How to make a Lavender Quenouille

One of the wonderful things I learned years ago while enjoying my summer in the South of France with my parents, was how to make a lavender “quenouille”. My parents have lush lavender bushes growing all over their property and this has become a favorite pass time of everyone who spends time with them in early summer.  My 6 year old Sabrina is no exception.  I can’t wait to see  her first one!

A “quenouille” is made from fresh lavender stems. You may place your “quenouille” in your dresser drawers to keep your linens smelling fresh and keep moths away.

Here’s what you will need:

• 34, 38 or 42 fresh lavender stems. (12 to 15 inches long)
• 1.5 meters ribbon (50 to 60 inches)
• scissors

Making the “quenouille”

Step 1

Gather your lavender stems in one hand.

Grasp the stems just beneath the fresh blossoms.  Strip the stems beneath this point of leaves and stray flowers so you have nice clean stems.

Tie your ribbon just beneath the blossoms, leaving about 12 centimeters (5-6 inches) of ribbon on one side and the bulk of the ribbon on the other side.

Step 2

Carefully fold the stems back over the blossoms, one at a time, making sure not to snap them. This is why it is important to work with real fresh lavender so that it remains quite pliable.

Align the shorter tail of the ribbon with the stems  keeping it in — so you can easily pull it out at the end.

Once the stems have been folded back you’ll want to keep them in their place so as not to stress the fold.  When you start weaving the ribbon you will weave through the stems in pairs so keep this is mind as you fold them back. The ideal is to have the stems nicely distributed all around the blossoms.

Step 3

Pull the long tail of the ribbon through at the base of the fold.  Begin weaving the ribbon through the stems in the following matter:

over 2 stems, under 2 stems, over 2 stems, etc.

Once you reach the beginning you will naturally be weaving in the opposite order (under the 2 stems you went over, etc)

Step 4

Keep weaving all the way until you reach the bottom of the blossoms.  Your stems will gather together tightly at that point.

Tie a know around the stems and carefully pull the shorter end of the ribbon through.

Wrap both pieces around the stems once or twice and tie into a pretty bow. Cut off excess ribbon.

Trim stems to have a nice clean edge.

Voila!

For a slightly more fancy quenouille you may weave the longer ribbon down to the edge of the stems the back up, forming a lattice pattern, before tying both ends into a pretty bow.