Make a DIY Lavender Eye Pillow
Jun 2, 2017
•
by Julie O’Boyle
Photo by Ryan Liebe
Whether you’re looking for an extra dose of calm for your meditation practice or a more restful self-care routine, this simple DIY eye pillow (made with buckwheat hulls and lavender) will do the trick. The best part? There’s more than one way to enjoy it. For a cooling experience, place your mask in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before using; for something warmer, pop your mask in the microwave for 10 seconds (just make sure to test the heat level on the back of your hand before placing the pillow over your eyes). Ready, set, relax.
You will need
- 100% cotton fabric (one fat quarter will do)
- Rotary cutter
- Clear quilting ruler
- Cutting mat
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Funnel
- Measuring cups
- 2 cups buckwheat hulls
- ¼ cup dried lavender
- Needle and thread
Step 1: Cut the fabric into rectangles.
Use a rotary cutter and an acrylic ruler to cut two 6″ x 10″ rectangles of fabric. We used two contrasting pieces of fabric to create our playful, mixed-pattern design; follow our lead or keep it simple with a single fabric style.
Step 2: Pin the fabric together.
Give the fabric a quick pass with an iron to smooth any wrinkles, then use straight pins to secure the pieces of fabric together with the printed sides facing in.
Step 3: Sew (most of) the edges.
Use a pair of pins to mark a 2-inch opening along one edge of the fabric rectangle, then use a sewing machine to stitch along the remaining edges on all four sides, ½ inch in. Carefully trim the excess fabric from each corner at a 45-degree angle to help the corners stay crisp when the pouch is flipped right-side out.
Step 4: Turn the fabric pouch right-side out.
Carefully turn the fabric pillowcase right-side out, using your fingers to make sure each corner is fully extended.
Step 5: Fill with buckwheat and lavender.
Use a funnel to fill your fabric pillowcase with 2 cups of buckwheat hulls and ¼ cup lavender. Tip: If your funnel has a narrow opening, you may need to carefully shake it as you go to help the buckwheat hulls and lavender move through.
Step 6: Sew the opening of your eye pillow shut.
Use a whipstitch to sew the small opening of your eye pillow shut. When you’ve finished, give your pillow a shake to distribute the lavender.
Step 7: Add tassels (optional).
Use a needle and thread to add tassels or other embellishments as desired. Make sure to choose 100% cotton embellishments if you plan to heat your eye pillow in the microwave. Metal and microwaves don’t mix!
All done! To use your eye pillow, simply place over your eyes, breathe deeply, and enjoy.
Process photos by Erik Valind.
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Julie O’Boyle is a Senior Content Specialist at Etsy. When she’s not creating for Etsy, you can find her working on freelance projects, sharing on her blog and Instagram, and spending as much time as possible outdoors.
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