What you need
20 Fresh or dried lavender sprigs with 6 inch (15cm) or longer stems
3 Mt’s of Ribbon
Instructions
Start by allowing your flowers to go limp you cannot make these with stiff or dried stems.
Make a bundle with the flowers and tie them together just below the heads.
Strip any foliage from the stems and bend the stems back over the flowers arranging them to appear like they are caging in the flower heads.
Secure the stem ends with a couple of pegs so you can ease the stems a little as you work.
Tie one end of the ribbon to one of the bent stems and attach a small safety pin to the other end of the ribbon and weave the ribbon in and out of the bent flower stems as shown in the picture above.
When you reach the end of the cage, wind the ribbon down the stems of the lavender to form a handle. Once a desired length is reached trim the stems so they are even and tie a big bow with the ribbon.
To release the scent just squeeze the bottle/cage end of the tussle.
This is typical craft practiced for centuries in the south of France (lavender country!). They are called “fuseau” (“spindle” in English). You will find them in every household layered between bed linens, towels, stored in chests, armoire, or drawers. They keep clothes and linens fresh and clean smelling and keep the moths away.
What the heck is this even for?!
It is important to use an uneven number of lavender sprigs (19, 21,23,etc) for this to work. My grandmother taught me when I was little.
Mt’s = metre’s
pegs = clothes pins
I would love to make these but what is meant by “pegs” and Mt’s (3 Mt’s of ribbon?)
I am 75 years old, and we made these “Wands” when I was in my teens.
I will make some more for my friends.
Thanks for the memories.
D R