We don’t live in the coldest of climates, but I’m one of those people who is always cold, so a heat pack comes in handy. This heat pack is based on the one in The Crafty Minx, a lovely book I have full of simple, crafty and recycling ideas. It’s great for headaches or a stiff neck and is even nice cooled and put over your eyes on a stressful day.
Heat packs are quick and easy to make and you can add some extra ingredients to your pack to give it an aromatherapy vibe if you like. Use your favourite loose leaf tea, herbal infusion or dried flowers. I’m sure you could also add a few drops of essential oil to the rice too.
The heat pack can be warmed in the microwave or the oven and even put in the freezer to give you a cold pack. See bottom of post for heating instructions.
If you’re worried about it getting grubby, make a pillowcase for it. Cut a square 32 x 32 cm (13″ x 13″), fold it in half and sew one short side and the long side closed. Turn out and hem the opening.
Heat Pack
You’ll need:
30 x 30 cm (12″ x 12″) square of cotton – I used calico
A few cups of rice (regular, not quick cook)
Any aromatherapy goodies you want to add*
Sewing supplies
Fold the fabric in half right sides together. Sew all the way around the edge with a 1cm (3/8″) seam, leaving an opening about 5cm (2″) on one short end for turning and filling. If you’re concerned about the seams breaking and rice covering your house, sew a second line next to your seam within the seam allowance, or overlock the edges. These photos below are from making my bean bag toys.
Clip corners and turn right way out. Using a funnel or a cone of paper (or a teapot – thanks Mon!) fill the bag about half full with rice. Play around with the amount until you’re happy with how heavy and full it feels.
Move all the rice to the other end of the bag. Tuck the seam allowances in and very slowly stitch about 2mm (1/16″) away from the edge. When I get to the end, I turn around and come back, so that the seam is reinforced. Make sure the rice is well away from the seam. You don’t want to break a needle trying to sew through it! (Yes, I did this)
To heat the pack:
Oven – Put the pack in a 120°C (250°F) oven for 5 – 10 mins. Remove with oven mitts and let it cool a little before using.
Microwave – Microwave on high for 1 – 2 mins. Heat further in 30 second increments if it is not warm enough.
Chill – Put in the freezer or fridge for a few hours.
*For my chai bag, I added the contents of a few chai tea bags. For my bergamot-lavender bag, I added the contents of a few earl grey tea bags and some dried lavender.
Monica says
Interesting idea to use rice… I’ve always used wheat for my heat bags. My favourite one is made using corduroy from an old pair of pants. It’s so nice and soft!
After misplacing our funnel I discovered that the teapot from the kids’ toy set is perfect for pouring the wheat in.
Jenn says
I use Milo from the feed store, to me it smells amazing and it is super small like rice but dosent burn as easily, so the pack stays good for longer…. I just want to know how to clean them without opening them….
abby says
You can spot clean small stains. Another option is to make a pillowcase for it.
thingsforboys says
I find the smell of hot wheat a bit weird. Apparently you can buy corn from the feed store that’s great for them…stay hot longer than anything else, but I was too impatient to go look for it. I love the teapot idea – I’m going to add it to the post 🙂
Anonymous says
you need cracked corn for that.. otherwise you have a bag of popcorn that you can’t get to lol
thingsforboys says
feed corn is cracked…you won’t get popcorn from that.
Monica says
I used to hate the hot wheat smell but I think I’ve grown used to it now, and find it weirdly comforting. It’s the smell of winter… along with an open fire and hot milo. 🙂
Roslyn@Sew Delicious says
They are gorgeous! Can I ask – what ink do you use? I have been meaning to buy some ink so I can hand stamp some fabric.
thingsforboys says
Hi Ros, I use the Versacraft cube ink pads. I bought them on ebay from the UK. They’re only 1 inch wide, so you can get a few posted pretty cheap. I highly recommend them! I’ve had mine for a year and don’t use them a lot, but they haven’t dried out. It’s lots of fun stamping on fabric! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with 🙂
Anonymous says
If you store your ink pads upside down they will last even longer 🙂 This looks like a great tutorial – I need a new one!
thingsforboys says
great tip, thanks! *runs off to put all ink pads upside down*
Michelle's Style File says
Great DIY! So simple, so fab.
x
Michelle
http://www.michellesstylefile.blogspot.com
Elsie Rogers says
I LOVE the idea of using loose leaf tea! I have tons and tons!
fern says
I NEVER thought of using TEA!!! Fantastic! Thanks!
Laura says
Your fabric stamping always looks so neat and adds such a lovely finish. They’d make such a great gift.
Meredith says
I like the teapot idea for a funnel!
I also like the idea of using Chai. I recently found out that’s the only tea I will drink. It’s so comforting. Thanks for the idea.
