How to make your own lavender sachets

The fresh scent of lavender is associated with cleanliness, and this is not surprising since the name of the plant comes from the Latin word meaning "to wash". Here's how to easily make your own sachets.

Each sachet measures approximately 12 × 12 cm (5 x 5 in). To make you own, you'll need:

• Cardboard or plastic template
• 2 squares of printed cotton (or one square of printed cotton and one square of embroidery linen) measuring 20 centimetres (8 inches) on one side
• Fine-pointed pencil
• Assorted sewing thread
• Ribbon for hanging (optional)
• Dried lavender
• 1 small button (optional)
• Very dark purple, dark blue, purple, and fern green (optional) stranded cotton
• An embroidery needle

1. Draw the outlines of the heart on cardboard or plastic (with the latter, it is easier to centre the embroidered motif and the sewing at the centre on the back of the sachet).
2. Cut out the pattern.
3. To make the sachet in printed fabric, cut one of the squares in half and sew the halves together at 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) from the edge, leaving a small opening in the centre to be able to return the bag to place and fill it (this will be the sewing of the centre of the back).
4. Open the seam allowance. Check that this seam is in the middle and draw the heart using the pattern on the back of the square of fabric that is sewn up, but do not cut it yet. Place the two squares of fabric face on face.
5. If you wish to make a loop to hang the sachet, insert the two ends of the ribbon into the seam where the heart is hollow. Sew along the tracing, taking care not to take the tape into the seam. Cut the fabric at 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) from the sewing. Notch and return the sachet in place by the sewing of the centre of the back.
6. Using a paper cone, fill the sachet with lavender, loosely, and close the opening through an invisible seam.
7. Sew the small button in the middle of the heart over all of the thickness with a double strand of sewing thread or embroidery cotton.
8. Make a back stitch on the back of the sachet.
9. To make an embroidered sachet, make the back in printed cotton.
10. For the front, trace the stems very lightly in the middle (it is not necessary to draw the flowers).
11. With two strands of fern green, embroider each stem in 2 or 3 long running stitches, following the route.
12. Make a small rear stitch to stop each running stitch.
13. Thread two strands of each colour (6 strands in total) and embroider the flowers in running stitches on each side of the stems, using the drawing as a guide.
14. After confirming that the embroidery is in the middle, draw the heart on the other side using the pattern.
15. Finish as you would for the printed sachet, but without sewing the button. By placing two squares of fabric face on face, carefully confirm that the seam of the back is in the middle.
16. You can easily create other simple shapes by drawing your pattern on cardboard.

Placed in confined places, such as closets or drawers, the sachets are effective for about 3 months. Once they begin to lose scent, you can open them and fill them again.