Get Crafty: 11 Ways to Turn Hessian Coffee Bean Sacks Into Home Decor
Once the beans are spilt, their hessian sacks deliver their rough-and-ready texture to a host of surprising uses inside the home
My local coffee shop is my second home. Hessian sacks filled green beans are piled in the tiny space, the roasting machine churns away and the smell – well, fellow coffee addicts, you understand what that pungent, dark brown aroma does to a person first thing in the morning. As their supply of empty hessian sacks grew, the owners started making cushions from them. Then, one morning, I arrived to see a fabulous pendant light hanging over the counter, lined with colourfully printed hessian sack fabric. It got me thinking about how these humble leftovers could be usefully recycled.
I love using old hessian coffee bean sacks because they have a history. The stamped lettering – Cafés do Brasil, Café de Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, even Melbourne! – shows how far they’ve travelled carrying my coffee beans.
These projects are not all intended to produce beautifully finished articles – and not all of them are DIY. They celebrate the casual homespun character of hessian coffee bean sacks. So pour yourself a strong brew and read my tips for handling hessian, then explore some crafty ideas.
I love using old hessian coffee bean sacks because they have a history. The stamped lettering – Cafés do Brasil, Café de Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, even Melbourne! – shows how far they’ve travelled carrying my coffee beans.
These projects are not all intended to produce beautifully finished articles – and not all of them are DIY. They celebrate the casual homespun character of hessian coffee bean sacks. So pour yourself a strong brew and read my tips for handling hessian, then explore some crafty ideas.
STEP 2: Wash, or not
It’s impossible to predict how sacks will respond to washing, as there’s no such thing as a standard one – size, weave, thread quality, stiffness and dye-fastness all vary. I tested one in my washing machine using a short, gentle, cold cycle. The print faded a little, it fluffed slightly and left fibres in the machine’s filter, but it was much softer. I like leaving the sacks unwashed – they don’t show the dirt and their faint ‘horsey’ smell is part of their rugged charm! You choose.
BONUS TIP: Hang the sacks on the clothes line and administer a good thrashing with a broom, then turn inside out and repeat. This will reduce the amount of loose fibres.
It’s impossible to predict how sacks will respond to washing, as there’s no such thing as a standard one – size, weave, thread quality, stiffness and dye-fastness all vary. I tested one in my washing machine using a short, gentle, cold cycle. The print faded a little, it fluffed slightly and left fibres in the machine’s filter, but it was much softer. I like leaving the sacks unwashed – they don’t show the dirt and their faint ‘horsey’ smell is part of their rugged charm! You choose.
BONUS TIP: Hang the sacks on the clothes line and administer a good thrashing with a broom, then turn inside out and repeat. This will reduce the amount of loose fibres.
STEP 3: Choose how you treat the edges
Sewing a typical hem on hessian can create hard-to-handle bulk. But as this material frays easily, in most cases you will want to prevent this occurring. Here are three ways you can treat a hessian fabric edge:
Sewing a typical hem on hessian can create hard-to-handle bulk. But as this material frays easily, in most cases you will want to prevent this occurring. Here are three ways you can treat a hessian fabric edge:
- Jute tape or bias tape is handy for binding a raw edge to prevent fraying. Simply fold the tape in half over the raw edge of the hessian and machine stitch, tucking in the ends.
- Machine overlocking an edge or hem (as in the tablecloth here), or hand-sewing a blanket stitch to the edge will help prevent fraying
- If you desire a frayed look, leave the edges unbound, as seen in the hanging sack halves in this photo.
STEP 4: Cut and sew
To cut a straight line, loosen a thread at the place you want to cut and ease it out – you will now see a line to guide your scissors.
Some of these projects are hand-sewn using jute string, but if you prefer to machine sew, a wide zigzag rather than a straight stitch will catch more of the fibres together. Remember to always clean your machine after sewing hessian fabric so that it is free of the small fibres.
BONUS TIP: Cutting hessian sacks creates quite a mess. Do it outside if you can and you’ll avoid any vacuuming.
To cut a straight line, loosen a thread at the place you want to cut and ease it out – you will now see a line to guide your scissors.
Some of these projects are hand-sewn using jute string, but if you prefer to machine sew, a wide zigzag rather than a straight stitch will catch more of the fibres together. Remember to always clean your machine after sewing hessian fabric so that it is free of the small fibres.
BONUS TIP: Cutting hessian sacks creates quite a mess. Do it outside if you can and you’ll avoid any vacuuming.
11 FUN HESSIAN PROJECTS
1. Pet beds
Make beds for your best friend by inserting a 4cm- to 8cm-thick pad of foam rubber into a hessian coffee sack and oversewing the open end closed. Overlock all the way around if you like for a more consistent and neater edge. My dog is mad about the scratchy texture and often has a little ‘dig’ on it. These beds last for ages – air them on the line once a week.
