Weddingbee Blog

To continue with my lavender infused train of thought, I think now is a good time to give you the promised lavender heart sachet tutorial. I am making (and have almost finished!) thirty of these for our wedding, to complete the picnic tablescapes, and to just add here and there at the reception site (because I can).

I got the idea from an old Australian Better Homes and Gardens magazine originally. The first time I actually started making these hearts was back when I was a teenager, when I sold them to fundraise for various causes. So, if a slightly ditsy thirteen year old can make these, I’m sure most people can handle them.

For each heart you will need:

• Fabric of your choice (cotton is the easiest to handle but I also used some silk taffeta for a few hearts)
• matching thread
• 20cm narrow ribbon
• 2 buttons, or other decoration
• dried lavender
• pillow stuffing

1. You will need to make a heart template out of vellum and/or paper. I made one larger one and one smaller one (so I could make 15 large hearts and 15 small hearts). Basically you can make your hearts whatever sizes you prefer, but I find the best size for the template is about 15 cm across at its widest point. Remember to include 5mm (about 1/4in) for the seam allowance.

2. From your fabric, cut 2 heart shapes. For the ribbon loop, you can do it one of two ways. The first way is to fold the ribbon in half, and position the raw ends at the inner top point (you, know the centre of the heart’s “dip”) on the right side of one heart, with the loop hanging downwards. Place the hearts with right sides together, pin, and then stitch around the edge. Leave a small gap (about 1 inch long) on one side to turn it right side out when you are done, and take care sew the ribbon’s raw edges in without catching any part of the loop.

My cut-out heart shapes… the best thing about this project is that I could use all my mother’s fabric scraps from quilting, so I didn’t have to spend money on new stuff.

3. Trim the point of the heart, clip the curves and into the inner top point, so you can turn the heart to its right side more easily. Using a paper cone or teaspoon, fill the heart with dried lavender as desired. The BHG method was to use quite a lot of lavender, but my method is to fill it about a third with lavender, and then put is some pillow stuffing as well to make it plumper. There is really no right or wrong way, just figure out for yourself which way makes the heart look the way you want it. Hand sew the small opening closed, using something like slip stitch.

4. The second way (the way I prefer) to sew in the ribbon loop. If you find the first way does not work for you, make a loop, fold the raw edges under, and using very small hand stitches, sew it in the desired position. If you find your stitches are not as tidy as you would like, just cover them up with a button or other embellishment. Otherwise, sew one button on each side of the heart in the centre, sewing through all the thicknesses of the fabric.

You’re done!

*All photos in this post are personal photos