Material for Lavender Bags

Mumto2

My 6 yr old DD has decided she wants to make lavender bags for her teachers & friends as end of school presents :j.

Very happy that she's doing this, but we don't have any suitable material in the house (or know anyone that is 'that way').

Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced website where I could get some offcuts in suitable colours.

PS - have seen some fat quarters on Ebay, but no idea if these are good value and how much I would need.

Trinny

Hi There

What about charity shops or even better jumble sales - my sister makes HM quilts and uses mens shirts for the fabric - you could use duvet covers or pillow case material.

Fat quarters can be expensive!

Trin

rosieben

I bought a blouse from a charity shop - it was pretty fabric, lilac see through - and that made lovely lavendar bags; I admit its not so easy to sew though so may be best to go for a cotton type fabric; may be worth explaining to the charity shop ladies what your dd wants to do and ask if they have any odd items hanging around that are too torn to sell?

frivolous_fay

We used to make these, if this gives you any ideas
http://freecraftarticles.blogspot.com/2008/02/free-lavender-dolly-tutorial-from-tina.html

Butterfly_Brain

Have you got any of your daughters dresses that no longer fit? Gingham school dresses are very good for making lavender bags because they are cotton

optimistic

Cath Kidston website was giving away samples previously - they were approx 8"x8" squares and of course the fabric was lovely! might be worth checking it out.? HTH

Gigervamp

I'd check out charity shops. Apart from pretty blouses, dresses and scarves, also look at the linen section. You can often find pretty tablecloths or tray cloths and pillowcases which are ideal for lavender bags. Or even fabric handkerchiefs, you can sometimes find these still boxed and unused.

rosieben

I remember reading online someone who had made lavender bags from lacy hankies, she just laid the hankie out, put lavender in the middle and then drew the corners together and tied with ribbon - no sewing .....

FairyElephant_2

rosieben wrote: »

I remember reading online someone who had made lavender bags from lacy hankies, she just laid the hankie out, put lavender in the middle and then drew the corners together and tied with ribbon - no sewing .....

Just what I was going to suggest Rosieben! I've done this before, buying new hankies from charity shop, as hardly enyone seems to use them (for their original purpose!) any more they often sell quite cheaply and can be pretty.

The 'ribbons' you often get in clothes for hanging them from hangers in the shops (IYKWIM) are good for tying the bags too!

FE

rockie4

Do you have a market nearby?
There's a material stall on our market that sells offcuts for patchwork for next to nothing other than that the charity shop idea looks good.

Mumto2

Back again!!

It was all going so well, on advice from above managed to salvage a pretty lilac gingham dress. Have cut circles out with pinking shears & got some lilac satin ribbon to tie.

Went outside with DD yesterday to harvest the lavender. She reluctantly agreed to wait until this afternoon to make them. I've just looked at the lavender and it is absolutely crawling with tiny greenfly, also doesn't smell remotely lavender like :eek:.

It's the only lavender bush we have, what am I to do. She's going to be devastated this afternoon.