BONUS TIP: Use these beds as absorbent quick-drying doormats during particularly wet weather.
1. Pet beds
Make beds for your best friend by inserting a 4cm- to 8cm-thick pad of foam rubber into a hessian coffee sack and oversewing the open end closed. Overlock all the way around if you like for a more consistent and neater edge. My dog is mad about the scratchy texture and often has a little ‘dig’ on it. These beds last for ages – air them on the line once a week.
BONUS TIP: Use these beds as absorbent quick-drying doormats during particularly wet weather.
2. Fringed cushions
Insert a large cushion inner into a sack – 45cm x 45cm or larger, depending on the sack size. For a basic cushion, fold the two sides of the open end to the inside then, using a wool needle and jute string, oversew the opening closed.
To make a fringed edge, as seen in this photo, insert the inner till it reaches the end of the sack and lay cushion flat. Using large backstitch, hand sew with jute string across the sack at the point where the inner starts. At about 10cm above this stitch line, cut across the sack to remove the hemmed edges. Loosen a cross thread about 1cm above the stitch line and pull out. Repeat, working your way to the edge of the fabric until you have a long fringe. To finish, you can sew a seashell onto the stitch line as shown here, or decorate by knotting along the top of the fringe in sections, threading beads onto the fringe at various points, or sewing contrasting tape along the stitch line.
BONUS TIP: Keep your pulled-out threads and use them as sewing thread for other hessian projects.
Insert a large cushion inner into a sack – 45cm x 45cm or larger, depending on the sack size. For a basic cushion, fold the two sides of the open end to the inside then, using a wool needle and jute string, oversew the opening closed.
To make a fringed edge, as seen in this photo, insert the inner till it reaches the end of the sack and lay cushion flat. Using large backstitch, hand sew with jute string across the sack at the point where the inner starts. At about 10cm above this stitch line, cut across the sack to remove the hemmed edges. Loosen a cross thread about 1cm above the stitch line and pull out. Repeat, working your way to the edge of the fabric until you have a long fringe. To finish, you can sew a seashell onto the stitch line as shown here, or decorate by knotting along the top of the fringe in sections, threading beads onto the fringe at various points, or sewing contrasting tape along the stitch line.
BONUS TIP: Keep your pulled-out threads and use them as sewing thread for other hessian projects.
If your sack cushions feel too scratchy, make one side of the cushion a softer fabric – you can then use one side to display and the other to rest against.
3. Chair update
Covering chair pads is a great way to rejuvenate an old padded chair, or to give it a new look if you are changing your room. And using hessian coffee bean sacks will give any chair instant character. Follow these easy instructions.
HOW HESSIAN GOT ITS NAME: During the 18th century, the British recruited mercenaries from the German state of Hesse and used them in various campaigns. These men were known as Hessians and a coarse woven cloth was part of their military uniform. Hessian is still used as a camouflage material today.
Covering chair pads is a great way to rejuvenate an old padded chair, or to give it a new look if you are changing your room. And using hessian coffee bean sacks will give any chair instant character. Follow these easy instructions.
HOW HESSIAN GOT ITS NAME: During the 18th century, the British recruited mercenaries from the German state of Hesse and used them in various campaigns. These men were known as Hessians and a coarse woven cloth was part of their military uniform. Hessian is still used as a camouflage material today.
4. Kitchen, office or entrance pin board
Half of a hessian sack glued or stapled to a rectangle of cork or foamcore board makes a personality-plus pin board for notes, photos and other bits and pieces. Leave unframed or choose a frame to suit the sack’s print, like this warm timber one.
Half of a hessian sack glued or stapled to a rectangle of cork or foamcore board makes a personality-plus pin board for notes, photos and other bits and pieces. Leave unframed or choose a frame to suit the sack’s print, like this warm timber one.
5. A tough apron for dirty jobs
This apron can be hand-sewn using jute string. Choose half of a softer textured hessian sack, about 70cm x 60cm. To stop the edges fraying, machine sew using zigzag stitch about 1cm in from edges. Sew two lengths of sturdy bias tape, long enough to tie around you, to the two corners of one long edge. For the pocket, cut a 40cm x 20cm rectangle of calico, fold a deep pleat in the centre between the two long edges and press. Fold over a 1cm hem on all sides and press again. Place the calico rectangle about 5cm down from the top edge of the sack (same edge as the bias ties). Pin and oversew in place around the two sides and bottom.
This apron can be hand-sewn using jute string. Choose half of a softer textured hessian sack, about 70cm x 60cm. To stop the edges fraying, machine sew using zigzag stitch about 1cm in from edges. Sew two lengths of sturdy bias tape, long enough to tie around you, to the two corners of one long edge. For the pocket, cut a 40cm x 20cm rectangle of calico, fold a deep pleat in the centre between the two long edges and press. Fold over a 1cm hem on all sides and press again. Place the calico rectangle about 5cm down from the top edge of the sack (same edge as the bias ties). Pin and oversew in place around the two sides and bottom.
