Here’s a nice collection featuring many different types of scented sachets you can make that I’ve collected from around the ‘net. These make great stocking stuffers and gifts throughout the year for both young and old, something here to suit everyone’s taste and crafting ability! I’ve broken them into three different groups: Fabric & Sewing, Crochet & Knitting, and then Paper (most are sewn). Enjoy! Update: I added a couple vintage patterns at the bottom of the page (crochet).
Fabric & Sewn
Patterned: Make sachets with whatever custom print you like with this project! Create a design on the computer then print onto paper backed fabric and whip up quick & easy sachets.
Folded Hankie: With a bit of folding and hand sewing, you can make these charming sachets. Fill the pouch with dried lavender, then secure the flap with some hidden hand-sewn stitches. Complete instructions are on slide #8.
Lavender Luggage: Sew little luggage pieces then fill them with lavender buds and stuffing, it looks like you can hang them on clothes hangers (by the handles), tuck into drawers or set them out on a dresser to appreciate how adorable they are.
Lavender Love Notes: Use scraps of natural fiber fabric to make this charming sachet, tuck in a little love note for the recipient if giving as a gift.
Felt Appliqued: Applique felt pieces onto linen then sew onto a piece of pretty fabric (for the back). Fill with lavender buds or your favorite potpourri mix.
Patchwork Heart: Use little bits of fabric scraps and pinking shears to make this lovely sachet, fill with dried lavender buds.
Felt Butterfly: Made with felt and fusible webbing, butterfly template available via pdf download (it’s free).
Love Letter: Make lavender heart shaped sachets to fit inside fabric envelopes. Tutorial available via pdf download.
No-Sew: These are made by using fabric glue and fabric scraps, stuffed with potpourri, lavender flowers or balsam fir needles.
Sleeve Pine: Here’s a sachet made from a shirt sleeve and stuffed with pine needles (collect them from the Christmas tree) and lavender buds or other herbal mixture if you like.
Pyramid: Fabric pyramid bags stuffed with cotton and lavender buds, hangs by string or ribbon and can be embellished with a bit of needlework if you like.
Making Lavender Gifts: These are made with ready-made muslin or organza bags, I included this in the list since it gives directions for mixing lavender buds and essential oil to fill sachets with. You’ll also find free lavender sachet gift tags to download.
Linen Pears: Pear pattern is available for free download, three pieces are cut (from both plain and patterned fabric) then sewn together and filled with uncooked rice and lavender buds. Attach the “stem” and leaf by using ribbon and a silk leaf.
Child-Drawn: Here’s a cute gift idea for mom, make simple sachets from cotton or linen fabric then have a child draw their art on the fabric pieces using fabric crayons.
Lavender Strawberry: Sew your own patch of lavender- filled pouches, using old fabric scraps and buttons. Free pdf download.
With Refillable Pockets: Features a refillable pouch to tuck inside. Use assorted fabric scraps, fusible interfacing and embellish as you like (with decorative trims, ribbons and costume jewelry).
Stamped Muslin: Lightweight muslin material is torn into pieces and fringed around the edges, design stamped then fabric is sewn together and filled with dried lavender.
Pyramids: These have little tabs of ribbon on top for hanging.
Crochet & Knit
Pine Tree: Knit these sweet little pine trees that you can tuck into drawers and trunks. Sachets are filled with lentils and potpourri.
Basket Weave: Crocheted in a heart-shaped design (two pieces in two colors) then woven together, has a loop for hanging. Pattern via free pdf download.
Rose: Worked in 4-ply 100% cotton yarn and a 2mm hook.
Paper & Assorted
Make Lavender Wands (Bottles): Make these using freshly cut lavender, they’ll dry nicely and can be tucked into trunks and drawers.
With Recycled Greeting Cards: All you need is a bit of glue, ribbon and potpourri to turn greeting cards into something useful and pretty.
Rose Petal {Crochet}
*First published November 20, 2009 and moved to this page for better organization
Here’s a little sachet that’s perfect to give as a stocking stuffer for someone who loves frilly, Victorian style pretties. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried my hand at thread crochet but this whipped up in no time for me (although a bit wonky in a spot or two).
The sample pictured to the right was made with DMC Cebelia size 20 thread and a 1.25 mm crochet hook. Sample measures: 7″ across (edge to edge). You can use whatever thread and hook size you wish.
Pattern Source: Vintage pattern from around the 1950s.
Notes: The original pattern had directions for using different colored threads, I’ve kept those instructions as-is below in case you wanted that type of multi-colored sachet. For the finished item pictured above, I just used one color.
Abbreviations: Ch (chain); st (stitch); sc (single crochet); dc (double crochet); sl st (slip stitch); lp (loop); hdc (half double crochet)–thread over as for a dc, insert hook in st and pull through, thread over and pull through all 3 lps at once; rnd (round); sp (space); p (picot).
Directions:
Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 4 (for a ch 2 and hdc), (hdc in ring, ch 2) 4 times, join last ch 2 in second ch of ch 4 first made.
Round 2: (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) over each of the ch 2 sps.
