Making a Lavender Rattle

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Lavender in the Field
The lavender’s looking good in the garden right now – a perfect time to make Lavender Rattles – a gift for a friend or to keep yourself to hang in a wardrobe or airing cupboard, keeping everything smelling sweet.
Lavender with ribbon
All that's needed is 26 stems of lavender (that's 13 pairs) and about 5yards of lavender coloured ribbon. I only had the really narrow stuff, but anything up to a quarter inch wide works well and the wider it is, the easier it is to use. I was working on a tray to catch all the stray bits which will find their way into lavender bags later, out on the patio

First thing to do is to strip the leaves and any stray flower heads from the stems. All of these bits smell so sweet and can be used in the bags so no need to waste them.Trimmed Lavender on a Tray

Lavender tie in a bunch
Use one end of the whole length of ribbon to tie the bunch together as close to the flower heads as you can - slide the wrapping up the stems as far as it will go.

Bend the stems over the flower heads as above - don't worry, such fresh green stems won't break but will bend quite easily. Having bent them over, retrieve the long end of the ribbon and begin to weave around - under two stems, over two stems, keeping the stems in pairs.Lavender bent to start

Lavender begin to weave
The first few rows are quite challenging but it soon gets easier, I promise!

Tuck the flower heads into the cage of stems as you go but don't worry if the odd one pokes out, because you can deal with it later. Keep the ribbon weaving quite tight and try to create a pleasing shape as you go.Lavender taking shape

Lavender rattle half complete
By the time you get half way down, those pairs of stems almost jump up by themselves so you can weave the ribbon over and under them. It really does get easier - or maybe the calming effect of the lavender oil scent means that you relax and get into the swing of it.

When you get to the empty stems and all the flower heads are covered in the ribbon weaving, wrap the ribbon end around the stems a few times and tie tightly.Lavender Rattle fully weaved

Fully Completed Lavendar Rattle
Finish by adding a bow, a hanging loop if you want and trim the ends straight. Cut the stems to the length you like and you're done.
The rattle gets its name from the sound it makes once the lavender flower heads begin to dry and shrink. They become trapped inside the ribbon weave and when shaken, they rattle. If hung in a cool dry place, it will last until next year, when you can unravel it all and reuse the same ribbon again to make next year's lavender rattle!

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