Burlap Star Tutorial

I am completely starry-eyed these days. I keep thinking of new ways to use the origami stars that I've been blogging about. I've been very inspired by how Maya at maya*made and Molly at A Foothill Home Companion (who is re-launching an online store!!) have been using burlap, and I wondered if the origami process could be used on burlap. Armed with a full can of spray starch, I set out on my burlap adventure.







Materials:
burlap bag
spray starch
buttons (I used three vintage buttons)
short length of floral wire

Step 1: Cut all seams to deconstruct a burlap bag (I used the burlap from a bag of chestnuts), remove extra threads, and iron the burlap bag flat, using liberal amounts of spray starch.

Step 2: Cut out 5 five-inch squares of the burlap (any size square will do, of course, but that's the size I had enough burlap to make). My rotary cutter made very precise cuts on the burlap.

Step 3: Fold one of the squares in half, spray with spray starch, and iron flat, making sure the crease is sharp.

Step 4: Fold the strip in half again to make a square. Spray with starch and iron flat.

Step 5: Open up the square, placing right side down (if your burlap has a pattern or printing, it might be fun to have that as your right side; Maya always places her printed burlap very strategically!). Fold top right corner down to center and bottom left corner down to center, spray, and iron flat.
Step 6: Fold bottom right corner up, spray and iron to crease, and then fold flap back down.



Step 7: Fold entire center crease down and then spray and iron. Fold up left corner to center, spray and iron, and then fold down again. (I didn't get a shot of this step. See my origami star tutorial, steps 7 and 8.)

Step 8: Follow steps 3 through 7 with the remaining squares.

Step 9: Place your first piece horizontally and your second piece perpendicular to the first (as shown in the origami star tutorial, steps 9 and 10). Insert triangle of second piece into slot on first piece. Fold triangle on bottom of first piece into slot on second piece. Attach remaining pieces in the same way, fastening the fifth piece to the first one.

Step 10: Stitch a straight seam down each opened flap, catching all layers. (I had hoped that the pieces would stay together without stitching, but the star was too floppy without the seams.)

Step 11: Sew the larger button to the center hole in your star. I'm sure that this can be done by hand, but I used my sewing machine: Place the center of your star under the needle of your sewing machine. Place the larger button on top of the hole in the center of the star, making sure to gather enough burlap under the button for the thread to catch on. Sew button on with sewing machine by using a zigzag stitch with your sitch length set to "0."

Step 12: Thread floral wire through a smaller shank button and then thread floral wire through the larger button already sewn on the star. Twist the floral wire closed in back of the star.

Step 13: Cut out a thin strip of burlap for the loop. Fold in half lengthwise and position at top of star. Put a button on top of loop and sew on button to attach loop.

My next project is to try this with cotton or linen or that wonderful stiff mesh fabric that florists use. Let me know if you use the tutorial to create some origami fabric stars--I'd love to see your stellar efforts!

Many, many thanks to Cassi at The Crafty Crow, Rachel at OnePretty Thing (flanked by Betz White and Martha Stewart projects, oh my!!), and the fine editors at Craft: for linking to the origami star tutorial. My son, who inspired me to learn origami in the first place and is my tutorial helper and instructor in all things spatially related, is as thrilled as I am at all the interest!