Where have I been? aka Today’s Crafting/Gardening Tip.

Nowhere in particular; doing nothing of importance.

After ‘finishing’ the 10-stitch afghan with an I-cord edging, I started winding yarn skeins into balls by hand. Yes, it takes time, but what else do I have plenty of lately?

I did start a pair of socks for my husband and I’m down to the toe on the first one. No pictures of that, yet.

I stepped outside this morning to take a few pictures of plants in the front yard. In particular the ‘coral bells’ (which aren’t coral in color) and my lavender plant (which is lavender in color).

Notice the burgundy leaves!



The lavender after ‘harvesting’, i.e. what was left.

What did I harvest the lavender for?

Lavender Wands

You tie a ribbon (1/4 inch is a good width to use for the ribbon) just below an odd number of lavender heads (7 or 9 is good). Fold the stem back over the heads being careful not to break the stems. This works best if the lavender is a little ‘limp’ which is usual on a warm/hot day if you haven’t yet watered. Then with the long end of the ribbon you begin to weave using the stems as your warp and the ribbon as your weft. The reason you use an ODD number of stems is so as you come back to where you started the round you will now be going ‘under’ the stem that in the last row you went ‘over’. Weavers will get what I mean. This weaving will incase the lavender heads. Once past the heads tie the ribbon off as tightly as you can and I usually make a loop to hang it by with the remaining ribbon. These need to air-dry a few days and then they maybe placed in drawers or any other place you would like the scent and/or to drive away moths. (See, there is a use for this.)

Here is a youtube video that shows the same steps I basically use. She shows most of her wands tied as I have mine, but the last one she makes she shows that you can also finish by wrapping the ribbon on down the stems of the lavender as a finish.

The leaves you pulled off to make clean stems can be air-dried also to use in sachets if you wish. And your fingers will smell delightful.

So from wrapping yarn balls by hand to weaving lavender wands. What to do when you have time on your hands.