Thread | Brutkey

I looked up some online instructions for how to sew the bags shut. The first suggestion was to use premade drawstring sachets. Not what I had in mind, since I didn't want to spend money. I found this site with the excellent idea of tying them shut. Faster than sewing, and with the added benefit of reusability. When the lavender loses its scent with age, I can simply refill them.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-make-lavender-sachets-4685886

dillyd
@dillyd@turtleisland.social

I didn't feel like hemming the opening of 32 tiny fabric bags. But I had some already hemmed handkerchiefs. Used once, and disappointing because the edges got really wrinkled after a first wash. I'm not willing to use something that has to be ironed between each wash. But I am willing to iron something once for a project.

Some handkerchiefs, red, blue, and brown, with a beige checkered pattern. The edges are super wrinkly. If you folded these to put in your pocket, they would be super bulky because of the wrinkles.

The same handkerchiefs, now nicely pressed flat.

dillyd
@dillyd@turtleisland.social

I tried it out with one handkerchief, and once I was happy with the size, I chain-sewed the rest. I didn't bother pressing the seams or trimming the extra fabric - it simply wasn't necessary for the final look of this project.

Two handkerchiefs, folded in half, being run through a sewing machine. The sewing machine foot is at the edge of the blue handkerchief and about to move to the brown handkerchief.

Three folded handkerchiefs that have been chain-stitched

Scissors cutting between two seams on a folded blue handkerchief.

dillyd
@dillyd@turtleisland.social

Turn the bags inside out, fill with the stuffing. The instructions said to mix the lavender with rice. I also happened to have some old wheat and barley that I didn't think I was ever going to cook, so I threw them in. Tie them shut and voilà!

One sewn fabric bag that is still inside out, with a lot of excess fabric at the bottom, next to several bags that have been turned right side out.

Spooning a mixture of lavender and grains into a small fabric bag.

A pack of kitchen twine in front of filled fabric bags, some of which have already been tied shut with the twine.

☁

@croptopjin@blorbo.social

@dillyd@turtleisland.social so you get four bags per handkerchief? This is a really neat idea and seems very doable for a beginner like me.

dillyd
@dillyd@turtleisland.social

@croptopjin@blorbo.social
Yes, four per handkerchief. Could have done more or less if I wanted them smaller or bigger. It was really easy once I thought it all through.

rag. Gustavino Bevilacqua
@GustavinoBevilacqua@mastodon.cisti.org

@dillyd@turtleisland.social @croptopjin@blorbo.social

👏 👏 👏

Both exclusive and inexpensive!