lavender pillow

i have finally finished harvesting this year's dried lavender. what a precious cache!

harvesting dried blossoms from their stems isn't a task to complain about since it involves evenings sitting, watching movies and being enveloped in lavender's soothing, relaxing, healing aromatherapy.

with jars filled with dried blossoms just waiting to be appreciated even more, i decided to make a lavender pillow for our family room. it's an easy, quick, rewarding project that i'll share with you.........let's do it!

you will need: 

- 2  12-inch X 9-inch pieces of fabric, ornamented as you'd like. 

*i chose black linen and decorated it with a printed image from an iron-on printer transfer sheet.

*i would recommend a 100% cotton fabric for this project.

- 8 cups dried lavender blossoms

- needle and thread to match fabric, pins, scissors

- sewing machine and iron

- lay right sides of fabric on top of each other, pinning edges.

- leave a four-inch opening on the top edge for turning fabric right-side-out and filling

*i used pinking shears to cut the linen as linen is a master fraying fabric, pinking edges helps avoid fraying.

- using a sewing machine, stitch a 1-inch seam on all four sides remembering to keep a four-inch opening on the top edge

*this larger seam allowance also allows for linen fraying

- cut 3/4 inch off the 4 corners to help create a finished pillow with sharp looking corners.

- press

- turn right-side-out maneuvering fabric through opening

- working from the inside, gently push corners taut to create a sharp and finished look

- press again

- fill pillow with dried blossoms

*the amount of lavender needed to fill even this small pillow is probably only feasible if you grow your own or have a generous friend who does!

*if you are short on dried lavender blossoms, you can blend other herbs and grains with lavender to use as a filler: catmint, hops, rose petals, buckwheat or flax go well together.

you are almost finished!

- use a stem stitch to sew closed the top edge opening.

*each year, the lavender pillow will need an extra cup of lavender blossoms added to renew the fragrance and restore the pillow's shape. after adding new blossoms, resew opening.

done!

this little pillow fills the entire room with its scent even as it rests in the chair

and each time someone sits against it....the pillow releases soothing and calming magic!

have a lovely weekend.