Thank you so much for all of the wonderful feedback from my Spring Home Tour yesterday! You are all so sweet to me! Today, I am so happy to have Lisa, from Celebrate Creativity, here to share a gorgeous lavender sachet tutorial. Everything she touches is beautiful!
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Lisa Tutman-Oglesby here with another fun, handcrafted project that I think you're going to love. These sweet-smelling lavender heart sachets are not only pretty but are super easy to make.
Over the years, I've gifted these lavender-filled sachets and they're always a huge hit.
Give them a try and you'll see how well they go over too.
If you're not lucky enough to have access to your own personal lavender fields (I am not), then the next best thing is your local whole food or natural food store where you buy dried lavender in bulk.
Boost and enhance the fragrance of the dried lavender with a few drops of lavender oil which you can find at most crafts stores.
Add a few drops of oil to the lavender, stir and then spread out on a flat surface.
Allow to dry and seal in a plastic bag until ready to use.
Meanwhile, I wanted these sachets to have a slightly worn, vintage quality so I used some grain cloth that I had in my fabric stash.
Grain cloth has a soft but rustic texture that really lends itself nicely to this kind of project (and many others).
Every crafter should have jute on hand and I use this sturdy, burlap-type string for more projects than I can name.
Of course, you can hand embroidery an image on your sachets but I want to take the opportunity to share with you how lovely machine embroidery looks.
If you've never considered getting an embroidery machine before, this simple project may make you think twice.
Here's a closer look at a few of the stages of home machine embroidery.
What starts out as blank fabric, is quickly transformed one stitch at a time and one color change at a time.
The fun part is watching the image slowly take shape.
Here's a look at the finished embroidered image.
Pretty cool, huh?
I like to work in assembly line fashion so I stitched out embroidery on multiple pieces of fabric first.
Sketch a heart template (or download one from online) and place it under the fabric and hold both up to a window to position the embroidered image in the center of the heart shape.
Pin to hold the template in place and then cut the fabric in the shape of the heart.
Cut matching size heart shapes to go with each embroidered heart.
With RIGHT sides together, stitch all the way around the heart using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 1-inch opening in the seam along one side of the heart shape.
Cut a 6-inch piece of jute and fold it over to form a loop.
Place the loop in the top of the heart shape with the ends facing out. Hold the jute in place as you stitch the "V" shape of the heart.
Stitch this same area twice to ensure the loop is totally secure.
Gently turn the heart inside out through the opening in the seam.
Use a small funnel (or envelope) to pour some of the scented lavender into the seam opening.
You could fill the entire sachet with lavender or just use enough (about 1/4-cup) of dried lavender which would be enough to provide a long-lasting scent.
Your dried lavender will go a lot further if you supplement the sachet-filling with cotton stuffing.
Don't over-stuff the sachet. Use the eraser-end of a pencil or a knitting needle to help push the cotton stuffing into the edge and point of the sachet.
Then, close the opening in the sachet with a simple slip stitch using matching thread.
Snip a small piece of jute and tie it in a bow with tails.
Attach the bow to the front center of the heart sachet.
OK, you're almost done.
Next step requires you pull out your trusty hot glue gun. Embellish the sachets with just about anything you like.
I used a few artificial blooms and greenery along with a small snippet of jute for a bow.
Apply a small amount of glue on the front of the sachet. Attach a jute bow and florals.
I also added some floral elements to the back of the sachet to give the project a more finished presentation on both sides.
I think the fabric and jute give these pretty sachets a slightly vintage look.
Make these pretty and softly-scented sachets to gift to friends and loved ones but be sure to make a few for yourself too.
If you'd like to see a few more examples of home machine embroidery, here are few links to some of my favorites.
Fair warning: You're going to want an embroidery machine after you see these projects.
Flatware-Inspired Embroidered Napkins
Cottage Charm Pincushion Embroidery
Suzanne
I haven't used the embroidery feature on my machine in ages. You have inspired me. These sachets are so lovely. I see some lavender sachets in my future : )
Warmest Regards,
Suzanne
Pieced Pastimes
Lisa at celebrate creativity
HI Suzanne, I'm thrilled that you're inspired to use your embroidery attachment. If you have an embroidery machine you simply MUST put it to good use.
If you have time, drop by my site and put "EMBROIDERY" in the search field to see some of the other projects I've made. I think you'll end up pulling out your machine tonight-lol.
Good luck and let me know what you decide to make first.
Laura Lee
Such a great crraft! What stitch settings did you use for the emroidery?
Lisa at celebrate creativity
Hi Laura, Since the embroidery on these sachets were stitched by a home embroidery machine, I didn't have to set any stitch settings. The lavender design was on a disc, I put the disc in the embroidery machine and everything gets stitched out.
If you're considering getting an embroidery machine, I think you'll love it and the design possibilities are endless.
susan sobon
such a pretty project. i love the grain cloth. can you tell me where you bought it? i couldnt find it online anywhere. thanks
Lisa at celebrate creativity
Hi Susan, I'm glad you like the sachets.
I actually cut the sachets from a larger piece of grain cloth fabric that I purchased from an online store called Décor Steals. It had a large stripe running through it but I just cut around it.
You may also be able to find similar fabric at a local home décor fabric/upholstery store. Upholstery fabrics tend to be a little thicker so you may be able to find just what you need.
Good luck.
susan sobon
thanks so much!
Shawnna
Oh I just love this!! SO pretty!!
Suzanne
Lovely, the addition of rosemary is such a great idea! Thanks, I would have never thought of that. I want your sewing machine!!