By Guest Maker Theresa Baughman
These rice filled heating pads are great for colds, toothaches, muscle aches, cold winter days, glove warmers, heating pads, headaches and more. They are a simple sewing project perfect for young makers or those new to sewing technique. Plus, there’s tons of room to be creative! Don’t miss
our inventive suggestions at the end.
Materials:
- Soft fabric, NO SYNTHETIC FABRIC. Stick to cotton, wool, etc. Synthetic fabrics will melt if they are accidentally left in the microwave too long.
- Ruler and pencil
- Rice
- Needle & thread
- Scissors
- Stuffing
- Sewing machine
- An adult helper
- Cinnamon, lavender, or other nice smelling spice (optional)
Step 1:
To make a small hand warmer rice bag, cut 2 squares of fabric approximately 5”x5” each. To make a larger pillow, cut 2 squares approximately 10”x10” each.
Step 2:
Place the squares right sides together (this means with the patterned or colored side of the fabric on the inside) and pin 3 sides, leaving one side open. The pins will guide you where to sew, while the open side allows you to flip it right side out.
Step 3:
Using the sewing machine, sew the 3 sides that are pinned. You want these stitches to be nice and tight so that the rice doesn’t fall out. Make sure to do a few backstitches on the ends.
Step 4:
Turn your bag right side out. Fill with a small amount of stuffing, rice, and scent if desired. Be sure to leave about an inch of space between the filling and the edge of the opening. For a bag that will heat thoroughly, fill with equal parts stuffing and rice.
Step 5:
Fold the open edge of the bag over twice, pin shut. Sew the opening closed, running a backstitch the whole way across the seam.
Voila!
You now have your very own reusable heating bag. Microwave it for 30 seconds at a time on a medium heat setting until it’s warm.
Creative Ideas:
- Cut open a small seam on a stuffed animal, replace some of the stuffing with rice. Stitch closed. Now you have a heated friend!
- Sew a smaller rice bag to fit inside a larger stuffed animal or pillow. Sew a zipper on the larger pillow. Now you can remove the rice bag if the pillow needs to be washed.
- Sew a pair of small squares and fill with rice only. Give them as a gift of hand warms that can slip inside a pair of gloves.
- Reverse! Throw fuzzy in the freezer to use it as an ice pack!
Theresa Baughman is an eclectic maker whose interests span from hat making to engineering! She is a member of Steel Town Etsy and lives and studies in Pittsburgh, PA. She recently visited The MAKESHOP at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for an afternoon of warm-fuzzy-making with makers of all ages! Learn more about Theresa’s work and visit her hat shop on Etsy.com.
KEEP CALM AND MAKE ON!
