mini-sachet pillows tutorial

Last Monday I had the opportunity to kick off a guest post extravagance over at Sugar Bee.  Mandy, the creative genius behind Sugar Bee, has a great line-up of guest posters, and there is still one week left.  Don't miss out.  Hop over (after you read this, of course) and check Sugar Bee out.
In case you missed my guest post last Monday, I'm reposting it here too.  This tutorial will walk you through a simple process that you could use to get your feet wet in the handmade gift-making gig. 

Remember those lace sachets that you used to see in your grandmother's drawers?  Welcome to the modern version . . . perfect for your friend, mother-in-law, co-worker, etc.

Simple Mini-Sachet Pillows

What you need:
-fabric
-ribbon, other fabric scraps, ric rac, other embellishment ideas
-dried lavender, rosehips, assorted dried flower mix
-cheap white rice

What you do:
1)  Cut 3 to 4 pairs of 5 x 5 squares out of your fabric.

2)  Embellish squares using your creativity.  Options are endless . . . well, not endless . . . at some point the options will stop, but you get the idea.  

I tacked ric rac to one of the squares.

I also folded a ribbon into a ruffle on another square and used my sewing machine to sew a straight line down the center of the ribbon.

3)  Put square pairs right sides together and sew around all sides leaving a two inch opening for turning.

4)  Clip corners, trim off extra fabric and turn squares right sides out.

5)  Fill each square half with lavender or other dried flowers and half with rice.  The other option is to mix essential oils with rice and fill completely with the rice.  (Do you like my homely little paper funnel?  I'm thinking I'll find my real kitchen funnel in the bottom of the toy box during our next toy-purge.)

6)  Use a hidden stitch to sew up the opening you used for turning and filling.  (Or you can go the super easy route and use sewing/fabric glue . . . go for it!)

7)  Finish up any embellishments.  I made a little flower and put it on one of the sachet pillows.

8)  Tie with a ribbon.  Add a card.  Give a homemade gift that's been labored over and loved on!

Beverly from Flamingo Toes also posted a wonderful sachet tutorial using dryer sheets this week.  Go check her tutorial out as well!

Craft on!