These little mandala sachets are fun to make with stash yarn but especially nice when made with alpaca yarn. The softness of alpaca invites squishing which releases the wonderful scent of lavender. Crocheting/knitting friends will appreciate the moth repellent quality of these sachets for their yarn stashes. Non-crafty friends will love the lavender scent when used as drawer sachets. They make a nice holiday gift and are easily personalized since there are so many color combinations to play with.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Approx. 4.5” wide.
Gauge: Front measures 4.5” wide
Materials
Yarn:
Garnstudio Drops Alpaca (100% Alpaca; 183 yards [167 meters]/50 grams): (for Pink Sachet) 5575 Navy Blue (A, 1 skein), 2921 Pink (B, 1 skein), 2923 Goldenrod (C, 1 skein), 2922 Deep Pink (D, 1 skein), 3112 Dusty Pink (E, 1 skein); (for Light Blue Sachet) 2922 Deep Pink (A, 1 skein), 2917 Turquoise (B, 1 skein), 5575 Navy Blue (C, 1 skein), 3112 Dusty Pink (D, 1 skein)
Hook: US size F/5 (3.75 mm)
Notions: Removable markers, tapestry needle, lavender (each sachet uses a little more than 1/3 cup or 1/4 oz dried lavender flowers), scrap cotton, muslin or felt (6 x 12”), thread.
Special Stitches
Standing single crochet stitch (Standing sc st)
With slip knot on hook, insert hook into designated st, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through both lps on hook completing the Standing sc st.
Half double crochet spike stitch (Hdc spike st)
Yo round hook, insert hook through designated st, yo round hook and draw through
pulling up on the lp until it is same height as the working row, yo round hook, pull through 3 lps on hook. If unsure about the height, try to pull the hook up as far as it will go – better too much than too little. The completed stitch should easily lie flat. It should not cause cupping.
Pattern Notes
Yarn is held doubled throughout.
Size is achieved by using a smaller hook than normal so the crochet fabric is dense and holds its shape.
Pink Sachet
Front
With A, make magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), work 13 dc in ring, sl st in top of ch-3 to join, pull magic ring closed. Fasten off. (14 dc)
Rnd 2: Join B with sl st in any dc, ch 3, dc in same dc, work 2 dc in each dc around, sl st in top of ch-3 to join. Fasten off. (28 dc)
Rnd 3: Join C with Standing sc st 2 sts to left of join of Rnd 2 (first dc of dc pair), sc in next 3 dc, *work Hdc spike st directly below in same dc from Rnd 1 as the dc pair from Rnd 2 was worked**, sc in next 4 dc (2 pairs): rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (35 sts; 28 sc; 7 Hdc spike sts)
Rnd 4: Join D with Standing sc st 2-3 sts to left of join of Rnd 3, sc around increasing 1 sc at end of rnd, sl st in first sc to join. Fasten off. (36 sc)
Rnd 5: Join E with sl st in any sc, ch 4, hdc in same st, skip 1 sc, *hdc in next sc, ch 2, hdc in same st (V-st made), skip 1 sc; rep from * around, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off. (18 V-sts)
Rnd 6: Join A with sl st in any ch-2 sp, ch 2 (counts as hdc), work 2 hdc in same sp, *work 3 hdc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, sl st in top of ch-2 to join. (18 3-hdc clusters)
Rnd 7: Join B with Standing sc st in center hdc of any hdc cluster, *ch 2, sc in top of V-st from Rnd 5, ch 2**, sc in center hdc of next hdc cluster; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sl st in first sc to join.
Pull magic ring tight. Weave in ends. Block to 4.5” wide.
Back
With A, make magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), work 13 dc in ring, sl st in top of ch-3 to join, pull magic ring closed. (14 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, *2 dc in next dc; rep from * around, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (28 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next dc**, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (42 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 2 dc**, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around ending last rep at **, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (56 dc)
Pull magic ring tight. Weave in ends.
Block to 4.25” wide.
Blue Sachet
Work Front and Back same as Pink Sachet using colors specific for Blue Sachet.
Lavender Filled Inner Pillow
Fabric or Muslin
Cut 2 circles 4.25” wide.
Sew together with 1/4” seam, leaving a small 1-2” opening. Clip edges, turn inside out.
Felt
Cut 2 circles 4” wide.
Sew together with 1/8” seam, leaving a small 1-2” opening. Turn inside out.
Fill Pillow 3/4 full with lavender buds (do not overfill) and sew closed. Press Pillow flat with palm so lavender is evenly dispersed inside. Final pillow should measure 3.75” wide.
Felt Inner Pillow Only
Pinch and snip several 1/4” “pieholes” in the centers of both front and back panels for the lavender scent to easily escape.
Finishing
With WS tog and back facing up, join A with sl st in any dc of Back and sp between any hdc cluster from Rnd 6 of Front, *sl st in next 2 dc of Back only**, sl st in next dc of Back together with next sp between hdc clusters from Rnd 6 of Front; rep from * around until 2/3 around. Insert Lavender Pillow and continue around, ending last rep at **, sl st in first sc to join.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Note: There are 2 extra sts on the Back that need to be eased with the Front when crocheting tog. Make 3 sl sts on Back (instead of 2) at 2 opposite points when crocheting the two sides tog.