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Making Lavender WandsDutch, Fred Boutin, Grosso, Nana Atropurpurea, and Seal lavenders all make excellent lavender wands. Be sure to make the lavender wands immediately after picking. Do not wait half-an-hour! Do not pick a basketful of flowers and then spend two hours making wands! Pick enough flowers to make one or two wands and then do it. Otherwise the stems start to dry out and will break when you bend them. To make a traditional wand you need a long-stemmed bunch of lavender with an uneven number of stems -- usually 13 or 15. Place a rubber band around the bunch just below the blossoms. Carefully fold the stems over the blossoms and attach a narrow ribbon (1/4" or 3/8") to one of the stems. Then weave the ribbon around the bunch 8-10 times until you have completely covered the (now hidden) blossoms and tie it off. The weaving requires a little digital dexterity; a crochet hook or similar device can be helpful. Keep the weave tight as the stems and blossoms will shrink as they dry. When you have completed your wand, hang it is a warm, dark, dry place (attics are great) for a couple of weeks to dry. Store dried wands in a closed container or plastic bag to retain the aroma. |