Anonymous says
Never used tea before but now I am for all of my co-workers. Nice and cheap idea for personal gifts for a poor college student.
Anonymous says
can you use any tea bags for this or should it be a specific kind ? (not flavour wise but like leaves vs other type)
thingsforboys says
you can use any sort of tea, loose leaves or the contents of a tea bag. Just make sure it’s not too powdery that it comes through the fabric or if it’s herbal that it doesn’t have sharp sticks in it.
Anonymous says
I make a cotton pillow case for mine, since you can not wash your rice bag. Use it then slip the case off and wash it and reuse it again. These can become stinky if you use them a lot.
thingsforboys says
Great idea! I use a pillow case too 🙂
Leigha Baer says
Great idea for the pillow cases. Could make them in a fabric that compliments whatever fragrance in is the rice bag. 🙂
abby says
that’s a lovely idea!
Karon Schafer says
I have been thinking about how to keep them clean, I thought about making an pillow for the feeling and a slip-on cover
abby says
yes I have made ‘pillow slips’ for some of my heatpacks. Cut it about 1/2″ longer and wider.
Janice (YaYa) says
You had Bergamont & usd Chia tea….is there a fragrance connection ? I love most all perfumes with Bergamont
thingsforboys says
I made 2 separate bags, one with chai in it for a chair loving friend, and the bergamot and lavender one for me.
Janice (YaYa) says
Where did you find Bergamont?
thingsforboys says
I used Earl Grey tea bags for my bergamot fragrance! You could also add a few drops of bergamot essential oil to the rice before putting it in the bag.
Clara says
I’ve been looking for a beatable pad to buy–now I’ll just make one! Thanks!
Clara says
Thanks! Now I can make one instead of buy one!
Dan & fam says
I am entertaining decorating mine with fabric paint and some of my girly stamps (flowers, butterflies), and dinosaurs and stars for the men.
thingsforboys says
cute idea! Just make sure the paint will be ok in the microwave or the oven.
Crafty Tazzy says
Thank you!! Im in the UK and Ive just made one with some “Home grown” lavender I dried myself!!! and then done another and added “Jasmine” essential oils to rice!!! (I was a bit worried that the “oil” would come through the material when heated… but No it doesn’t!!! Im Impressed Thank you xx (running off now to make more as stocking fillers for a few friends xx)
thingsforboys says
that’s sounds lovely! I’m crazy for Jasmine!!
Anonymous says
As I am living in Europe, the traditional way to fill those bags is with cherry pits. The smell is wonderful and because it is woody, it keeps it warm longer. It was told by a friend
Love whose family is a cherry orchard farmer, the eat cherries by thousands!
thingsforboys says
cherry pits would be lovely! I wish I could eat cherries by the thousands, they are my favourite fruit!
Anonymous says
Shirley said:
How many cups of rice do you put into the bag of the 12 X 12″? How full do you make it?
thingsforboys says
Hi Shirley, it’s about 2 1/2 cups, which is roughly half full.
Cheryl says
The comment about the cherry pits got me thinking. Could I use wood chips, cherry or apple, for the fragrance maybe mixed in with the grain? Might help hold in the heat a bit more, too.
abby says
I don’t see why not. You’d want the pieces to be pretty small though so that they didn’t poke you through the bag.
Writer Eva says
We made several heating pads and filled them with flax seeds. The seeds hold the heat a long time and release a little moisture as well. Some were just floppy bags that easily drape over shoulders or on aching hips. Others were made small and had straps attached that closed with Velcro for wrapping around wrists or ankles. These were made for friends who have Rheumatoid Arthritis and helped a lot to ease their pain – especially during cold weather. Extra small “pillows” made with camouflage-printed flannel were appreciated as hand warmers by our grandsons on cold morning walks to school.
Carol says
Just be careful when travelling overseas customs will take them off you As I have Arthritis I take mine everywhere I argued with the customs fellow when he said I had prohibited goods in my bag I never even gave it a thought It was my favourite one he took as I had made it long enough to go along my shoulders Now I take my hot water bottle
These are easy to make Great project
abby says
oh yes, good point! Aussie customs are so strict!
matt says
Does anyone know how to heat a rice bag (or the like) WITHOUT a microwave nor an oven? ideas?
Abby says
maybe close to a fire the way they used to heat old irons, but there’s a bit of a risk of it catching on fire. A solar oven? I can’t think of anything else! You might have to settle for a hot water bottle
matt says
Curious. Thanks for the ideas. I was thinking put in a saucepan on low heat for a few minutes.
Abby says
I’d be a little worried it would scorch, but if you keep an eye on it then I don’t see what that wouldn’t work.