It seems this time of year there are SO MANY burlap DIY projects out there! It’s like fall comes around and the entire craft world becomes OBSESSED with burlap. Ok, I admit, I have also fallen head-first onto the burlap obsession train… full speed ahead!
Burlap can be a beautiful but difficult fabric to work with if you’re not “in the know” about this little technique that makes it SO MUCH EASIER to cut burlap in a straight line AND keep it from unraveling! Seriously, once you know how to cut burlap the right way, you’ll never go back!
I really love to craft with burlap because not only does it have fabulous texture, but it’s also usually pretty cheap! And don’t be fooled, not all burlap is plain brown.
You can actually find colored burlap and printed burlap with all kinds of fun patterns. Oh, the crafting possibilities! Be still my burlap-wrapped heart! Anyways, enough drooling over burlap, onto the good stuff!
How to Cut Burlap and Keep It From Unraveling
1. Measure your burlap and decide where you want to make your cut. Grasp one of the strands of burlap at the edge of the fabric where you want to make the cut. (You might need to snip the strand with scissors to start it if it is bound on the edges.)
You will never see me with perfectly manicured nails, like ever. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
2. Pull on the strand and keep pulling until it comes all the way out. Don’t worry if it breaks off. Just find where it left off and grab it and keep pulling.
This step actually requires two hands, but I ran out of hands when trying to take a picture at the same time. You get the idea.
3. Once the strand is all the way out, there should be a nice line for you to easily cut!
Like a little road for your scissors!
4. Use your scissors to cut right down your nice, straight line!
5. Now that your burlap is cut in a nice straight line, this should also keep it from fraying while you are working with it. However, if you are not going to be finishing the edges of your project at all, you might want something a bit more permanent to keep more strands from coming out.
I suggest either sewing a zig zag stitch or using something like Fray Check or Fray Block. Just dab a little on the edges and you’re good to go!
And there you have it! Now you, too, are “in-the-know” about how to cut burlap and keep it from unraveling. It’s really very simple, and it makes life SO MUCH EASIER when crafting with burlap.
Because if it’s not cut right, that stuff will just unravel like a toddler who hasn’t had a nap… and we all know how ugly that can be!
Now that you know how to cut burlap and have some ideas, let me know what burlap crafts you’ll be working on in the comments!
If you need some inspiration, check out my burlap table runner with ribbon. It’s perfect for the holidays and makes great home decor year round! And if you enjoyed this post, check out the links below for craft, DIY, and home projects and tips!
DIY Burlap Table Runner with Ribbon
How to Store Your Craft Supplies in a Small Space
How to Declutter Your Craft Supplies
great post, thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Thanks so much!
I tried this and still had trouble with unravelling. Decided to pulll the thread, then “painted” fray blocker along the line and let it dry before cutting. Much better
Very nice. Yep, I’ve got the 2 year, so I know what its like with no nap.
Glad you found this helpful, Sara, and good luck with your two-year-old. That can be such a rough age!
Very smart idea. We all know what a hasslle it is to cut burlap and how easily it untravels. Thanks for showing us your smart idea.
Thanks, Mary! I figured with all the burlap crafts going around for fall this would be helpful for people to know!
Very cool! We wont talk about my first few tries at cutting burlap. This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. Misty.
Isn’t that the truth? Burlap can be such a mess if it’s not cut right! Glad you found this helpful!
Works like a charm! Thanks so much for sharing!
No problem! Hope you found it helpful!
You are so right. Thanks for the tute. Linda @Crafts a la mode
No problem! Thanks for hosting the link parties! I love meeting fellow bloggers!
This is great! Thanks so much. I fell head over for burlap as well and use a lot of burlap in my crafts but it always unravels. Which is fine for some projects but not all. I didn’t know about the fray check, but I think just knowing the proper way to cut burlap will help tremendously. Thanks for sharing! Pinning!
I know, it can be so hard to work with burlap with all the unraveling it does if it’s not cut right. Glad you found this helpful! Thanks so much for sharing my post!
This is brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’m so glad you found it helpful!
This is a great tip! Thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us at Brag About It!
Have a lovely week!
Laurie
Thank you! I really enjoy connecting with other bloggers at link parties!
Thank you so much Celeste for linking up your burlap tip at the Bewitchin’ Projects Block Party last week. You were one of my featured picks over at Recreated Designs. I use burlap all of the time and this is definitely a tip I will make good use of! Hugs, Lisa
Thank you so much! I love hearing that readers find my blog helpful, and I love meeting other bloggers at link parties!
This is a great post! Who would have thought there is a right and wrong way to cut burlap? Thank you so much for sharing at my craft party on Thursday! Hope to see your newest posts this week, which starts at 7pm EST.
Thank you! I know, a lot of people don’t know this little trick, but it makes crafting with burlap much easier! I will be sure to stop by your link party again!
Saw this done at Joann’s Fabric once. Thanks for the reminder!
I love JoAnn’s… they really know their fabric! Glad you found this helpful!
Hey, Celeste! Just wanted to let you know that we loved your How-To Cut Burlap The Right Way so much when you shared it at the #HomeMattersParty last week, we’ve HIGHLIGHTED it THIS WEEK! Hope you can check it out when you get a sec! Happy Friday!!! http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/11/19/home-matters-linky-party-64/
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai / Home Matters Linky Party
Thank you so much! I am so excited to be chosen for your highlight! I will definitely check it out!
NOW you tell me! ha ha! I will know for next time. Congratulations on your #HomeMattersParty feature.
Haha, thank you! Don’t worry, I’m sure there will be many burlap crafts in your future that you’ll be able to use this trick on!
