It may be a balmy 45 degrees here in Seattle, but we still get cold feet at night! That’s why we made up a bunch of these rice heat therapy bags to keep us warm. These are instructions for a mini bag, but a larger bag for shoulder, back, or leg pain is easy to make, too.
Rice Bag Warmer Tutorial
Supplies needed:
- 12″x12″ piece of flannel (or any size you choose)
- white rice (NOT instant rice!)
- sewing pins, matching thread & sewing machine
1. Cut your flannel to the desired size. Mine was 12″x12″, which makes for an approx. 5.5″x11.5″ bag.
2. Fold flannel in half, right sides together. Sew along the entire long side of your rectangle.
3. You now have a fabric tube. Move the long seam to the middle of the rectangle as shown. Sew down one of the short ends. I used a 1/4″ seam allowance.
4. Turn your bag right-side out. Top-stitch along the seam on your short side using a 1/4″ allowance (this is for decorative purposes only–you’ll see why in the next step).
5. Fill your bag with rice. I think I used about 1.5 cups. You don’t want it too full or it won’t conform to your body. Tuck the seams in and pin.
6. Sew along the pinned side (now your end seams match).
Heat rice bags in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warm. You don’t want them too hot–you will get burned! Heat it up and keep it inside your covers near the end of your bed. Goodbye, icicle feet!
If you’re giving a rice bag as a gift, you can make a decorative tag with heating instructions to tie on with a ribbon.
To make a longer bag for use on sore muscles, start with a longer piece (or pieces) of flannel and complete steps 1 through 3. For step 4, I top-stitched around three sides of this bag before filling with rice for a cleaner look. Next, measure how many evenly spaced pockets you have room for and make a line across the bag with chalk or a fabric pen. Fill the first section with rice (mine are about 1 cup each), then pin along chalk line, being careful to keep rice from spilling into next section. Sew across line. Repeat with remaining sections until the last one. Tuck in ends and top-stitch closed. Easy-peasy!
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We’ve made these with tube socks – yours are so pretty! And, some of our older ones are springing leaks, so we may give these a try! Thanks!
Beautiful and functional!
You are one of my favorite bloggers and I always love what you come up with. I marked you as a FAVORITE some time ago! Keep those great ideas coming.
I made a smaller one of these (using scrap fabric) that I keep in the freezer for boo, boos for my little ones. (Ice is way too cold and melts and makes a big mess and the kids don’t like it, but they will use the ‘boo boo’ bag.)
This is such a wonderful idea! I will definitely be making this.
I have one of these made for me by a friend. I must admit nothing takes the chill off better than this little bit of warmth for your cold fingers or toes. I have been wondering if there are any fragrances I could add to increase its ability to calm and soothe. Any ideas anyone for something that can withstand being heated and cooled repeatedly and give off the essence of calm?
I love the fabric you used, so adorable!
Wonderful little bags. Make them with denim and they become sturdy pocket warmers for the kids or the fisherman in your life.
I would think dried lavendar would work for a fragranced warmer.
This is such a cute idea. I have always wondered how to go about making them. Now I know. Thanks!
These are so beautiful. I have a really large flannel one that I use at night, but I love the mini ones. So simple and perfect for everyone.
And I LOVE the comment above from Jena for freezing these rice bags. I don’t like to put on ice either, it’s too cold for me, so I would love these for my boo boos too!!
I make these all the time too. They are perfect little gifts. A good way to make them scented is to put tea in them. Just cut up some tea bags and mix them with your rice and they are good to go. Use chamomile for the flu or peppermint tea for head or body aches. <3
Love the designs. I made one a few months ago using an old flannel baby blanket from my girls. Worked great. :) Never thought to put it under my blankets though. I may just have to try that!
Oh, I love these! So cute and they seem so easy! I am definitely going to try making a few of these!
OH MY GOODNESS! I just sat down at the screen with a brand new rice bag I JUST made! Yours are so so cute! If you’re looking for NO-SEW, try a black tube sock (Sams Club $11 for 8 pair), fill with rice, then tightly tie pretty ribbons on both ends! Instant Warmth! I just made 16 for a girls scrappin weekend in 45 minutes!
I was researching these last week because I wanted to make one as a gift. Both tea and essential oils came up as ways to scent them. I also read that mixing kosher salt with the rice keeps the bag hot for longer. (Some even use just salt INSTEAD of rice! Also wheat, oats, barley, or cherry pits are other fillers.)
You can also use dried corn that you can get at a feed and seed store. These smell wonderful when you heat them.
What a great tutorial. I’ve got to get started on some of these…!
I love these! I got one for Christmas and have been using it nonstop! Thanks for the instructions…I believe I’ll make some!
Made one for a gift for the contractor working on our house for a gift for the ride home after a long day of work. He liked it so much he uses it also at night to get his feet warm. I should have made him two!
The rice bag I made was a sock filled with rice and tied off. Very ugly, but warms nicely. Yours, on the other hand, are so very cute! I love the colors in that pile of them.
I just made one of these yesterday to sell on my website shop and my etsy shop. Great tutorial! I have used one for years so I know the rice lasts a long time. Filing with some lavender makes it smell nice but any herb (or tea as suggested above) will only scent for a short while. Spray some linen spray or spritz with water with a few drops of essential oil mixed in to refresh the nice scent.
Great idea!! It’s been coooooold here in Oklahoma lately! I might have to make some of these!!
im just waiting for a few free minutes to make a few of these!!!
Beautiful. I am starting one today. Thanks for the idea…
Lovely tutorial, as always, ladies. I’ve been meaning to make a few of these now that I’ve got a sewing machine and I think I’ll just have to do it. I know I’d love to have a few on hand for myself, a few freezer ones (maybe in a cute little penguin print ;), and I bet my mom would love one or two for her birthday.
Thanks, Sweet Birdies ;)
-Dejah
My grandma used to make these! Very helpful for cramps too! She always made them out of hand towels. They are the perfect size to hang around your neck and they last FOREVER! However, the ones in your picture are so cute, I may have to go flannel shopping soon!
Nice and simple, and very appealing right now. Thanks for sharing! I’ve posted a link.
I was looking for bean bags to play with my students…this is a great idea for that too..thank you for shearing it!! I will make it with kids socks, colorfull and may put different tea inside so they can enjoy the smell too..
Great idea!!
thanks
I’m going to make 3 little ones for Mother’s day, each with a different smell (tea). And I’ll make a long bag where my mom can put the 3 bags in, if she wants a big rice bag for around her neck :o)
thanks so much for the idea!
Liesbeth
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