What I made and How I made it
So during the summer I collected a whole bunch of lavender to dry out and use around the house. I have done a few crocheted items like this, but still had loads of lavender left over. I found a whole stack of scraps of material that I had at the back of a shelf and kind of bodged these cute little lavender scented pockets. I think they would make really cute little gifts for somebody, mothers day gifts, thankyou gifts etc. You can make them as big or as small as you want and you can even decorate them with buttons or glitter if you like!
Lavender was traditionally used in wardrobes, cupboards and drawers to keep the moths out (moths hate lavender!) and stop them making holes in your best dress that may only come out twice a year. It also keeps everything smelling great!
These are so quick and easy to make that I thought I would make a little tutorial so that you can make a few of these at home.
Here's what you will need:
- A cardboard circular template approximately 20cm in diameter
- Tape measure
- Material scraps
- Muslin
- Ribbon
- Pencils
- Pair of compasses
- Thread
- Big Needle
- Little Needle
- Dried Lavender
- Scissors
Let's Get Started...
Start off by measuring a small rectangle of muslin approximately 8cm by 16cm and then cut it out.
Get your small needle and some thread and start to sew up two edges, leaving one edge open so that you can put your dried lavender inside. This small lavender cushion will not be seen from the outside so it doesn't have to be overly neat. I'm no seamstress and don't own a sewing machine so my stitches are abysmal, but they do the job.
Fill your little pocket with the dried lavender and sew up the remaining edge. It should look something like this, although I should imagine your stitches would be a bit neater. I think it kind of looks like a little teabag!
Next, use your cardboard template to mark, and cut out a circle from your scrap of material. Keep your marks on the wrong side of the material so that they will not show on the outside of the finished item.
Set your compasses to 7cm and mark a circle on the wrong side of your material. This is going to be the line around which you stitch your ribbon.
Using your large needle and your ribbon, follow your circular marking. Start from the "correct" side of the material, and leave a long tail. Keep your stitches even, I made mine roughly 1.5cm all the way round. When you come back to the beginning of the circle, finish again on the "correct" side of the material. You should have two long tails on the correct side of the material.
Now is the part where you get to bring it all together. Place your material, correct side down. Place your little lavender filled muslin pocket in the centre and pull the ribbon tight around it.
Tie a beautiful little bow, and there you have it, your finished little lavender pocket! You can put a little stitch in at this point so keep it all together, but I prefer not to. The reason being is that next year or the year after when the smell runs out, I can replace the little cushion inside.
I have made a lot of these, in various guises and use them in drawers, in cupboards, in shoes, in suitcases, in handbags and just basically anything that I'm going to store for a long time to keep the moths away and keep everything smelling fresh!
I would love to see any of these that you guys make. If you post pictures on your blogs, link back to me and let me know so I can see! If you put it on twitter, instagram or pinterest, tag me so that I can take a look! (links in sidebar)
Happy stitching guys!
Very nicely done!!! I did not know that moths hate lavender!!! HA, I must make some then to combat the little swines!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes it's true. Back in the day when your average person owned one good suit, they would store it in the cupboard with a sprig of lavender in the top pocket to protect from moths. They especially love natural fibres like wool and cotton x
DeleteFor decades, commercial manufacturers have relied on this type of joinery for super-quick and efficient assembly. best pocket hole machine
ReplyDelete