Nancy Birtwhistle shows how to make lavender wands - they're pretty, free and offer a simple solution to a common household problem
If your lavender is looking dry and colourless near the end of its season, there’s still a wonderful way to use it
We’re always looking for ways to get creative and get more bang for our proverbial buck, especially when it comes to reaping the rewards of our hard work in the garden.
From reusing orange peels around the garden to keeping hold of dried lavender cuttings for free firelighters in the autumn and winter, there are plenty of inspired ways to reuse what we’ve grown, even when it’s past its prime.
Now, former Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle is showing how to create the most gorgeous lavender wands with nothing more than a handful of stems and ribbon - they can be used in many different ways, costing you only the price of some ribbon if you don't have any spare.
Posting to her social media, Nancy says, “Today I'm going to show you how to make lavender wands. When I saw these retailing at £8 each, I thought all I need is a pair of scissors, some lavender and a metre of quarter-inch thick ribbon."
To start making your own, begin by cutting some long stems. For each wand, Nancy uses about 16 stems measuring 16 by 12” long. Once you’ve cut all the stems you need, rub off the flowers and lower leaves - anything below the bud- so you’re left with neat stalks.
Next, tie the stalks together with your ribbon, "tying them together just below the top buds. Double knot, nice and tight. And then I'm going to start to fold down these stems."
After this, you’re going to start building the wand. This is done by folding the long stalks down to enclose the lavender buds, in something that almost looks like a cage of stems.
Once you’ve got your stalks folded down, you’ll begin to thread ribbon through each one, going over, under, over, until you’re done and all the stalks have been tied shut, closing in all the buds.
All that’s left to do is trim the stalks so they’re nice and even, and then finish with a flourish. Use the remaining ribbon to create a statement bow or finishing detail.
If you’re creating lots of wands, you can use different coloured ribbon to create contrast.
As for what to do with your lavender wands, Nancy explains they can be placed in a vase to freshen up any room in the place of fresh flowers, or they can be given to loved ones as a thoughtful, handmade gift.
However, if you want to get extra function out of them, they can be hung in a wardrobe or placed in cupboards to keep moths away from your woollen clothes and give them a fresh lavender scent.