Oh man, where was this post a few months ago? I had to cut some and made a huge mess. Thank you for teaching me the right way!! 🙂 #HomeMattersParty
Yeah, burlap can be terrible to work with if it’s not cut right. Now that you know this little trick, it should be MUCH EASIER!
Wow, so smart! I never knew how to do this the right way. I definitely need to try this next time I do a burlap project.
Definitely, Jenna! It will make a big difference with your burlap crafts!
Celeste, thanks for the instructions on cutting burlap, and perfect timing too. I am thinking about making burlap curtains for my kitchen. Thanks for this tutorial.
Keri, I hope you’ll be able to use this trick to help make your burlap curtains! I have seen people make beautiful curtains from burlap! I would love to see how yours turn out!
Neat trick! Thanks for sharing this with the Wednesday Showcase, I’ve got some fraying burlap that I need to try this on!
You definitely should, Cristina! This should help out a lot!
I’m pretty sure I’ve been doing this all wrong. Haha! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
No worries, there’s always next time! Glad you found this helpful!
Genius idea Celeste! I love burlap and if I saw some Chevron burlap I would have to figure out a good use for it, because I couldn’t leave the store without it. #SharetheWealth
Oh my gosh, I know, that chevron burlap was calling my name! There are so many things you can make with it, too! Table runners, wreaths, frames, banners, vase wraps… I could go on and on. The question is what can’t you make with burlap, really?
I love burlap! Thanks for sharing your trick with us at the Wednesday Showcase!
Me too, Kati! So glad you found this helpful!
That is the most genius idea I have ever seen! I never even knew there was a proper way to cut burlap! I will be using the method every time now!
I know! Not many people know about this, but it’s so simple and makes crafting with burlap so much easier! So glad you’ll be able to get good use out of this!
Very cool! I hate when things fray horribly when you cut them!
So true, Morgan! It’s so frustrating! And burlap frays so easily!
Very good tips. I am totally sold out to burlap as well. Your comments made me smile. Thank you
I’m so glad you found this helpful and enjoyed my commentary, Millie! I aim to please! 😉
Thanks for the tip! I also love the table runner, I just might have to make myself one.
You definitely should, Crystal! It really matches any decor and you can totally customize it with whatever ribbon you want. I’m sure it would look lovely in your home!
Great info so your burlap doesn’t fray when you use it to make any type of craft project.
Very true, Jon!
Wanting to make something with Indian rice bags. Decor pillow, ottoman.
Kim, you can use this same technique to cut the Indian rice bags. If you’re looking for some projects or tutorials for things to make with the rice bags, Pinterest is a wealth of ideas!
Hey Celeste, I’m a Celeste too! Thanks for this tutorial! My daughter just got married and instead of ordering 100 feet of burlap I accidentally ordered 100 yards! Needless to say I have a little leftover so it’s going to be a burlap craft Christmas 😉
Thanks Celeste
So great to meet another Celeste! And that is A LOT of burlap! Though I have no doubt you’ll be able to put it to good use with some awesome crafts. If you need some help, Pinterest is always a wealth of ideas. Happy burlap crafting!
Wanting to make stars to sew onto my boring old blue curtains any easy suggestions?? I’m new to this so any advice will help.
Sounds like a great way to spruce up some old curtains, Corie! I’d cut out the stars in the shapes you want and sew them onto the curtains with a zig zag stitch around the edges to secure them. It should be a fairly simple project that will add a lot of life to your curtains!
We just enclosed our porch and made it into a sunroom. I want to put just a swag of burlap along the top of the windows. I haven’t decided exactly how I am going to do that but I am liking cutting branches and kind of drapping the burlap along them. We live in the country, directly in front of us is a cow pasture, to our left is a cotton field, which when it opens I plan on using some of it, We do have neighbors on the other side of us but still very quiet and peaceful setting. One half of the porch is going to be the entry way to the rest of the house and also a sitting area to enjoy the view. The other half which is divided by a partition is going to be my happy place to sew and craft, that half I intend to make kind of a beach theme. I’m not sure what I am doing for window treatments in it. I do know that I will be putting up shades of some kind because I tend to craft at night and I will want to pull my shades at night so I don’t feel like a fish in a barrel.
Beth, that sounds so incredibly beautiful and creative! I just love the idea of using branches to hang your burlap curtains. It sounds so neat! I do hope you’ll consider posting some pictures when you’re done. I’d love to see how it turns out! The plans you have for your home sound just lovely!
I’m going to be using a green burlap to put on my wall but how to die or paint after applying and what to use to apply
This was such a helpful tip! I prepared burlap crafts for my daughter’s birthday party and this tip saved me time to time! Do you mind if I share it to my blog where I’m about to share my burlap craft?
I bought burlap by the yard to line display drawers at Canaveral National Seashore
Visitor Center. Will adhere shells, drift seeds, bones, and items used by Timicuan Indians. Any suggestions for attaching burlap to drawers?
Thank u so much for your suggestion. I just came across it….
How can I get the funny smell out of the burlap?
Jackie Bauer, I’ve always wondered how to get rid of the smell too. It has kept me from using burlap a lot of times.
Hi , I was wondering if I can seal the ends of my Burlap ( once cut ) with clear nail polish, Will that work? Making a Christmas Wreath for in doors. 🤷🏻♀️
That might work! I’ve never tried nail polish. You might want to test it out in a small spot first. If the nail polish doesn’t work, I recommend Fray Check or Fray Block.
Celeste, thanks for the tip. After I read it I remembered about that trick. It was a long time ago.
Just wanted to know if you could do the same with the length of the burlap or just the selvage edges
You are Genius!!!! Thanks a lot!