Listen- shopping for the adults in your life is no easy task! Especially if you want to make sure it is something that they will actually use AND appreciate.
Look no further! This easy to sew, DIY microwave rice heating pad is done in an hour or less and comes with it's own washable pillowcase. These are perfect to pop in the microwave for a few seconds(or freezer) and place them anywhere on your body that aches. I especially love using them on my neck and my eyes in the winter!
Why will you love this project?
Easy
Fast
Cheap (dare I say almost free?)
Earth-friendly (Reusable AND mostly natural materials)
Washable cover
Mendable, unlikely those pesky electric ones! Just take a seam ripper to the short edge, replace the rice, and sew it back up!
Supplies needed
Length of 100% Cotton fabric, make sure there isn't any metallic printing on it so there are no microwave accidents!
About 2 cups of rice
General Sewing supplies
Raid your cotton fabric scrap stash, I know you have one! And pick out a sizable piece. Mine is roughly 12"x 5" for the rice pouch, you will need a slightly larger piece to make a pillow case. Most any rectangle or square will work, so long as it's not too narrow. Use what you got!
Since I started with a long strip, I can fold my fabric in half and sew the 2 long edges together. I like to do French seams, but regular seams are fine if your fabric is a bit narrow!
Flip your rectangle right side out and stuff it with rice! A funnel would be handy but I didn't feel like digging one out. I used a smaller pill bottle to scoop rice in so I wouldn't spill the ENTIRE jar of rice.
You want to leave a little wiggle room at the top, about an inch's worth from the top edge of fabric. Roll in the raw edges of fabric and pin them before sewing closed. If you're sewing on a machine, you may want to switch your presser foot to the zipper foot so it's easier!
Time for the pillowcase! You will want a piece of fabric that is slightly larger to accomodate the fullness from the rice. I simply sewed mine without a French seam, but it could have been a bit snugger. I recommend finishing the short hem edges first, since this will be pretty narrow to sew in the round. But not impossible, since that's how I did mine! ;)
To sew the short hems first; fold the raw edges down twice; ensuring both sides are equal, and sew down. Sew up the long edges with right sides facing, and flip right side out.
TADA! See I told you it was a quick sew! I've had mine for years as I replace the rice every year or so depending on often I use it. Hopefully, you can use yours for just as long!
Give me a follow over on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook to see what else I'm getting into! Happy upcycling!
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