Heating Pads made with Rice
Heating Pads are useful for all sorts of purposes - Aches, Cramps, Just to warm you up!
With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to make something thoughtful and personal for some colleagues at work. These gifts can be made for any occasion during the year - Christmas, Birthdays, Just Because and in a short time frame too especially if you are in a crunch.
Also, because of the amount of fabric available at the store, you can easily customise the gift to your receiver by selecting the recipients favorite colours or designs.
What do you need to make these warmers
- 6.5 in x 18.5 in Fabric of your choice, (just make sure it is able to endure heat!)
- Thread
- Needle or Sewing Machine
- 5 cups Rice
- Funnel
Instructions
- Cut out two 6.5 in x 18.5 in pieces of fabric
- Line up both pieces of fabric so that the "good" side (aka the side you want to end up as the outside of your heating pad) are facing each other.
- Start sewing along the side of 3 of the sides of your fabric (two long sides, and one short side). On the 4th short side, sew only halfway of the short side (as we will need a hole to put the rice!)
- Flip the fabric inside out now so that the thread now is on the inside and the "good" side of your fabric is now on the outside so you no longer can see the seams of your heating pad.
- Using a funnel, pour rice into your fabric bag.
- Sew up the remaining hole on your fabric as closely to the side as possible so that you no longer have a hole.
- Evenly split your rice inside the bag into 3 or 4 (see photo below) and sew in between the bag so that the rice is evenly distributed in squares.
- Warm up your heating pad for about 40 seconds in the microwave and enjoy its warmth!
3 Heating Pads - 2 Different Types
As you can see, I've either split the heating pad in 3 squares or 4 squares. Using the sewing machine, I found it much easier to make it with 3 squares as the rice started to get in the way while I was sewing. However, if you are doing it by hand, either way will work. The difference in pattern is just the weight distribution when it is being used, specifically on the neck and shoulder area.
Not just one colour of fabric!
You can see how much fun you can have with your fabric. All of these are 100% cotton. I decided to alternate the front and bag in two different colours to make it a bit more fun :)
GIfts for all
To complete the gift, I baked some cookies to give alongside the heating pad, all tied together with ribbon and a card attached.
