FLORAL SACHETS
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Indonesia; it was an experience I will never forget. The trip was a solo journey filled with life lessons and self-discoveries that forever changed me. The aromas of lavender and burning incense transports me to the little guesthouse I stayed in while exploring Ubud — a beautiful town surrounded by terrace rice paddies. The owner of the charming home had thoughtfully placed lavender and rose sachets in the closets and drawers that seemed to disseminate throughout the entire room. That place became my sanctuary, and when I walked into the space after a long day of exploring, the scent was perfectly grounding.
I wanted to recreate the empowering and heartwarming emotions I felt during my stay in Ubud, so I decided to craft several floral sachets to place in my own home in the United States. While the sachets hold a special meaning for me, I love this DIY because you can utilize fabric scraps from previous sewing projects to make these lovely homemade scented bags; pleasant and resourceful.
MAKING FLORAL SACHETS
Before beginning this DIY sewing project, I recommend washing your fabric with a natural laundry detergent. After washing and ironing your textile selection, measure and cut the fabric.
Cut two pieces of fabric using sewing shears measuring 4“ long by 4“ wide each; always exercise caution with sharp objects. Once the fabric has been cut to size, place the right sides together (there is not a right or wrong side on linen or muslin fabric, so either side works) and pin along the edges. A note worth mentioning: you will want to leave a slight opening on one of the sides to add your dried flowers and petals.
If this is your first time sewing, let me take a brief moment to explain the definition of right side and wrong side. The right side, also known as the face, or the front side, of the fabric is the printed or pretty surface of the fabric. Some fabrics have a finish on the right side that clearly defines that side as the face of the fabric. The wrong side, also known as the back side, of the fabric is the non-printed surface where you typically fold your hem so that the right side is the finished side. There is not a right or wrong side on linen or muslin fabric, so either side works.
Using a sewing machine and a straight stitch foot, start on one edge and begin to sew forward, add a backstitch, and then continue sewing with a 1/4” seam allowance. When you arrive at a corner, leave the needle in the fabric about 1/4” away from the edge, lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric, then put the presser foot down again and continue to sew along all four pinned sides. When you come to the end (where you left an opening to add the ingredients), backstitch, lift the needle and presser foot and cut the connecting threads.
Clip the corners of the fabric diagonally with sewing shears to eliminate the extra fabric. Then, turn your fabric right side out (I find utilizing a pencil helps with this step).
Using a funnel, add in 1/4 cup of organic dried lavender flowers and 1/4 cup of organic dried rose petals to the opening in the fabric, then fold the fabric into the pouch and pin the fabric layers together. Using the sewing machine and a straight stitch foot, seal the top with a 1/8” seam allowance, removing the pins as you go.
UNDERSTANDING THE INGREDIENTS
ORGANIC FABRIC
There are several organic textile options to choose from for your floral sachets. The key is to pick a breathable material that will allow the scent to disperse.
JUTE
Jute, also known as burlap, is a great choice for sachets. It is a coarse vegetable fiber obtained from the stem of the jute plant. Jute is highly breathable, 100% biodegradable, and recyclable. The only catch is that sachets made with jute will not last as long as those created with linen or muslin.
LINEN
Linen is a natural woven textile originating from the flax crop. The fabric is processed without chemicals, is biodegradable, and offers antibacterial and hypoallergenic traits. The feel of linen is very smooth and soft - hence, its luxurious reputation.
MUSLIN
Muslin is a type of woven cotton fabric with a crisscross pattern, referred to as a plain weave. The natural color of muslin is a light tan hue with tiny specks of brown and black. It is one of the more popular fabrics due to its more affordable price tag and versatility.
DRIED LAVENDER FLOWERS
Dried lavender flowers are extremely fragrant, which is why they make a wonderful option for scented sachets. The sweet smell of lavender will infuse into your garments when you place a sachet in a wardrobe or dresser drawer - leaving your clothes smelling clean and fresh.
DRIED ROSE PETALS
The bouquet that radiates from dried rose petals is captivating; it is earthy, yet bright whilst being delightfully perfumed. With an aroma that is sedative in nature, dried rose petals can also calm the nerves to promote relaxation. The combination of dried lavender flowers and dried rose petals is reminiscent of a luscious garden that has just begun to blossom.
Note: You will need a sewing machine, but this is a truly wonderful DIY for beginners, and the sachets make great gifts!
DIY FLORAL SACHETS
Ingredients
1/4 cup organic dried lavender flowers
1/4 cup organic dried rose petals
Materials
organic fabric
organic thread
ruler
sewing shears or rotary cutter
sewing pins
sewing machine
funnel
Instructions
After pre-washing and ironing your fabric, cut two pieces of fabric measuring 4“ long by 4“ wide each.
Place the right sides together and pin along the edges. Remember to leave a space to add the ingredients.
Begin sewing from one corner of the sachet, add a backstitch, then continue sewing with a 1/4” seam allowance.
When you arrive at a corner, leave the needle in the fabric about 1/4” away from the edge, lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric, put the presser foot down again and continue to sew along the pinned edge.
When you come to the end (where you have left a space to add the ingredients), backstitch again, lift up the needle and presser foot, and cut the connecting threads.
Using sewing shears, clip the fabric corners diagonally to eliminate extra fabric. Then turn your fabric right side out.
Add in dried lavender flowers and dried rose petals to the sachet.
To sew the top section, fold the fabric about 1/4” into the pouch and pin the layers together.
With the sewing machine and straight stitch foot, sew the layers together with a 1/8” seam allowance, removing the pins as you go. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure the stitch.
When you have reached the end, lift up the needle and presser foot, and cut the connecting threads.
How to Use
Place your floral sachets in closets, drawers, storage bins, or anywhere else that needs freshening throughout your home.
