Quick Tip: How to Keep Canvas or Burlap from Fraying

Learn how to keep burlap from fraying after you cut it with this simple step!

I know it's been kind of quiet around here lately. I've been struggling to finish a DIY project I started for Baby G's nursery several weeks ago. You see, I'm making something that requires sewing burlap or canvas.

I started with a thin canvas-like material, and it didn't work out at all. Too thin and it frayed too easily. Then I switched to drop cloth (canvas), thinking it would be perfect. But when I started sewing, the edges frayed and unraveled, and my stitching was quickly falling apart. The stitches wouldn't hold the fabric together. So I had to find a quick fix, find new material, or scrap the project altogether.

How to Keep Burlap or Canvas from Fraying

I decided I wanted a quick solution, and I found one! So I thought I'd share it in case you ever need to sew canvas. I imagine it would work well for burlap too!

Enter –> Mod Podge. Yes, the stuff you use to seal a stencil before painting over it, or the stuff you use to adhere and seal fabric on a board. Aha! That was my lightbulb moment. I'd used Mod Podge to seal my "Scrappy" Pumpkin Fall Decor blocks, and it occurred to me this technique would work here too.

All you need is a small brush and some Mod Podge. Dip the brush in the glue and run it along the cut edge of your canvas or burlap. Just a thin line along the edge will do!

Once it dries, it holds everything in place and lets you sew without unraveling. Yay! I was able to keep working on my project and am hopefully close to finishing. I can't wait to reveal the final project.

Any guesses for what I'm making?? (See what I made here.)

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