tgif quickie(sunday edition)::panty sachets

Well, hello. Better late than never, right? By poplular demand (okay, it was just Melissa) I have a sweet smelling quickie for you. Mother's Day is sneaking up on us and if it's anything like the holidays in March, it will be smack in your face in no time. These make great girlfriend and shower gifts, too. Enjoy!

Get it:

• contrasting fabrics for waistband and panty--small bits, no larger than 3.5" x 4.5" (FYI, I got the lace-print fabric at JoAnn's a few months ago, the dot is Amy Butler. If you care.)
  
• ribbon for tab (optional)
• lavender (I get mine here. Lots of lavender that will make a buttload of sachets. Butt. Ha.)
• needle and thread
• paper for pattern
  

Do it:

• Make yourself a panty pattern. High cuts? Granny? Thong? It's up to you. Two pieces: waistband and panty. My waistband rectangle is 1.5" x 4.5". Sketch out a panty that's around the same width at the top. Symmetry problems? Fold the paper in half and sketch half the panty. When you cut it out, both sides of the pattern will be the same. As you can see, I should follow my own tutorial. My legholes are kinda whack.

• Pin pattern to fabrics and cut two of each piece. Pin waistband to bottom panty, right sides together. Sew together along top, repeat for other side. Iron both sides flat. Pin front to back, sandwich in your little ribbon loop on the side. I've showed it on top, loop facing in, but it should be tucked between the two sides. Pin it in there.

• Starting middle of the top, sew all around the sides. Leave a hole when you get back to the top. At least 1" should do. I've tried leaving a smaller hole, but it just makes turning an incredibly painful, awkward, near-ripping experience. Kind of like giving birth. Clip curves and corners if you like. You don't have to. I won't tell.
• Once turned, I like to iron it flat and smooth. Use a chopstick or paintbrush end to get all those nooks and crannies out. Make a little funnel out of paper for filling your panty with lavender. I made one out of cardstock and just stick it in the bag with the lavender so I always have it handy. Use a chopstick or skewer to help the lavender get in there. Stuff to desired fullness and stitch closed. Sha-zahm.

I sell these sachets at craft shows from time to time and at one such show a middle-aged sour-puss asked "Aren't these a little crude?" while holding up a panty sachet to her utterly-disgusted face. I'm not one for thinking on my feet...otherwise I would have retorted, "Well, they are CLEAN panties. No skidmarks, I promise."

I apologize for my poor, bluish pictures (yet again). Our cross-country trip had me a little jetlagged and I missed that early morning light. Enjoy what's left of your weekend!