grocery tote!
- These sweet little burlap flowers would make a great addition to any gift.
I bet I’m just scratching the surface of great burlap craft projects! Do you have any that you like? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
[Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by deapeajay]
At J&O Fabrics we carry the traditional sand colored burlap and though I simply love the idea of the rough and raw material from the potatoe sack days, as a seamstress, I certainly can appreciate the softer, more processed burlap offered in an array of colors for my designs. For more burlap craft ideas check out http://bit.ly/9VpL4x. Thanks for the sharing!
Has anyone found something brillant to do with your old wedding gown.
Use old wedding gowns as baptismal clothing for baby or kids/girls dress for first communion. It can also be used for table settings and napkins, possibly even a bed quilt.
My friend Traci works with local artists here in New Orleans to do all sorts of handbags, pillows and more using old burlap coffee sacks. http://repurposingnola-piece-by-peace.com/
[...] wasn’t long ago that I was singing the praises of burlap. Since then, I got the chance to work on an all burlap custom order. In the process, I learned a [...]
This is perfect. =) I was growing concerned with the fabrics available to me; I make my own cat toys, and naturally, I want them to be safe. I am definitely going to get my hands on some of this one way or another!
[...] you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.When I read how eco-friendly burlap is, I just had to craft with it. So when a local coffee shop owner practically threw a dozen coffee [...]