Friday 18 December 2020

Little Lavender Pillows

Little lavender pillows, sewn from squares of beautiful fabric and filled with fragrant dried lavender flowers, make simple and lovely handmade gifts. 

Little handmade lavender pillows.

Surrounded by the serene scent of lavender, I sewed up half a dozen of these little pillows in an afternoon. From the offcuts of a favourite Nani Iro fabric, printed with soft purple, yellow and white flowers, and an organic calico for the backing, I cut pairs of six inch squares. 

A pair of squares ready to be sewn into a little pillow.

Just some simple straight sewing around the edges, leaving a little gap in one side to turn them right side out, and they were nearly done. Each little pillow was then filled with a mixture of rice and dried organic french lavender flowers, which I purchased from a bulk foods store. 

Dried lavender, mixed with rice, for filling each pillow.

Once filled,  I slip stitched each little pillow opening closed. This YouTube video shows how to sew slip stitch which is ideal for closing up openings in pillows like these with an invisible stitch.

A little handsewing to close each pillow opening with slip stitch.

One little pillow is almost finished.

These little pillows release such a relaxing scent. Tied in pairs with simple ribbon or nestled into a basket with some lavender bath products, they would make a simple gift for anyone who finds the scent of lavender to be a calming and soothing one.

Meg











22 comments:

  1. Oh Meg, it's great to see you again and your wonderful handiwork! These turned out beautiful. I love lavender as a flower (dried or fresh) rather than the overpowering scent of oil. My nose seems able to tolerate the less condensed scent, better.

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    1. Thanks, Chris. It's been lovely to hear from you again too. These little pillows are the first things I've made in quite a while and so I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. Like you, I adore lavender and am preparing an area in my garden where I will hopefully be able to grow more varieties of it. MegXx

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  2. Hello Meg, this is the first time I have seen and commented on your blog and thank you for the lovely little lavender pillows and the good instructions, next year when my lavender is in Flower I will certainly make done little pillows for our Knitt and Natter stall. Hazel c uk 🌈🌈🌈

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    1. Hello Hazel, I'm glad you like these little lavender pillows. They are such an easy project to sew. I love the sound of your Knit and Natter stall. I expect there would be lots of handmade treasures to buy. I always look for handmade crafts and treasures. MegXx

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  3. You have the prettiest ideas! Great way to get that lavender scent also. Andrea

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    1. Thanks, Andrea. I think the Nani Iro fabric is especially beautiful so makes these pillows very pretty. MegXx

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  4. Love the fabric and obviously who doesn't love the smell of lavender...have a Merry Christmas and here's to 2021 hey....xx

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    1. Merry Xmas to you and your family, Kathy. I wonder what 2021 will bring...
      MegXx

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  5. Meg, I find it so hard to make the stitch invisible when sewing the seam shut despite reading heaps of tutorials. I don't think my eyesight is as good as it was years ago 😏 Your little sachets are lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Chel. I need glasses now for reading and sewing; can't thread a needle without them! MegXx

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  6. That's a lovely fabric, really pretty. You've inspired me. A little project for the New Year perhaps. X

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    1. Nani Iro fabrics are just gorgeous, Jules. This one was a gift from a friend. I made a top from it and kept the offcuts for little projects like these lavender pillows. MegXx

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  7. Such a lovely gift, the fabric was so pretty.

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    1. Thanks! I adore beautiful fabrics and try to find meaningful ways to use them so none of the material is wasted. These little lavender pillows are a perfect project for using offcuts as they can be made in lots of different sizes. MegXx

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  8. Good morning Meg,

    such a lovely surprise to find your new post.

    The fabric you chose for the little pillows is very pretty and just perfect for filling with dried lavender. I really like your idea of adding lavender bath products to one of the pillows as a special gift. I might borrow your idea.

    Just yesterday I gave a hand made gift to a friend. I made a cushion for her that featured appliquΔ—, embroidery and patchwork. Her reaction was worth every second I spent making it.

    Best wishes for the festive season to you and your family Meg. I hope the new year is a happy, healthy, safe and peaceful one for us all.

    Warmest regards, Maria xx.

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    1. Hello Maria,

      The cushion you have made for your friend sounds lovely. I still have a cushion that one of my closest friends cross-stitched and sewed for me more than twenty years ago. I treasure it as it reminds me of her and our friendship. Handmade gifts can be so special, can't they?!

      I wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas with your loved ones and friends. I hope the new year holds the promise of better times ahead.

      Best wishes to you, Maria.
      MegXx





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  9. Such lovely and fragrant gifts! Handmade gifts are the best.

    Glad to see you after a while, Meg. 😊
    xxx

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    1. Thanks, Nil. I think handmade gifts are the best too. MegXx

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  10. Oh, those are wonderful, Meg. What sweet gifts they will make.

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    1. They are such a simple gift to make, Stephanie. I think the soft fabric and calming fragrance work well together. MegXx

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  11. Your lavender bags are just delightful Meg. Such simple & beautiful gifts to both give & receive. I made my daughter in law one & she sleeps with it just under the edge of her pillow as the lavender helps her get to sleep. xx

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  12. Love lavender bags they make all my clothes smell wonderful
    Haven’t made any in years. I might have to again your look lovely

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