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February 19, 2013

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Today's tutorial came to me while I was away on a trip and bought some very aromatic lavender from the Los Poblanos Farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I knew I wanted to make a sachet, but I wanted to combine a St. Patrick's Day theme into it, as well. St. Patty's sachets it is!


Lavender is very good for soothing and calming stress or anxiety. Which means this sachet has multiple uses. It can either be placed in a drawer with socks or unmentionables to add a fresh scent, or it can be placed under a pillow to ease headaches or insomnia. 


I bought this lavender in Albuquerque, but you might be able to find it at a local health food, farmer's market or organic grocery store near you. Maybe you have some growing in your garden that you could use! If you would like some of this lavender from the Los Poblanos Farm, it's available in their online shop, here

To make this quick and very lovely smelling sachet, you will need the following supplies:

-cotton fabric cut into two 5x5 pieces (I used white cotton muslin)
-shamrock pattern (available for you here)
-Lavender 
-embroidery floss
-scissors
-iron & ironing board
-sewing machine


Step 1: Transfer the pattern (available for you here) to fabric. I used 2 strands or 2-ply of a 6-strand floss on each of these shamrocks. I used the satin stitch with a running stitch on the stem for one, and a back stitch with a satin stitch on the stem for the other. This is where you can mix up your stitches to create fun and lively shamrocks.


Step 2: Once your stitches are complete, take the blank 5x5 piece of fabric and place the stitched side face down on top of it. Align it so all the edges match. 


Sew these pieces together, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving a space on one side for turning it over, about 1.5 inches. 


Step 3: Clip the corners and turn the sachet. Push the corners out and press. I don't recommend ironing directly on the embroidery,  I just go around the edges.



Step 4: This step is somewhat optional. You could either use this stitch option, or fill the sachet and slip stitch the opening to seal the sachet. I opted to sew an edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving an opening to match the space I used to turn the sachet.


Step 5: Take a funnel or make a cone out of paper, and place it at the opening of the sachet. Pour in the lavender until it's substantially full. I used half of the little bag of lavender to fill two sachets. 


Step 6: Close up the outline stitch and the sachet is ready to enjoy!


I wish I could share the fantastic aroma this lavender has infused into the room, through the computer. It really is lovely and I hope you give it a try!

Have a great day!

2 comments:

  1. This is such a wonderful idea... the detail on the clover is delightful!

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  2. SO cute! I'm such a sucker for anything Irish...and I even have lavender on hand!!

    ReplyDelete