6. Party bunting
Cut a cardboard template triangle with three 18cm sides. Cut open your hessian sack and cut off seams. Place template on sack, trace around, then cut out a triangle. Repeat until you have as many triangles as you like (but make sure you have an even number). Repeat the process using a complementary print fabric. Press all triangles flat, then arrange them in pairs, right side facing out. Using this photo as a guide and alternating between fabric types, take each pair of triangles and position along a length of bias tape so that the tape sits between one edge of each pair. Secure with pins, then sew together using a large tacking stitch. Use to festoon an outdoor area or mantelpiece.
Cut a cardboard template triangle with three 18cm sides. Cut open your hessian sack and cut off seams. Place template on sack, trace around, then cut out a triangle. Repeat until you have as many triangles as you like (but make sure you have an even number). Repeat the process using a complementary print fabric. Press all triangles flat, then arrange them in pairs, right side facing out. Using this photo as a guide and alternating between fabric types, take each pair of triangles and position along a length of bias tape so that the tape sits between one edge of each pair. Secure with pins, then sew together using a large tacking stitch. Use to festoon an outdoor area or mantelpiece.
7. Unique artwork
It’s almost a shame to put the lovely nubbly texture of hessian sacks behind glass. However, these framed sacks look fantastic as a background to a dark wood table and leather banquette in a country-style kitchen-dining area.
It’s almost a shame to put the lovely nubbly texture of hessian sacks behind glass. However, these framed sacks look fantastic as a background to a dark wood table and leather banquette in a country-style kitchen-dining area.
8. Rustic wallpaper
It can be a little tricky to pull off, as you’ll need a strong glue, but hessian coffee bean sacks – or hessian feed sacks, as in this photo – make a terrific budget way to ‘paper’ walls.
BONUS TIP: If you don’t want to glue the sacks permanently to the wall, you can use staples or tacks to get a similar, yet slightly more rustic, look.
It can be a little tricky to pull off, as you’ll need a strong glue, but hessian coffee bean sacks – or hessian feed sacks, as in this photo – make a terrific budget way to ‘paper’ walls.
BONUS TIP: If you don’t want to glue the sacks permanently to the wall, you can use staples or tacks to get a similar, yet slightly more rustic, look.
9. Upholstered armchairs
Enlist a pro to cover sections of armchairs or sofas, like these gorgeous examples. The dark fabric used really complements the lighter hessian as well as the printing on the sacks.
Enlist a pro to cover sections of armchairs or sofas, like these gorgeous examples. The dark fabric used really complements the lighter hessian as well as the printing on the sacks.
10. Lampshade
You can DIY or ask your upholsterer to cover a lampshade that needs a funky face lift. Simply sew together sections of hessian to fit your lamp shade, glue to the shade and finish off the edges with jute tape or bias tape.
You can DIY or ask your upholsterer to cover a lampshade that needs a funky face lift. Simply sew together sections of hessian to fit your lamp shade, glue to the shade and finish off the edges with jute tape or bias tape.
11. Covers for your technology
A clever friend made a batik-lined pouch with a button-and-string closure to house her tablet. Add a bias tape strap and you have a handbag, too! There is no end to the fun you can have with hessian.
SHOW AND TELL
Make one of these projects and decorate it how you like – then attach a photo and any tips in the comments section.
MORE ON CRAFTING
The Many Ways You Can Live With Hessian – Holes and All
Nifty Thrifting: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Why DIY is Good for Your Soul, Not Just Home
A clever friend made a batik-lined pouch with a button-and-string closure to house her tablet. Add a bias tape strap and you have a handbag, too! There is no end to the fun you can have with hessian.
SHOW AND TELL
Make one of these projects and decorate it how you like – then attach a photo and any tips in the comments section.
MORE ON CRAFTING
The Many Ways You Can Live With Hessian – Holes and All
Nifty Thrifting: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Why DIY is Good for Your Soul, Not Just Home
STEP 1: Find a supplier
Approach coffee shops in your area and see if they will give or sell you their used hessian sacks. As they become more sought after, money will probably need to change hands. Sometimes, coffee roasters may part with leftover sacks, or you can search online – hessian sacks frequently crop up on gumtree and eBay.
DID YOU KNOW? Jute, the plant used to make hessian fabric for coffee sacks, is one of the world’s most sustainable crops. It’s way greener than growing cotton or forestation, as it requires minimal water and pesticides, grows fully in 4-6 months, is CO2 neutral and improves soil fertility. The resulting hessian is also non-flammable and, as it’s organic, compostable.