Burlap is one of the most eco-friendly materials. It’s made from the fibers of jute plants woven into a coarse textile. Resilient and durable, burlap fabric can be used in and around the garden. We’ve already outlined ways to use burlap in the garden, but if you have rolls of material just sitting in the shed, we highly suggest making fabulous burlap projects.

7 Burlap Projects to DIY

Burlap fabric is a popular material for eco-friendly gardening accessories due to its durability and biodegradability. Here’s how to incorporate burlap accessories into your sustainable garden.

Burlap Bags and Pouches

Transformed into charming pouches, burlap pouches serve various purposes—fill them with small treasures, use them as gift bags, or add them to your home décor for a touch of rustic charm. Here’s how to craft burlap pouches in a few easy steps.

You will need:

• burlap fabric
• scissors
• ruler
• needle, thread
• embellishments (ribbons, buttons, or appliques)

Measure and cut the burlap fabric into rectangular pieces according to your desired pouch size. Be sure to leave extra space along the edges for sewing.

Then, fold the fabric in half, with the rough sides facing inward, to create a pouch shape. Use pins to secure the edges in place. Now, thread your needle and start sewing along the edges, leaving a small opening at the top for the pouch’s opening. Make sure the stitches are tight and secure to prevent fraying.

Once you’ve sewn around three sides, carefully turn the pouch inside out through the opening you left. This will hide the rough edges inside the pouch.

After turning the pouch right side out, you can add embellishments like ribbons or buttons to personalize it further. Simply attach these embellishments using a needle and thread.

Finally, stitch the remaining side closed to complete your burlap pouch. Trim any excess threads for a neat finish. Now your burlap pouch is ready to use!

Burlap Curtains

This project calls for rolls of burlap fabric! If you have lots of burlap rolls lying around, turning them into curtains will be a cinch.

You’ll need:

• burlap fabric
• measuring tape
• scissors
• curtain rod
• curtain rings or clips
• A sewing machine or fabric glue

Measure the dimensions of your window to determine the size of your curtains. Burlap fabric tends to be wide, so you may only need to cut the length to fit your window’s height. Use scissors to cut the burlap fabric to the desired length. Be sure to cut straight lines to ensure even curtains.

To prevent fraying, fold and hem the edges of the burlap fabric. You can do this by folding the edges over once or twice and either sewing them with a sewing machine or using fabric glue for a no-sew option. Create a rod pocket at the top of each curtain panel by folding over a portion of the fabric and sewing or gluing it in place. Make sure the rod pocket is wide enough to accommodate your curtain rod.

Slide the curtain rod through the rod pockets of each curtain panel. If you’re using curtain rings or clips, attach them to the top of the curtain panels before hanging them on the rod.

Once the curtains are hung, adjust them to your desired length and fullness. You can gather or spread out the fabric along the rod to achieve the look you want. Trim any excess thread and make final adjustments to ensure the curtains hang evenly.

Embellished Burlap Pillows

Creating burlap embellished pillows through do-it-yourself (DIY) projects is a wonderful way to add a touch of rustic charm to your home décor. Burlap, a coarse fabric made from jute or sisal fibers, provides a sturdy and natural base for embellishments. Here’s a simple guide to making your own burlap embellished pillows:

You’ll need:

• burlap fabric
• pillow inserts or stuffing
• Scissors
• a sewing needle thread
• embellishments (fabric paint, ribbons, or buttons)

Measure and cut the burlap fabric into two square or rectangular pieces, depending on the size of your desired pillow. Ensure that the pieces are the same size to create a uniform pillow.

This is where you can get creative! Use fabric paint to stencil or freehand designs onto the burlap fabric. You can also sew on ribbons, lace, or buttons to add texture and interest to your pillows.

Place the two pieces of burlap fabric together, with the embellished sides facing inward. Pin the edges together to keep them aligned. Using a sewing needle and thread, sew around three sides of the fabric, leaving one side open for stuffing the pillow.

Once the three sides are sewn, turn the fabric on the right side out and insert the pillow insert or stuffing through the open side. Make sure to stuff the pillow evenly to avoid lumps.

After stuffing the pillow to your desired fullness, carefully hand-stitch the open side closed using a needle and thread. Ensure that your stitches are secure to prevent the stuffing from coming out. Trim any excess thread and fluff the pillow to distribute the stuffing evenly.

Burlap Wrapped Jars

This is a super fun and easy DIY you can do to repurpose unused or old jars! To make an attractive display, we suggest using jars in different sizes and grouping them together in an arrangement.

You’ll need:

• clean jars
• burlap fabric
• scissors
• a ruler
• decorative accents like twine, ribbons, buttons, or lace

Measure the height of your jars and add a few inches for overlap. Cut strips of burlap fabric to match this measurement, ensuring they are wide enough to cover the jar partially (just half the jar) or completely.

Wrap the burlap strips around the jars, overlapping the edges slightly. Use glue to secure the burlap in place, ensuring a snug fit around the jars. Trim any excess burlap from the top and bottom edges of the jars to create a neat finish.

