Things You’ll Need: burlap

While burlap is safe for organic gardens, there is no reason to leave burlap sitting or buried in an organic garden. Use burlap to wrap tree roots or transfer plants in an organic garden with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening. more »

Burlap developed from the jute plant. It also called Hessian cloth since Hessian soldier uniforms were made from burlap. Today, it is primarily used for carpets. India and Pakistan are the world's biggest producers of burlap. more »

Burlap place mats are both functional and attractive additions to the dining room or kitchen table. They are economical to make and use, because burlap is inexpensive. Another benefit of burlap place mats is that they can be made easily and children can even be involved in some of the steps of the creation of burlap place mats. Make burlap place mats and create fun, easy and attractive place mats for your table. more »

When thinking of welcoming fabrics it is unlikely that burlap comes to mind. However modern varieties of burlap can be found in a variety of colors and even treated to soften the coarseness of the materials. Burlap is woven from the fibers of the jute plant and was originally used as the material for making feed bags. Burlap's durability and unpretentious nature make it an excellent material for everyday tablecloths or when you want to create a country atmosphere. more »

A balled-and-burlapped (also known as 'B-and-B') tree or shrub comes with a burlap-wrapped clump of soil around its roots. Many evergreens are traditionally sold this way. more »

Weaving burlap is a crafts tradition that threads its way back to the Native American. This is a colorful and easy way to make a statement and create a lasting piece of art. With a vast variety of burlap and materials you can weave with, it will be no problem creating a weaving that expresses your personality and vision. more »

Burlap may seem like the roughest, toughest fabric that would never require any type of care. But to keep it looking good, whether it’s a burlap tote, pillow sham or religious shirt, you’ll want to know how to care for burlap. While burlap holds up well under normal conditions, it does not like to be left wet, be twisted or thrown in the wash with a million other items. You can care for burlap with some cold water and a few simple steps. more »

Burlap has most often been used simply to make storage sacks. But it is also used to make fashionable burlap apparel. It is important to know how to store these items to protect them from damage. There are several problems you might face when trying to protect burlap. The first of these is mildew. Mildew is a fungus which stains and rots textile materials. Another problem are insects, such as silverfish, which will eat the cellulose fibers of burlap. Also, direct light and heat can cause fading. Finally, sharp folds in the burlap can crack the thread fibers. more »

Burlap manufacturers claim that it is made entirely from hand-spun fibers and that no man-made materials or chemicals are added. Others claim that burlap is made from chemically treated fibers and that the chemicals used during the processing of these Hessian, Sisal or Jute fibers are not sufficiently extracted prior to the spinning of these materials. The claim is that this creates a situation such that the remaining acid from these chemicals causes a shortened lifespan for the burlap. It has been said by some burlap users that this causes the burlap to break and tear easily because it has been so weakened by this chemical process and by the chemical residue. more »

Burlap is a material that is made out of the fibers of the jute plant. It has also been called Hessian cloth, ever since the soldiers that hailed from the German state of Hesse had uniforms made from it. Burlap has many uses, figuring prominently in the carpet industry for example, and has been an important export of India and Pakistan for a long time. Here is a brief synopsis of the history of burlap and some facts concerning this cloth. more »