The custom of braiding freshly picked lavender stalks into a stick dates back to Victorian England. At that time, flowers were often used for such crafts, partly because people could “communicate” through flowers. Each flower had a specific meaning attributed to it. It is said that the French Sun King Louis XIV gave a bouquet of lavender to selected ladies as a sign of his affection.
How do you braid lavender?
To braid lavender, first tie an even bouquet of fresh lavender stems and flowers. Then fold the stems over the flower spikes and weave a satin ribbon around them. Tie the ribbon at the end and tie a bow.
Instructions for a lavender stick
Nowadays, such a pretty lavender stick can of course also be used in other ways, for example as a decoration for presents, as a replacement scented bag in the wardrobe or for a nice room scent in a vase. To braid you need:
- an even number of freshly picked lavender stems and flowers
- a nice fabric ribbon (€7.00 on Amazon), e.g. B. made of satin
- a string
- scissors
Use fresh lavender if possible, as the drier the plant is, the more brittle the stems and flowers become. When braiding, proceed as follows:
- Tie a bunch of lavender as evenly as possible.
- Knot the twine directly under the flower spikes.
- Now wrap the ribbon over the twine, leaving a short and a long end.
- The short end is only used again for knotting.
- Now fold the stems evenly over the flower spikes.
- The stems must not bend.
- Now “weave” in the satin ribbon and always bring two stems together.
- Braid as tightly as possible.
- Braid the lavender until you reach the end of the flower spikes.
- Now tie a tight knot, which will probably need to be tightened again in a few days.
- Tie a pretty bow.
Make a summer lavender wreath
A lavender wreath, which you can hang in a window or on the front door, is also a pretty, summery decoration. For this you need:
- a ring made of straw, brushwood, wire or wood
- thin floral wire
- a few bunches of lavender with stems and flowers
Here, too, you should only use freshly picked lavender if possible. Now take a small bunch of lavender and place it flat on the ring. Wrap the stems with the wire about two to three times. Now place the flower spikes of another bundle on the wrapped stems and attach this bundle again as described. Proceed in this way until you have wrapped the entire ring with lavender.
Tips & Tricks
Combine the lavender wreath with other flowers, such as bright yellow saintwort or red roses.
