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Herbal Sachets as Holiday Gifts

© Laurel Morris

Many different materials and ideas can be used to create an herbal sachet. Projects range from easy (a couple of minutes to make) to creating an heirloom keepsake. These sachets can be hung in closets or placed in drawers as herbal deodorizers and as moth deterrents. They make great gifts, and may be just the extra item to put in a stocking or in a gift basket.

One of the easiest sachets can be made from a handkerchief. Very ornate ones can be found with embroidery or lace. Place the herbs in the center, pull the corners together, and tie with a piece of ribbon. This author found netting circles at a dollar store these can be filled and tied in the same manner.

Basic sachet bag: Cut a piece of fabric into a long rectangle, sizing it according to your desired finshed size. Sew lace to the two long opposite ends, match wrong sides together and stitch. Fill with your favorite aromatic herbs and tie with a piece of lace or ribbon.

Bags can be very basic (muslin and string) to elaborate (fancy fabrics and adornments). This is a project which could utilize antique lace and buttons, charms, ribbons, pearls and appliques.

Sachets can also be made into pillow shapes, hearts, and stars.

Any herbal combinations can be used for this project, and can be geared towards the recipient's tastes, or the season. Lavender, mints and lemon, rose, woodsy herbs, and rosemary are just some herbal ideas. Lavender sachets in plain muslin bags are popular as dryer sachets. Just throw into a dryer load and it will scent your sheets and other clothing. A small flat "dream pillow" can be made to slip into one's regular bed pillow to induce relaxing sleep. A typical herb combination for this would be hops, chamomile, rose petals, sweet marjoram, lemon verbena.

For those who are handy with a crochet hook, here is a pattern online for a sachet bag in a cross-over shell pattern: http://crochet.about.com/hobbies/crochet...

Don' forget to include "Kitty" as one of the recipients of a special sachet! Draw an outline of a mouse shape on a piece of paper. This drawing doesn't have to be elaborate; a basic oval shape with two "v" shapes at one end depicting the ears. Trace this shape onto a folded piece of fabric, cut out. Cut a piece of ribbon, twine or leather for the tail. Put right sides of fabric together, insert the "tail", and stitch together, leaving a hole for filling. Fill with what else, catnip! Hand stitch the opening and put in "Kitty's" stocking.

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