Q&A for How to Make a Garden Flag

Burlap should never be washed. To make it waterproof, try spraying it with a shoe-waterproofing product.

Yes. It should work just fine. Because it's a porous material, the paint should not rub or wash off.

Yes. Just make sure it is sized correctly and you have enough space.

Using a stiffening agent on T-shirt material is always a good choice. T-shirts are made from a knit material and will stretch and not hold their shape without support. Iron-on interfacing will stiffen the material. This makes it easier to work with when cutting and sewing.

Use a serger or a zig-zag stitch to keep the edge from fraying. A thin line of fabric or waterproof glue will also work. If the pocket is where you will be hanging the flag, run a second row of stitching next to the first row. Make the stitch length different from the first row. This adds strength to the seam because the fabric threads along the double row of stitches are pulled in different directions by the different stitch lengths.

Burlap is generally a good choice for a yard flag. It does have a low thread count and can unravel easily. Running two rows of different stitch length will prevent it from coming apart. You can use masking tape to hold cut burlap threads together before sewing.