When I was a kid, I found my grandmother's sewing box in the guest bedroom closet. This was long before I actually started sewing myself...that didn't happen until much later in life. My mom was never a sewer herself, and all the different needles and scissors looked so foreign. But in that sewing box was a little lavender sachet and at the time, it seemed like such a delicate and luxurious thing to have. I'm pretty sure I squeezed and smelled that sachet until the lavender buds had nearly turned to dust. To this day, the scent of lavender always reminds me of afternoons spent sitting on the floor, organizing spools of thread in my grandmother's sewing box.
A couple weeks ago, I stopped by a local shop to pick up some lavender buds for some apricot lavender butter that I was making and the associate working told me about a lavender farm nearby that lets you pick your own lavender to take home. Um, wait. That's a thing? Done and done. So last weekend, we packed up a picnic and hopped on the ferry for a day of sunshine and lavender fields. A couple hours and six huge bundles of lavender later, our house couldn't be more relaxing with flowers in every room. And the best part? On our way back home, my boyfriend asks if I'll make him a bag of lavender to put in his car. Lavender sachets, we're bringing you back.
Lavender Sachets
This project is perfect for using up scraps of fabric that you've got hanging around from other projects. It doesn't take much time to whip up a bunch and you can have a dresser's worth in a couple of hours. I toss one in each drawer to keep my clothes smelling fresh.
Materials:
Scrap fabric
Lavender buds-I got mine at a local apothecary, but you can find them in bulk online
Needle and thread for finishing
1. Start by cutting out 4x4" squares from your fabric. This will create a finished product that's about the size of your palm. If you want them bigger, start with bigger squares of fabric.
2. On one side, fold the edge of your square 1/4" and press.
3. Pin two squares together, right sides facing together. Sew the three raw edges, using a 1/4" seam allowance.
4. Using a tablespoon, fill the sachets with your dried lavender. If you're using 4x4" squares, it will take about 2 tablespoons of buds. Be careful not to fill them too full or else it will be more difficult to sew the final edge together.
5. Hand stitch the final edge together with a needle and thread. Put your sachets in your drawers, your gym bag, your car...anywhere you need a little extra relaxation.
