Burlap is Back!

Burlap is back in vogue as a great DIY material, and it’s better than ever. We’re seeing it used for gift wrap, weddings and home decor. I’m excited about our Woven Burlap Ribbon and new wide Wired Burlap Ribbon in really cool colors. Call it nostalgia, but I really love these ribbons. I want to show you how I use them and maybe spark your imagination.

Let’s start with our newest addition: Wired Burlap Ribbon. It comes in six earthy colors including my favorite for the upcoming holidays: Red. As you can see from the picture, it makes big showy bows! I like to fringe the edges of both our burlap ribbons, also known as jute. With the wired burlap, I cut the wire off both sides as far up as I want my fringe to be, then just pull out the threads and I’m done.

Of course, the wired burlap is just as pretty if you leave it straight or cut at an angle too. To prevent any fraying, you might put on a little Fray Stop liquid. This ribbon is a good one for home décor too – it would be wonderful on a wreath or as a tie back for window treatments in a contrasting color. Another great look is our Burlap Twine made from 100% jute, and our Burlap Stitched Ribbon is gorgeous.

Our soft Burlap Ribbon is still my favorite. I rarely tie bows with it, although it is pretty that way. I like to knot it and fringe it. I appreciate the simplicity of this technique. The addition of chopsticks or botanicals to the knot would create an even better presentation. Tuck some bamboo spikes into a grouping of Orchids for a spectacular floral arrangement with this burlap tie attached. For something a little simpler, look at this bouquet of daffodils we found on Pinterest.

All you need to do to make a fringe on this natural burlap ribbon is to cut the end and pull out as many threads as you like. Simple!

Update (01/29/13): New additions to our beautiful burlap packaging include Reusable Burlap Totes (at right) and our small drawstring Natural Burlap Bags, perfect for favor packaging.