Weaving Fragrant Lavender Wands
July 22, 2011

Hosted by Maria Carlos

You’ll Need :

1. 11-22 Lavender flower stems, in bud:
These cultivars have long, straight flower stems: ‘Grosso’, ‘Provence’, ‘Super’, ‘Abrialis’, ‘Hidcote Giant’, ‘Alba’

2. Ribbon, 1/8” – 1/4” wide, 7-9’ long
Satin, Grosgrain, or Fabric, NOT paper (it breaks) or plastic (holds moisture which will mold)

3. Tools: scissors, pliers, round toothpick

Simple Steps :

1. Strip all leaves and side branches from the Lavender flower stems.

2. Gather uneven number of flower stems into bundle, with buds aligned, and stems straight.

3. Tie ribbon at base of flowers; leave 1.5” tail on one end, which you’ll tuck into the flowers.

4. With pliers, crimp stems at base of the flower bundle.

5. Turn stems back over the flowers, placing evenly, to form a “cage” around flowers.

6. Weave ribbon over and under stems, in either a single or a double basket weave.

7. Pull ribbon up to tighten with every stem.

8. When ribbon reaches the base of the flowers, tie it at that point, and then wind it tightly around the stems for a handle, cutting stems evenly. Tie off with a bow at end of the stems.

9. Allow wand to dry. As stems dry, if ribbon loosens, tighten by pulling with round toothpick.

Stripping leaves from the lavender stems		Lining up the base of the flowers		Finishing up the wands in the sunshine

Variations:

• Tie a ribbon at the top, with a loop for hanging.
• Make a “flower basket” or a lavender heart.
• Use multiple colors of ribbon, alternating colors by rows of weaving.

Aftercare:

Fresh stems stain fabric, so allow the wand to dry before placing next to clothing. When scent fades, crimp the woven bundle of lavender buds with your fingers, to release more volatile oils.

Optionally, you can add 1-2 drops of lavender oil, but this isn’t usually necessary.