Potpourri, with its subtle natural scent, is a favorite for bedrooms and living rooms. It is composed of wood shavings, flowers, leaves, or any other fragrant plant part. Due to the lack of a dedicated container, potpourri bits are often placed in bowls or jars, which can be a problem, in terms of transportation. Good thing there is a container that can be used as potpourri’s primary container - the potpourri sachet.
The potpourri sachet is made of sheer fabric, which permits the scent to pass through the container. It is sewn in stylish fashion to complement potpourri’s natural appearance. Many sachets even have ribbons and tiny ornaments to boost potpourri’s aesthetic value. Complex as it may look, sewing the sachet is really easy. You can probably make a handful in no time with a good amount of raw materials and some sewing skills.
Two Ways to Make Potpourri
If you look at the potpourri sold at home equipment stores, you will notice that the sachets are not completely similar. More elegant sachets have defined edges while regular ones look like miniature pouches. As you can see, both styles have their own set of pros and cons.
The Rectangular Cut - more elegant, more durable, more styles can be applied, takes longer to finish, harder to do
The Circular Cut - easy to create, takes only a few minutes to finish, not nearly as elegant as a well-styled rectangular cut potpourri sachet
Just choose according to your sewing skills, equipment and potpourri-carrying needs. You can even try creating both, so you can see which style is truly better.
The Rectangle Cut
People who are adept at using a sewing machine can create their own potpourri sachets in minutes. With a little help from this sewing device, they can maneuver, manipulate and in the end, sew together the sachet. This method requires sewing precision, so be careful when doing the packet’s contours.
Materials Used:
Potpourri Sachet
10 1/4 -inches x 3 1/4-inches fabric (any sheer or porous item)
1/4-inch wide ribbon
iron
ironing board
scissors
ruler
pencil
sewing needle
sewing thread
tiny ornaments (bells, beads, etc.)
potpourri
Procedure:
Select a fabric and ribbon material. Remember, the textile should be sheer, so the scent of potpourri can spread easily.
With the ribbon and fabric material finalized, you can purchase all the items you need. A visit to the supermarket or the department store should take care of everything.
Outline the sachet’s dimensions (10 1/4-inches x 3 1/4-inches) onto the fabric using a pencil. It should appear as a rectangle.
Cut out the outline.
Once done, fold the sides’ outer edges 1/4-inch back.
Fold the now layered outer edges, bringing them together.
Iron both sides on an ironing board, so the edges will stay folded during the sewing stage.
Run both sides through the sewing machine, stitching them shut.
Stitch seams on all sides to increase the sachet’s durability. The sachet should already be sewn together right after.
Place some potpourri inside the sachet, preferably half-filled.
Once done, position the tiny ornaments at the bag’s top portion.
Tie a ribbon near the top to close the sachet and hold the ornaments in place.
You can make the sachet larger or smaller than the size indicated in the instructions, depending on your home’s needs. Smaller sachets are easy to transport and store. Large sachets, on the other hand, look more elegant, making them home ornaments, as well as natural air fresheners.
The Circular Cut
This method, though less elegant, is much simpler than the previous one. The procedure does not require any sewing nor the use of a sewing machine. The truth is, you should have no problems finishing one within 30 minutes or less.
Materials Used:
1 x 1 yard fabric
scissors
string
pencil
rubberband
ribbon
sewing needle
saucer
potpourri
tiny ornaments (beads, fake berries, etc.)
Procedure:
Purchase the fabric from a textile store. Make sure that the fabric you chose is porous enough for the potpourri’s fragrance to escape.
Lay the fabric on a flat surface. Keep the fabric straight and free from folds.
Once done, place the saucer on the surface face down.
Trace the saucer’s shape on the fabric with your pencil.
When the outline has been completed, cut it out with a pair of scissors. You should have a circular piece of fabric after cutting.
Place the potpourri at the center of the circle.
Wrap the potpourri with the fabric, creating a small pouch with an opening on top.
Tie a rubberband near the top of the sachet to seal the opening.
Get a fake berry or any other small ornament. Tie its tip to a piece of string.
When the small ornament has been secured, tie the string near the rubberband.
Tie the ribbon into a bow above the string and the rubberband. Make sure that the connection is secure.
This version is preferred by most people due to its relative simplicity. The rectangular cut may be more durable, but you can produce a ton of sachets using this method in just a few hours. The circular cut potpourri sachet works best during the holiday season, especially if you have lots of friends and family members.
Easy to Carry Potpourri
Potpourri, with its refreshing scent and natural design, is a swell home ornament, as well as a good item for presents. By creating sachets, you can add more dimensions to its appearance, plus you can style the pouches to match any room theme. Giving potpourri presents will also be much easier, since you can fit them almost anywhere. Clearly, making potpourri sachets is essential for potpourri lovers. Learn it and you’ll appreciate your potpourri collection even further.