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Editor: Liz Johnson
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Monday, 04 January 2010 03:00 |
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Good things come in small packages, and they are especially good if the package is oh-so pretty and smells wonderful to boot. Our Valentines Heart Sachets are a little bits of elegance you can make to give away as indulgent gifts. They can hang on a closet rod, hook on a doorknob, slip into the lingerie drawer or simply show off on top of the dresser or vanity. Doesn't that sound sweet? Better make a couple extra to keep for yourself.
We've included our own unique heart template you can download and print. It has a taller, tapered shape reminiscent of sachets we've seen in French boutiques. L'amour est grand, oui ?
This project is based on using a 'charm pack.' This is a bundle of pre-cut squares from within one coordinating fabric collection. It's a great way to go when you have something that calls for patchworking. You save time with the pre-cut squares and the bundles are very inexpensive. Our beautiful Valentines collections are from our favorite online outlet for charm packs: Fat Quarter Shop.
Sewing Tools You Need
Fabric and Other Supplies
- Each sachet uses FOUR 5" x 5" charm squares. We used three groups of four from Sent With Love by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics and one group of four from L'Amour by Sandy Gervais for Moda Fabrics .
NOTE: Both charm packs for this project were provided by Fat Quarter Shop.
- ¼ yard of a coordinating 45" wide linen fabric for sachet backs, we used a lightweight cream linen
- All purpose thread to match fabrics
- 1/8" ribbon for sachet hanging ties - each sachet uses a 24" length of ribbon
- Two 1/2" - 5/8" buttons for each sachet
- Hand sewing needle
- Bulk lavender
NOTE: Each sachet takes about ½ - ¾ cup
- Spoon
- See-through ruler
- Iron and ironing board
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Straight pins
Getting Started
- Download and print the Sachet Heart Template. Cut out the heart shape.
- Select your groups of four squares and arrange them in a pleasing pattern of two rows of two squares. For the most interesting finished look, alternate dark and light, simple and busy patterns so they are opposite one another.
At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board
- Pin the top two fabric squares right sides together. Pin the bottom two fabric squares right sides together.
- Stitch both square pairs together, using a ¼" seam allowance. Press seams open.
- Pin the two sewn pairs, right sides together. Be VERY careful to match the seams of your two pieces. This will insure the center points of your squares meet neatly in the middle.
- Stitch together, using a ¼" seam allowance. Press seam open.
- Pin heart template onto your four square sewn piece, aligning the lines of the template with the seam lines.
- Cut out the heart shape.
- Repeat this process for however many patchwork fronts you are making. Then, cut out a matching number of heart shapes from the linen fabric for the back of the sachets. We made four sachets.
- Pair up your patchwork fronts and linen backs, and pin them right sides together.
- There are two options for attaching the hanging tie. The first option is to sandwich the tie between the front and back layers so it will be stitched in place when you sew the two layers together. This way is a bit more difficult because the ribbon is thin and rather hard to handle. Fold the ribbon in half and place this midpoint where the heart's curves come together. I also recommend winding up the ribbon and taping it in place inside the layers so you don't accidentally catch any ribbon in the seam.
NOTE: The second tie option is an after-you-sew method that is described below in step 14.
- Take your front and back pinned layers to your machine and stitch all the way around the heart's edge, using a ¼" seam. Leave an approximate 2" opening along one side for turning and filling.
- I used my ¼" foot for this task, because it has a handy guide that allows you to keep a nice even seam allowance when doing curves like this. Sew slowly, stopping - with the needle in the down position - and pivoting in small increments to create a smooth curve. I do mean slowly ... sometimes, I stop every two or three stitches and adjust.
- Clip your curves (this will help your curved seams create a smooth line), being careful to note cut through your seam.
- Turn your heart right side out and press. Turn in the edges of your opening ¼" so they are flush with the sewn edges.
- As promised, here is the second, easier option for attaching the hanging ties. Thread your hand sewing needle with thread that compliments the sachet (I used a pale pink). Feed the needle through the opening in the side of sachet and poke it out through the ‘V' of the heart. This will hide the thread's knot inside the sachet. Fold the ribbon in half to find the midpoint, and stitch in place from the back by hand.
- It is best to sew on the center buttons on BEFORE you fill the sachet with lavender.
- As described above for stitching on the ties, thread your hand sewing needle with thread that compliments the sachet. Feed the needle through the opening in the side of sachet and poke it out through the center front to hide the thread's knot inside the sachet. Stitch one button to the center front and the other button to the center back. Since the two buttons are directly opposite one another, I found it was easiest to sew them on together, passing my needle through the front button then threading it through the back button then back through the front button, etc. until the buttons feel secure - about four passes should be plenty. Finish on the back, wrapping the button and knotting on the backside. If you're new to this technique, read our tutorial for more information about sewing on a button.
- Fill the sachet with lavender. Be generous with the amount of lavender you use; you want the sachet to be pleasantly plump. I used a spoon to fill up my sachet, but I also used my finger to push the lavender into the curves and around the buttons so the sachet filled up evenly.
- Slip stitch the opening closed.
Other machines suitable for this project include the Pfaff hobby 1142 and the Bernina activa 210.
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Projects 
Will make a nice teacher gift. 