Round 3: * Ch 4, taking ch behind petals, sc between the next two petals, repeat from * around.
Round 4: (Sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc) over each ch, join and fasten off.
Round 5: Join second color between two petals with a sl st, * ch 7, sl st in center dc of petal, ch 7, sl st between two petals, repeat from * around, join at beginning.
Round 6: * 3 sc over ch lp, (ch-3 for a p, 3 sc) 3 times over lp, repeat from * over each ch lp around. Fasten and cut off.
Round 7: Join yellow to middle p of 3 p group, * ch 7, sl st to center ch 3 p of next group, repeat from * around.
Round 8: Ch 7, * dc in center of ch of preceding rnd, ch 4, dc in joining at lp, ch 4, repeat from * around and join.
Round 9: (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) over each ch 4 around, join and fasten off.
Make two motifs for each sachet. For the sachet pad, cut two circle pieces of satin and sew up partially. Stuff with cotton and sprinkle with your favorite sachet or fill with a homemade potpourri mix. Finish sewing it together.
Place the sachet pad between the two crocheted pieces and thread narrow ribbon through the openings, finishing with a bow.
Vintage Crochet
*First published December 3, 2008 and moved to this page for better organization
This is a pattern from 1944 for a pincushion that could also be used as a sachet, just replace the muslin body with fresh herbs or potpourri as needed.
Materials:
Daisy Mercerized Crochet Cotton size 30 in White
Crochet hook size 10
1 yard ribbon
Muslin and silk covering for cushion.
Directions:
- Cut muslin 5 1/2″ x 7 1/2″, seam together long sides, turn hem on one end and gather tightly. Stuff hard with cotton, hem and gather open end.
- Make a ch 1″ longer than cushion, sc in 12th st, (ch 8, sc in next 7th st) across to length of cushion, ch 3, tr in next 4th st. Cut off excess ch.
- Row 2–Ch 5, turn, sc in 3-ch, * ch 3, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next loop. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, (sc, ch 2, dc) in end loop.
- Row 3–Ch 1, turn, sc in dc, (ch 8, sc in next 5-ch loop) across.
- Row 4–Ch 5, turn, * (sc, ch 5, sc) in next loop, ch 3. Repeat from * across. Ch 2, dc in end sc.
- Row 5–Ch 8, turn, sc in next 5-ch loop, (ch 8, sc in next 5-ch loop) across, ch 3, tr in end loop. Repeat from Row 2 until size around cushion, ending with Row 2. Ch 1, turn, sc in dc, (ch 6, sc in next 5-ch loop) across. *
- Beading Row–Continue across end with ch 10, tr in next 8-ch row, (ch 5, tr in next 8-ch row) across to corner. Turn, (ch 8, sc in next 5-ch loop) across, ch 3, tr in end st.
- Repeat Rows 2, 3, 4 and 5 twice and Row 2 again. Fasten off.
- Repeat from * on other end.
- Cover cushion with a silk casing, with hemmed ends slightly shorter than crochet. Run ribbon thru Beading Row on each end and tie in bows.
Pattern Source: Lily’s Album of Crocheted Designs (1944)
How To Make Herbal Sleep Pouches
(First published January 14, 2008) Did you get enough sleep last night? Two helpers for those “restless nights” are reading a good book (but not one that’s too stimulating) and reaching for a lavender filled pillow or sachet.
In folklore, pillows were filled with lavender flowers to help the restless fall sleep. There is now scientific evidence to suggest that aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improves sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders (See Source).
Here’s a nice & easy recipe for making a pouch that contains lavender, flax seed and lemon balm leaves, another herb that helps soothe and encourage sleep…
1/2 cup lavender buds
1/2 cup lemon balm leaves
1/4 cup flax seed
3×5 light fabric pouch (ie. muslin)
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Sew a 3×5 rectangular pouch, leaving a small opening to insert the herb mixture.
- Fill the pouch with herbs, hand sew the opening shut. Don’t pack the pouch too tightly, you want the herbs to have room to move around and release their fragrances.
How To Use
- Insert the herbal pouch inside your pillowcase at night to help relax. To help the herbs last longer, store the pouch in a ziploc bag during the day and place in a drawer out of light, take out and insert in your pillowcase each night.
Can I ask why not use orris root as a fixative to add the Essential oil to …I feel you may not use as much oil and it will go farther…Lovely idea.. thanks for the tutorial!
These sachets would make great shower favors. When you harvest the lavender place the stems top down in paper bags. When the lavender is dry it is easy to rub the flower off the stem into the bag. Makes for easy clean up.
Also I like to tie up little bunches with ribbon and hang them around the house.
Hi
Thank, you very much I just love your site!
It is so informative and I love giving gifts and this will help this
Christmas 2010 and all year round for my special friends and family
thank, you for your precious time
regards
Lyn
Amazing! Everything I’m after on just one site. Thanks! xx
Where do you purchase lavender by the pound
Try eBay. That’s where I got mine.
This a lovely site I am looking to make small handmade gifts just what I’ve been searching for.
What could I do to use Rosemary in a sachet? I heard it helps put you to sleep. Please advise and thank you