Paint the jute bag
Design your own unique piece
© watcher fox / Shutterstock
Jute bags are practical: They accompany us when we go shopping, are washable and can also be used as stylish accessories. So that they don’t come across as monotonous in their beige appearance, we show you creative ideas here on how to paint jute bags.
The jute bag is a nice alternative to the plastic bag and therefore belongs in every household. The bags are suitable for shopping and transport and help to avoid plastic. The cloth bags have long since lost their dusty image and there are many colored, printed or even with slogans on the market. But if you design your own model, you wear something very individual – and there are many possibilities. We’ll show you the best ideas on how to creatively paint your jute bag.
tip: Not only does the jute bag look good on ourselves when shopping, family and friends are also happy to receive the practical helper as a gift!
Painting jute bags: which colors are suitable?
- For painting the jute bags are Textile paints and Textile pencils best for. After fixing with the iron, the colors are machine washable and we can enjoy our very own design for a long time.
- Oil paints are for jute bags not recommendable.
- Acrylics are not optimal for painting the jute bags, but can also be used if necessary. However, they are not waterproof, so the color would fade over time if washed. In addition, the acrylic paint should only be applied very thinly and diluted with a little water. If necessary, you can put several layers on top of each other in order to increase the opacity. But: Paint that was applied thickly at the beginning will become brittle over time.
- Watercolors are very easy to use, but disappear again with the first wash and are therefore also not recommended if you want a permanent result.
Painting jute bags: Here’s how
You need:
- Jute bags
- Cardboard as a base
- Upon need Transfer paper
- Printed motif
- Pencil or pen
- Textile pencils or textile paints
- paint brush
- Water container for washing out the brush
- Iron
- Put a piece of cardboard in the jute bag: This will prevent the paint from pushing through to the other side of the bag.
- If you don’t want to draw your motif free-hand, you can use transfer paper. Place the transfer paper with the corresponding side on the fabric and your printed or sketched motif on top. Trace the motif with a pencil or ballpoint pen. Make sure that you do not lean too hard on the transfer paper with the palm of your hand, otherwise the pigments will also be pushed through here (but these can be washed out later if necessary). Note: If the jute bag is very thin, it is sometimes sufficient to simply slide the printed motif or the tablet with the motif into the bag and pause.
- Remove the paper and paint your motif with fabric pens or fabric paint and a brush. Multiple coats of paint can be applied as required.
- Let the paint dry, turn the fabric on its left side and then fix the fabric paint with an iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions. And your jute bag is ready and machine washable too!
Painting jute bags: the most beautiful ideas
There are no limits to the design of the bags. You can paint freely, apply lettering and statements, use stencils, apply stamps, sprinkle the fabric or use adhesive tape for geometric shapes. Here are a few inspirations:
Floral motifs on bags always look classy. Simple leaves and tendrils with a colored background can also be painted quickly.
You can insert your own geometric patterns with adhesive tape. Tape everything carefully and paint in the spaces.
This graphic landscape is a real eye-catcher. Pick your favorite motif or design one yourself before transferring it to the cloth bag.
Funny sayings are guaranteed to attract everyone’s attention and simply put you in a good mood when you look at the jute bag!
Stamp jute bags
If you don’t have a suitable stamp at home, you can rely on DIY and simply design some yourself. Potato printing lends itself very well to the bag. Alternatively, small apples cut in half, toilet paper rolls (for circles or oval shapes), leaves or the like can be used. While small stamps can simply be pressed in a little paint and then stamped on, it is advisable to apply the paint with a small short-pile painter’s roller for larger motifs (such as leaves).
Notice: The production of the jute bags is also not ecologically harmless. Although we avoid plastic with the cloth bags, these bags also pollute the environment through the water consumption and the use of pesticides in conventional cotton cultivation. Jute bags only become sustainable if they are used permanently and become a loyal companion with every purchase. One more reason to make our jute bag particularly beautiful and always carry it with us!
Looking for more DIY ideas? Here we show you how you can sew a bag, make gifts yourself and knot a macrame hanging basket.