Get creative when decorating your burlap-wrapped jars! You can add embellishments like twine or ribbon around the top or bottom edges for a decorative touch. Use hot glue or craft glue to attach buttons, lace, or other accents to the burlap fabric.

Consider adding personalized touches to your jars, such as hand-painted designs or stenciled letters. These can add a unique flair to your burlap-wrapped jars and make them truly one-of-a-kind.

Once decorated, your burlap-wrapped jars can serve a variety of purposes. Use them as vases for flowers, candle holders, or storage containers for small items like pens or utensils. Arrange your finished burlap-wrapped jars on a mantle, shelf, or table to showcase their rustic charm and add a cozy atmosphere to any room in your home.

Burlap Bunting

Burlap bunting adds a charming touch to any celebration or space. From parties to simple gatherings, this project will add a touch of festiveness to any occasion. Hang it across a mantle, along a wall, or above a doorway to instantly enhance the ambiance.

You can even use the bunting as everyday decor in the living room or children’s room – how’s that for versatility? Here’s a simple guide to making your own burlap bunting:

You’ll need

• burlap fabric
• Scissors
• a ruler
• twine or ribbon
• a pencil
• decorative elements such as stencils, alphabet appliques or fabric paint

Begin by deciding on the size and shape of your bunting flags. Using the ruler and pencil, mark out rectangles on the burlap fabric. Cut along the marked lines to create individual flags. Ensure they are all the same size for consistency.

Get creative with decorating your burlap flags! You can use stencils and fabric paint to add designs or messages to each flag. Alternatively, you can leave them plain for a more minimalist look. Measure and cut a length of twine or ribbon to your desired bunting length, leaving extra on each end for hanging. Fold each flag over the twine or ribbon, leaving space between each flag. Secure the flags in place by either gluing or sewing them onto the twine or ribbon.

Ensure the flags are evenly spaced along the twine or ribbon for a balanced look. You can adjust the spacing as needed by sliding the flags along the twine or ribbon. Once all the flags are attached, hang your burlap bunting in your desired location. You can use nails, hooks, or tape to secure it in place.

Burlap Covered Lamp

Transform old or plain lamps into a burlap covered lamp. Not only will burlap add texture and a welcoming vibe to your living space, it can also warm up your interiors.

You’ll need

• a lamp base with a plain lampshade
• burlap fabric
• Scissors
• fabric glue
• a paintbrush
• decorative elements you desire, such as ribbons, appliques or lace

Measure the circumference and height of your lampshade. Cut a piece of burlap fabric that’s slightly larger than these measurements to ensure full coverage.

Lay the burlap fabric flat on a clean surface. If desired, you can iron the fabric beforehand to remove any wrinkles.

Apply fabric glue evenly to the surface of the lampshade using a paintbrush. Carefully place the burlap fabric onto the lampshade, smoothing out any wrinkles or air bubbles as you go. Trim any excess burlap fabric from the top and bottom edges of the lampshade, leaving a small overlap to ensure a neat finish.

Apply a thin line of fabric glue along the top and bottom edges of the lampshade. Fold the excess fabric over the edges and press firmly to secure in place.

Get creative with decorating your burlap-covered lampshade! You can add ribbons, lace, or other embellishments around the top and bottom edges for a personalized touch.

Allow the lampshade to dry completely according to the instructions on the fabric glue.

Once the lampshade is dry, reattach it to the lamp base. Turn on the lamp to enjoy the warm glow filtered through the burlap fabric.

Burlap Framed Inspirational Signs

Burlap framed inspiration signs are a creative and uplifting way to add personalized décor to your home. These framed signs could be gifted to friends or hung/propped in an arrangement to boost motivation or inspiration whenever you need one.

You’ll need

• burlap fabric
• wooden frames
• Scissors
• glue or a staple gun
• Stencils, letter stickers, or downloaded and printed quotes from the web
• acrylic paint, and paintbrushes

Start by removing any glass or backing from the wooden frames. You’ll only need the frame itself for this project. Then, measure and cut the burlap fabric to fit the size of your frames, leaving a little extra around the edges to ensure full coverage.

Use glue or a staple gun to secure the burlap fabric to the back of the wooden frames. Pull the fabric taut as you attach it to ensure a smooth surface.

Decide on the inspirational message you want to display on your signs. Use stencils or letter stickers to outline the words on the burlap fabric. Carefully paint over the stencils or letter stickers with acrylic paint. If you are using downloaded and printed quotes, cut these to size and glue them on the burlap fabric.

Choose colors that complement your home décor and create contrast against the burlap background.

Let the paint dry completely before removing the stencils or letter stickers from the burlap fabric. Once the paint is dry, you can embellish the frames with additional decorations if you like, such as ribbons, beads, or faux flowers.

Hang or prop up your burlap framed inspiration signs in your home to enjoy daily doses of motivation and positivity.

Handcrafted Burlap Accessories To Liven Up Your Space

As you can see with these DIY projects, you don’t need to spend a lot on accessories to liven up your space. Incorporating burlap into your decor not only promotes sustainability but also adds a charming rustic touch to your home accessories. A roll of burlap will definitely go a long way. Happy crafting!