Embroidery on Burlap
Embroidery on burlap (jute fabric) is incredibly popular right now: it looks very atmospheric and original, and due to the practicality of the base, it can last a long time even on functional items like clothing, bags, pillows, or napkins.
But, as with any craft, there are important nuances here 😉
Embroidery on jute materials is comparable to embroidery on evenweave fabrics, where there are no clearly defined squares like on Aida, so for cross-stitch or decorative stitches, you will have to mentally count a "step" of two base threads.
Accordingly, you should choose a fairly dense burlap, comparable to unbleached homespun linen – the looser the fabric, the harder it is to work with.
On coarse "woody" burlap, you can embroider without a hoop or frame: such material holds its shape well and does not need tension. However, the base threads can easily fray regular embroidery floss, so for embroidery, we choose thick wool or use thread in 3-6 strands – depending on the weave of the jute fabric.
Making burlap softer is easy: just wash it with fabric softener and steam it well once it has dried. In this case, the fabric will be more pleasant to the touch, but you will have to embroider with tension.
What shades to use? The most foolproof option is plain white. It creates a stunning contrast with the darker background 😍
Colored embroidery on burlap will also be very effective, but all colors should be exclusively in a natural palette.
On coarse jute, not only cross-stitch looks very delicate, but also simple satin stitch embroidery. The use of beads in natural, subtle shades is also welcome.
And here are some photos of finished works for inspiration 🥰
