THREE TO MAKE, BUY OR CUSTOMISE

Reassuringly old-fashioned, lavender bags will bring fragrance to wherever you put them, whether it’s under a pillow, in a drawer or hanging in a wardrobe

1

MAKE To make a heart-shaped lavender bag, fold a piece of paper in half and draw one half of a heart on it. Make this large enough to allow for a seam. Cut around the outline and open. Pin the template to a piece of fabric, cut out, then repeat with another piece. Pin the wrong sides together, then sew leaving a gap. Turn inside out. Fill with dried lavender, then sew up the gap. Stitch a ribbon loop to the top of the heart to hang it up. Decorate as you wish with buttons, embroidery, etc.

2

BUY Many a craftsperson has started their foray into making things with lavender bags. The fetching and decorative results of their endeavours (including heart-shaped versions) in a variety of fabric and finishes, can be found on folksy.com and etsy.com. No shortage of options on the high street, either: this set of three silk lavender bags tied with ribbon, £20, comes in a choice of fabrics by textile designer Clarissa Hulse, and is hand printed. clarissahulse.com.

3

CUSTOMISE This is the right time to harvest lavender. Pick when the flowers are in bud rather than fully open, and cut where the leaves meet the stalk. Tie the stems in bunches with an elastic band and hang upside down in a dry, well ventilated place out of direct sunlight. When dry, strip the flowers from the stalks and store in a jar. If you are short of time or don’t live near a lavender bush at the right moment, you can buy dried British lavender from lavenderworld.co.uk (£9.95 for 500g).