Pop one of these crochet dried lavender sachets with your laundry in the dryer and you've got natural and inexpensive way to keep your laundry smelling fresh!
(Psst...If you don't know how to crochet yet, you can take my Modern Crochet 101 course for only 99 cents with this link!)
As I’ve mentioned before, we can be pretty crunchy around here. I grew up with hippie parents (how do you think I learned how to crochet as a young child? From a mom who had spent the decade before I was born making granny square vests, of course!) and now being a parent myself, I suppose I’ve become more aware of avoiding toxins and keeping our life as chemical-free as possible.
So if you’re wondering, I DO wear deodorant.
But, we don’t use fabric softener.
We just stopped one day and never started again. We just got used to stiffer clothes, I guess. But crispy jeans or not, it’s still nice to have your laundry come out of the dryer smelling fresh and clean.
That’s where the loads of lavender buds growing in your garden come in! As soon as those flowers are past their prime, you can start saving them for these sweet little crochet sachets that can be tossed in the dryer with each load. You can also just place them in your drawer to keep your clothes smelling nice while they’re waiting to be called to active duty.
And if you’re like me and don’t actually have a lavender plant in your garden, you can buy the dried buds at Trader Joe's or on Amazon.
This pattern is about as simple as they come. Nothing but single crochet here, which makes it great for beginners. The most important thing to get right is your hook size, because while the gauge doesn’t matter, you want your sachet to have a tight enough weave that no lavender buds can escape.
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Dried Lavender Sachet Free Crochet Pattern
Supplies
• 100% cotton yarn - I used “I Love This Cotton” from Hobby Lobby in "Lime Dot Print"
• 2 yards purple accent yarn or embroidery thread
• size E hook (or size needed to achieve a very tight weave)
• tapestry needle
• scissors
• measuring tape or ruler
• dried lavender buds (about ¼ cup per sachet)
Abbreviations - US Terms
• sc - single crochet
• ch - chain
How to Crochet a Lavender Laundry Sachet
Row 1: ch 21; turn.
Row 2: In second ch from hook, sc in each ch; turn. (20)
Row 3: ch 1, sc in each sc across; turn. (20)
Repeat row 3 until piece height measures the same as its width. Example in the photo is 4.5”x4.5”. Fasten off.
Repeat for a second square.
Finishing
Finishing1. I spritzed my squares with water and blocked them using my $2 DIY blocking board for about an hour before sewing them together. This is optional.
2. Press your squares together. Using a running stitch (the same stitch you would normally use to hand sew a piece of fabric--just a basic in and out in a straight line), sew along the edge of three sides. Keep your stitches pretty close together so that there are no gaps that the lavender can sneak out of.
3. Fill your crochet pouch with dried lavender buds.
4. Sew the last edge in the same way you worked the others. Fasten off.
5. To add the accent embroidery, thread your tapestry needle and tie a decent-sized knot in the end of your accent yarn. Use your fingernail or a small crochet hook to work the knot through one of the side seams so that it’s hidden inside your sachet. Embroider three lines per sachet edge. To move between the sides, I just guided my needle through the middle of the sachet and popped it out where I wanted to start the next set of lines. When you’re finished, tie another pretty big knot and work it through the fabric to hide it away.
There you go! At their best, these little lavender sachets make a great DIY gift. And at the very least, they might be a good incentive to go start a load of laundry. I personally need all the help I can get in that category.
If you enjoyed this free lavender sachet pattern, please consider sharing it! Each person that visits this site helps me continue to create free patterns. Thank you!
Now that your laundry routine is getting a little love, you might like to make this dollar store twine basket pattern to store all your laundry-room supplies!
Anita says
If I can find the lavender I would really like to do this. I'm definitely not a beginner though. Thank you for sharing.
Jess Coppom says
Awesome, I hope you enjoy the pattern!
Deanna says
Love them question I think I probably could why not sew the three sides and do the embroidery while on side is still open. I think I'll try it seems like it would be a little easier to hide the knots and such TY
Juliana says
If we make this are we able to sell the product or would you like it just for gifts and the person that makes it.
Zia says
Hi. Great pattern and idea! How long do these sachets last?Because I'd hate to throw the bags away. Do you refill it after a while? Thanks.
Sophia says
Wouldn't the lavender come out in the drier after a while?
Love the idea and thanks for sharing!!
-Sophia
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Sophia,
I think that would only happen if your yarn stretched out significantly. The pattern is worked pretty tightly though and the dryer keeps the cotton pretty "shrunk up" instead of stretched out. I think the combo of those things is what makes it work. Although, yes, after a while, if the yarn breaks down, some lavender could escape. 🙂
Jess
Crystal says
Thought maybe you would like to learn that your clothes don't have to be stiff. (Or perhaps you already know.) You can use white vinegar in the washer & your clothes will be softer after the dryer.
Love the sachet idea! I think I'll try these with some Eucalyptus paper tucked in them. Thanks for sharing.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
I love the idea of using eucalyptus paper! I have heard that about vinegar. When do you put it in the washer? Just from the get-go on the dry clothes or do you have to add it toward the end during a rinse? Thanks for the advice!
cindy says
silly question . can these b used multiple times ? ? ? i buy my lavender buds so want to put them to the highest output projects . THANK U ! ! ! ! ! looooooove the idea ! ! ! !
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
They sure can! I think the scent will fade a bit, but you should definitely get multiple uses out of them.
Nancy Smith says
I absolutely love this project!!!!! Definitely will be making these for Christmas gifts and of course for personal use.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Awesome, Nancy! I do think they'll make perfect little stocking stuffers for the lucky recipients.
Happy crocheting!
Jess
betsy says
never thought of putting lavender in the drier... I will be making some of these ,,, thanks
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay! It's a great use of lavender, especially if you have your own plant in the garden.
Celeste says
I just love lavender sachets. We are growing some lavender in our garden, so I'll have to try some out in the dryer. You make crocheting look so easy! I love those specks of color in the yarn you chose. Such a fun and useful project!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Thank you so much, Celeste! How awesome that you have your own lavender source. My lavender source is Trader Joe's 🙂