Christmas Decorating Ideas Using Burlap

Table Manners

• Set a rustic table with a bright red linen cloth, a burlap runner down the center of it, a "tree" centerpiece made from pine cones piled in a pyramid and lightly dusted with fake snow, and red pillar candles in sparkling glass chimneys. Pinch gathered napkins into bow-tie shapes with strips of burlap twisted into napkin rings and fastened with tiny grapevine and red holly wreaths. Wrap plastic pots of flowering scarlet amaryllis in burlap and place a row of them along the mantel or on the dining room sideboard.

Skirts and Garlands

• Wind lots of twinkling lights round your tree, followed by a burlap garland, before totally covering it in folk art ornaments. Burlap garlands are a snap to make. Cut a length of twine about a foot longer than you want the garland to be; tie a big knot 6 inches in from one end and thread the other end through a tapestry needle. Baste right down the middle of a 4-inch-wide roll of burlap garland, lightly gathering the burlap about every half-dozen stitches. Cut the burlap when you reach a point about 6 inches from the end of the twine, tie a big knot, and wind the ruffly burlap garland around the tree, tying it at start and finish. Arrange a length of burlap cloth around the base of the tree as a skirt and pile burlap-wrapped presents around the tree skirt.

Darned at Heel

• Rough-edged Christmas stockings are charming on a shabby chic-style mantel or hanging on hooks on a garlanded door frame. Cut double stocking shapes from a folded piece of burlap and whip-stitch them with red yarn all around the foot and calf, leaving the collar open. Glue a red or green felt fold around the collar and sew a grosgrain ribbon tab at the top of the stocking to hang it. Cut out the letters of first names from newsprint, spray them with clear fixative, and glue them to the collars of the stockings. Darn a patch in red, green or brown yarn on a few of the heels or the toes.

Country Advent Calendar

• The countdown to Christmas is an opportunity to build excitement with little gifts and love notes for excited kids to open each day. Make an Advent calendar from wired burlap ribbon, some red and green holiday ribbon scraps, a butchered wood yardstick and twine. Raid the craft store for burlap ribbon with tiny green Christmas trees or red polka dots on it, and a package of those doll-sized colored pinch clothespins, red and green. Cut 4-inch lengths of ribbon, fold down an inch in front, and glue the sides together. Glue scraps of red and green ribbon across the folded-down collar. Cut the yardstick into number tiles with a chop saw or jigsaw; "antique" them with brown tinted wax; and glue numbers 1 through 25 on the burlap envelopes. Attach the envelopes to twine, stretched across a mantel or window, with the tiny clothespins. Tuck something sweet into each envelope.