Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

Original Recipe

It's Casey again, from Casey York Design and the Studiolo blog! I'm so happy to be sharing this easy project on the Moda Bake Shop just in time for the holidays! I love the idea of making handmade gifts for the holidays, but somehow I never start planning them until the beginning of December (i.e. too late). This year I finally came up with something that I can make quickly and easily enough so that I can produce a bunch for all of the people on my list: Biscornu sachets. Biscornu are a relatively recently developed needlework form, in which two squares are sewn together with one on point to create a three dimensional shape that looks more complicated than it really is. I love how the interlocking

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

points create visual interest in these little cushions. Because they are constructed from squares of fabric, biscornu are an ideal use for precuts such as charm squares. I'm not the first to translate the biscornu form for use with quilting fabrics, but most of the tutorials out there are for making pin cushions. This is easy to do by firmly stuffing the sewn biscornu. I discovered that another way to use this form was to make them into scented sachets by filling them loosely with lavender or other scented materials. If you use a sewing machine, they are so quick to sew up that you can make a set of three in under an hour. Pop a few in a stocking or wrap up a stack to give as quick hand made gifts this year!

For one biscornu satchet you will need:

(2) 5" charm squares of coordinating fabrics (I like to go through an entire charm pack and match up my squares in advance so I get a good mix of colors and prints throughout the batch of biscornu; a Moda charm pack will yield 21 biscornu, or 7 sets of three)

matching sewing thread 3/4 cup small polypropelene stuffing beads (available at major craft retailers) 1/4 cup dried lavender (I got mine on Amazon) or other fragrant dried material hand sewing needle Perle cotton or embroidery floss to coordinate with fabrics

Stuffing beads are not shown

1. fold each square in half lengthwise and widthwise and finger press at the edges to mark the half-way point on each edge

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

2. With right sides together, place one square on top of the other so that the top square's side edge is positioned 1/4" to the left of the half-way mark on the top edge of the lower square. Make sure the parallel raw edges are aligned (they are not aligned in the photo to make it easier to see how to line up the halfway marks and corners).

3. Using a 1/4" seam allowance, begin stitching at the half-way point of the lower square, moving towards the corner. Stop 1/4" before you reach the corner of the lower square.

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

4. Here comes the tricky part. You need to pivot your lower square while keeping the upper square in position, so that the remaining unsewn edge of the top square lines up with the perpendicular edge of the lower square. It helps to think of yourself as holding the top square in position and only pivoting the lower square.

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

This is how the squares will look after the first pivot 5. When you have lined up your squares, lower your presser foot and continue stitching until you are 1/4" away from the edge of the top square. 6. Now do step 4 in reverse. Holding the lower square in place, pivot the top square so that the edges of the two squares line up. Lower the presser foot and continue stitching until you are 1/4" from the edge of the lower square.

7. Repeat steps 3-6 until you have traveled all the way around the squares--you will pivot six times. Leave one length (1/2 of the width of the squares) unsewn for turning and stuffing.

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

8. Turn the biscornu inside out, using your finger to gently poke out the corners.

9. Fill with 3/4 cup of stuffing beads and 1/4 cup of lavender. It is easiest to fill the sachets by rolling a sheet of paper into a cone and pouring the beads and lavender through this. (I have also seen instructions for filling sachets with rice or flax seed, but I prefer stuffing beads because they won't attract pests.)

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

9. Finger press the unsewn edges under 1/4." Slip stitch the opening closed by hand.

10. Using the embroidery floss or perle cotton, make a couple of tacking stitches in the center of the biscornu to pull the top and bottom layers together.

Original Recipe can be found at www.modabakeshop.com

That's it--you've created a lovely and useful sachet. Although these instructions seem complex written out, you'll get the hang of stitching these on the machine very quickly and you'll be able to churn out a charm pack's worth in no time. (If you make some, consider adding photos to my flickr group! I'd love to see what you make!)

1 biscornu sachet. 1 charm pack will yield 21 sachets. Casey York {www.studioloblog.wordpress.com}