Learn how to make your own lavender potpourri sachets from any fabric or vintage linens. Hand-sew this easy craft project or use a sewing machine. Either way, you end up with a lovely homemade DIY sachet that you can use to keep your home smelling fresh with optional essential oils!
Lavender is one of my favorite flowers. It’s beautiful, easy to grow and smells simply lovely. So it’s no wonder that I love to use lavender in my projects at home. One of the simplest projects using lavender are these beautiful hand sewn lavender sachets.
Sachets are a wonderful “contained” potpourri that I use frequently around my home. They usually live in drawers and closet spaces. Pretty much anywhere you find an old or musty corner or nook, that's the perfect spot for a sachet. These hand sewn lavender sachets help the space smell delightful without adding toxic chemicals. They are easy to make too!
How to Make Your Own DIY Lavender Sachets
Before you get started with this DIY sachet tutorial there are a few items you'll need to gather.
- Cotton or Linen Fabric
- Lavender Buds
- Dry Rice
- Lavender Essential Oil optional
A note on choosing fabric: Be sure to choose a cotton or linen fabric in whatever style or type you prefer. These fabrics are made from natural materials, and also allow plenty of air flow, allowing the scent from the potpourri to come through.
In this tutorial, I used an old cotton tablecloth with laced edges. I chose this fabric for two reasons.
First, I love upcyling used materials. This helps keep used materials out of the landfill and it’s incredibly cheap to buy.
Second, the lace edging gives these sachets a very vintage look, which I love. The lace also serves to hide the hand stitching done after the sachet is filled, so the project comes out looking much cleaner.
Choose a fabric that you enjoy and fits your needs!
Step 1 – Cutting Your Fabric
In this tutorial, my fabric was 5 inches by 6 inches. I chose to cut it this way because of how much space the lace took. However, if you aren’t using a lace edged fabric, feel free to cut it in a square, either 5 inches by 5 inches, or slightly smaller, 4 inches by 4 inches.
Once you have cut two pieces of fabric the same size, use sewing pins to pin together the two pieces. Be sure the fabric is facing inward. I usually leave about ¼ inch of space from the edge of the fabric to the sewing pins. This allows the sewing machine to have enough space for stitching.
Step 2 – Sewing the Sachet
I used a sewing machine for this project, but in all honesty, this can be sewn by hand. Using a straight stitch, I sewed the three non-lace sides of the sachet.
Once the sewing in complete, turn the fabric sachet inside out. You can use a pencil to gently push the corners into place. Place the sachet to the side as we mix the lavender and rice!
Step 3 – Creating the Potpourri
In a small glass bowl, pour in one cup of lavender buds and two cups of rice. Then add in 15 drops of lavender essential oil. Mix everything together well with a spoon.
This mixture should be enough to fill 3 sachets. However, you can fill the sachets with as little, or as much as you desire. Also, add additional lavender essential oil, if you desire a stronger smell.
The lavender buds add the lovely lavender smell to the sachet. The rice serves as a carrier for the lavender essential oil, which will release the lavender smell when massaged. This really allows your sachets a longer life. Lavender buds will begin to lose their smell after a while. The essential oil and the rice will help them last a little longer.
Step 4 – Finishing the Sachet
Gently spoon the lavender buds and rice into the sachet. Once filled, hand sew the sachet closed. Because this sachet has lace, I was able to hand sew it right next to the seem, which made the stitching barely noticeable.
Of course, you don’t have to use lace edged fabric, but I really love the vintage look of the sachets.
Step 5 – Add Ribbon
This step is completely optional. I added a cute little purple jute cord ribbon to the sachet. This served as an identifier for what smell the sachet holds. I use different colors for different scents. On top of everything else, it’s quite cute!
These little hand sewn lavender sachets can be used throughout your home, in drawers and closet spaces. They also make great gifts, just add a bow! An extra bonus is that they are cost effective, especially if you are buying your fabric second-hand.
The best part is that they are a non-toxic option to help your home smell wonderfully.
MORE PROJECTS TO TRY: This simple cable knit scarf is a sweet and quick project for any level knitter! And be sure to check out these 11 adorable sewing projects that use scrap fabric!
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