Lavender
Wands
By Terri Clement
Lavender wands have been used for centuries as a pretty and effective way to use the fragrance of lavender. These decorative wands can be placed in drawers, hung on lamps, door knobs. They can be hung near windows so the breeze can carry the scent into the room and also help keep bugs away. These can also be put on a nightstand or placed in between bed linens to help induce sleep. ...and they are fun to make!
Supplies:
7
– 15 lavender buds with long stems (an odd number for weaving purposes).
2
yards of ½” ribbon (spooled with a rubber band)
A pair of scissors
A
toothpick
A spoon
A rubber band
Step 1: Remove leaves and any low blossoms from stems.
Step 2: For a long slender wand, lay the
lavender stems with flowers staggered in two rows. For a short and
fat wand, line the flowers up in an even row.
Step 3: Tie the
ribbon tight around the stems at the base of the flowers leaving a
10” tail for the knotting.
Step 4: Using the spoon gently squish the stems up close to the ribbon. This will help you bend the stems without breaking them.
Step 5: Gently bend the stems
from the base of the flowers, bringing them up and over the top of
the flowers creating a frame around them. Pull the ribbon up
alongside the flowers and out and out the bottom, in between two
stems.
Step 6: Weave the spool end of the ribbon in an over
under pattern through the stems. If buds or flowers poke their way
out, use the toothpick and poke them back in place. Keep weaving
until you reach where the flowers end. Go back to the top and pull
the ribbon tight by taking up the slack and working all the way to
the bottom. The ribbon should be snug. The lavender will shrink as it
dries, so make sure the weave is tight.
Step 7: Wrap the spool
end of the ribbon around the base a few times then knot off with the
tail and tie in a bow. Snip stem ends to even them up.
Tips:
- Let dry a couple of weeks
before placing in drawers near fabric.
- If weave feels loose
after a couple of days, tighten again using a partially open
paperclip to help grab the ribbon.
Have fun crafting!
Images ©Terri Clement - 2015