Tension While Traveling? Try Making Your Own Buckwheat Pillows

Easy to make and convenient for traveling, buckwheat pillows are comfortable and refreshing when infused with soothing scents. Encourage kids to decide what scents they find calming and to think about which scents goes together. This DIY is also the perfect way to teach children basic sewing skills, while making something fun and functional. The next time you’re heading out on a trip with Lil’ Sprouts–be it by car or by plane–take one for the road!

Materials

• Buckwheat hulls
• Dried herbs, flowers, or fruit (like lavender, chamomile, orange peel, or roses)
• Sowing needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Organic cotton fabric

Directions

1. Cut the cloth to size (14″ x 15″ for a neck pillow; 9″ x 10″ for an eye pillow).
2. Fold the long side (either the 15″ or 10″) so that all of the edges meet.
3. Stitch up two of the three remaining sides, leaving one of the smaller sides open. Turn the fabric inside out so that the seams are on the inside (if you want to embrace the seams, however, feel free to leave them on the outside).
4. Place buckwheat hulls in a mixing bowl–about 5 cups for a neck pillow and 3.5 for an eye pillow. Of course, you can always add more or less if you would prefer a firmer or looser pillow.
5. Add in dried herbs, fruit, or flowers. Aim to add about a cup–you can add less or more depending on your sensitivity to smell.
6. Using a wide mouth funnel (a piece of paper rolled into a funnel shape will also work), pour the buckwheat hulls into the pillow.
7. Tuck the edges of the final unsewn side in and stitch it up (or leave the edges out, if you did not turn the fabric inside out).
8. Take on your next trip or on your way to bed, and enjoy!