keljonma
Epicurean Goddess
You've probably seen them in stores or at a mall; even our Tractor Supply carries them! Fabric bags filled with rice, flax or beans that can be chilled or microwaved for pain relief. However, the ones in the stores are expensive, when you think of how inexpensively they can be made. I use about 5 - 6 cups of plain white rice for each pack. Do not use instant rice.
The main ingredient, rice, has recently gone up in price; but it is still more economical to make them yourself. I have been making bed warmers for presents for years. When heated, they are great for warming up a cold bed on cold night, and great for easing aching muscles. They are multi-purpose: hot/cold packs, shoulder wraps, and bed warmers, and can also be made any size you want. There are a couple different ways they can be made.
The most inexpensively and quickest pack to make
-Fill a men's tube sock with rice. If desired, add dried herbs or a few drops of essential oil. Sew or tie it shut.
-Make a fabric cover that is just a tad larger than the sock. This is a good way to use up fabric scraps. For the fabric cover closure, you can use velcro or sew it shut. If you use velcro, the cover can be removed and washed if it gets dirty.
-You can also put the filled sock into a pillow case, cut off the excess and sew it shut or tie the excess material into a knot. Do not use any metal for closures.
-For heat pack, microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Test for temperature before using. Use for aches or bed warmer. Place heated pack under sheets for 10 to 15 minutes before bedtime for warmed sheets.
-For a cold pack, store in the freezer in a ziplock bag until needed.
Segmented Rice Pack
37" x 10" piece of fabric
6 cups rice
This pack has segments of rice, so the rice doesn't shift as much, and produces a 3' x 4 1/2" tube.
-Fold fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew along the bottom and length using 1/2" seams.
-Turn tube right side out. Measure and mark, from bottom seam, every 6" along the length, ending a 1/2" from end.
-Pour 1 cup of rice into tube and sew across width at the first 6" mark, enclosing rice in a 6" x 4 1/2" rectangle.
-Repeat for remaining 5 cups of rice. Turn in 1/2" from end, and sew very near the edge to close tube.
-For a heat pack, microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, until hot.
-For a cold pack, store in the freezer in a ziplock bag until needed.
Shoulder Comforter - Bed Warmer
Rice or flax seed
Lavender seed
Lavender essential oil or fragrance
Soft flannel, fleece, or cotton material
-Cut and sew a U shape thats about 12 to 14 inches long by 4 1/2 inches wide.
-Mix mostly rice or flax seed, with a small amount of lavender seed, with a few drops of fragrance, or essential oil.
-Sew U shape, leaving one end open. Add flax seed mix till pack is about 1 1/4 inches thick. Hand sew the end.
-Microwave for about 2 - 3 minutes. Test for temperature. Set on your shoulder, sit down and relax.
Our daughter used these warmed slightly when our granddaughter complained of earaches when she was younger. Place the pack on the bed and have the child place the hurting side against the warmth.
These make great additions to a Get Well Soon gift basket. With the rice pack, add homemade soup in a jar, crackers, some nice music, a good book, some tissues, eucalyptus oil or vapo-rub, throat lozenges, maybe a fleecy throw.... whatever you want.
I confess to heating these for 6 - 7 minutes when using as bed warmers, since they won't be touching any skin until they have had a chance to cool down a bit.
The main ingredient, rice, has recently gone up in price; but it is still more economical to make them yourself. I have been making bed warmers for presents for years. When heated, they are great for warming up a cold bed on cold night, and great for easing aching muscles. They are multi-purpose: hot/cold packs, shoulder wraps, and bed warmers, and can also be made any size you want. There are a couple different ways they can be made.
The most inexpensively and quickest pack to make
-Fill a men's tube sock with rice. If desired, add dried herbs or a few drops of essential oil. Sew or tie it shut.
-Make a fabric cover that is just a tad larger than the sock. This is a good way to use up fabric scraps. For the fabric cover closure, you can use velcro or sew it shut. If you use velcro, the cover can be removed and washed if it gets dirty.
-You can also put the filled sock into a pillow case, cut off the excess and sew it shut or tie the excess material into a knot. Do not use any metal for closures.
-For heat pack, microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Test for temperature before using. Use for aches or bed warmer. Place heated pack under sheets for 10 to 15 minutes before bedtime for warmed sheets.
-For a cold pack, store in the freezer in a ziplock bag until needed.
Segmented Rice Pack
37" x 10" piece of fabric
6 cups rice
This pack has segments of rice, so the rice doesn't shift as much, and produces a 3' x 4 1/2" tube.
-Fold fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew along the bottom and length using 1/2" seams.
-Turn tube right side out. Measure and mark, from bottom seam, every 6" along the length, ending a 1/2" from end.
-Pour 1 cup of rice into tube and sew across width at the first 6" mark, enclosing rice in a 6" x 4 1/2" rectangle.
-Repeat for remaining 5 cups of rice. Turn in 1/2" from end, and sew very near the edge to close tube.
-For a heat pack, microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, until hot.
-For a cold pack, store in the freezer in a ziplock bag until needed.
Shoulder Comforter - Bed Warmer
Rice or flax seed
Lavender seed
Lavender essential oil or fragrance
Soft flannel, fleece, or cotton material
-Cut and sew a U shape thats about 12 to 14 inches long by 4 1/2 inches wide.
-Mix mostly rice or flax seed, with a small amount of lavender seed, with a few drops of fragrance, or essential oil.
-Sew U shape, leaving one end open. Add flax seed mix till pack is about 1 1/4 inches thick. Hand sew the end.
-Microwave for about 2 - 3 minutes. Test for temperature. Set on your shoulder, sit down and relax.
Our daughter used these warmed slightly when our granddaughter complained of earaches when she was younger. Place the pack on the bed and have the child place the hurting side against the warmth.
These make great additions to a Get Well Soon gift basket. With the rice pack, add homemade soup in a jar, crackers, some nice music, a good book, some tissues, eucalyptus oil or vapo-rub, throat lozenges, maybe a fleecy throw.... whatever you want.
I confess to heating these for 6 - 7 minutes when using as bed warmers, since they won't be touching any skin until they have had a chance to cool down a bit.
