Read and Relax
Rice-filled Microwavable Heating Pads

I wanted to make small Christmas gifts for my fellow Book Club members and was inspired by a topic on Stitcher's Guild, my fav website. The topic was begun last year, so I just revisited it. What made me want to make microwavable heating pads for the neck and shoulder area came from a spa visit when I traveled to Marco Island to spend several days with my DD, who was attending a professional meeting there. The spa had comfortable neck and shoulder warming pads, shaped like large elongated dog-treat bones.

They were perfect--not too bunchy around the neck with the added weight at the widened epiphyseal area (the bone ends) to hold it in place.

I thought it would be cute to embroider "Read" at one end of the warmer and "Relax" the other, two activities that are essential for all book club members.

A trip to the local quilt shop yielded the perfect 100% cotton fabric and 5 cups of dried lavender for the endeavor, and 20 lbs of rice followed me home from the grocery. All I had to do was to draft a pattern and I would be all set to make the first 8 neck warmers.

I've made 13 total, so far. I may make a couple of others using the same pattern but different fabrics for stocking stuffers my DD and DSD.

And here are the neck warmers, all packaged up with their instructions, ready for gift-giving:

Pattern (self-drafted):

Materials:

• 1/2 yard of 36 or 45 inch wide fabric or 1/4 yard of 54 to 60 inch fabric
• Approx. 2 1/2 lb (5 cups) rice (I used jasmine rice)
• 1/2 cup dried lavender
• 1/4 inch-wide Steam-A-Seam
• Needle
• Thread

Method/Tutorial:

1. Two or 3 days ahead of time, add 1 cup of dried lavender to 10 lbs of rice in a Ziploc bag and mix well. Knead the bag a couple of times each day to keep the lavender in good contact with the rice.
   
   
   
2. Cut two pieces of fabric using the pattern.
   
3. Mark the stitching lines on the outside of one fabric piece using a light pencil or Dritz wax-free tracing paper.
   
   
   
4. With right sides facing each other, seam the pieces together, using a 1/2" seam allowance, down one long side, across one short side, and up the other long side. Leave about a 3 inch opening in the remaining short side.
   
   
   
5. Scoop the lavender/rice mixture out of the bag with a measuring cup. I used a 1/3 cup measuring scoop because it fit the opening nicely.
   
   
   
6. Add 1 1/3 cup to the neckwarmer, allowing it to slide down and collect in the first segment. Scrunch it down and place a few pins along the edge of the rice. This should leave about an inch between the edge of the rice and the first marked segment.
   
   
   
7. Stitch on the line marking the edge of the first segment.
   
   
   
8. Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for Segments 2 through 5, adding 1/2 cup of rice to each. These segments are smaller and need less rice.
9. Before filling the last segment, place a piece of 1/4 inch-wide Steam-A-Seam along one seam allowance on the open portion of the tube. Press on the paper side without steam. Remove the paper. The Steam-A-Seam should be snugly adhered to that one side.
10. Fill the last segment with 1 1/3 cups of the lavender/rice mixture. Pin close to the rice edge, leaving about an inch to the end of the neckwarmer.
11. Steam press the opening seam allowances together.
12. Slip stitch the bag closed.
13. Important: Test the bag in your microwave, warming it first for 30 seconds to see how warm it gets when draped over your shoulders. Allow it to cool. If it was not warm enough, increase the temperature to 1 minute and test again. Past 1 minute, test in 15 second increments. The neckwarmers I made were a comfortable temperature at 1 min 15 seconds to no more than 1 minute 30 seconds.
14. Include some instructions with your gift.

Here's what I included with the gifts I made. I got all of the information from the internet.

Merry Christmas, fellow Bookies!

This little neck pillow filled with rice

Is such a comforting device.

Microwave for 1 minute 15 seconds on high

And kiss those aches and pains goodbye.

Apply it to the troubled spot

The heat will ease the pain a lot

Or warm those little toes so cold

You'll find this nice to have and hold.

Or freeze it for a little while

And fix that boo-boo up in style

Instead of a compress made of ice

Use this pillow filled with rice.

Heat your rice bag for 1 minute 15 seconds in the microwave. Check the temperature before applying to the skin. Then drape it across your neck and shoulders, grab a good book, and curl up for a warm and relaxing read.

Holiday Hugs, Kathryn

1. What are the benefits from a rice bag?

The rice and the herbs release a moist heat that helps to aide circulation and pain relief to sore muscles and joints. As the bag cools down, the heat becomes more dry and penetrating, and your own body temperature will keep the bag activated for a fair amount of time. The aroma released also aides in a feeling of well-being.

2. How long will my bag stay warm or cold?

Your bag will stay warm for 20-25 minutes, depending on how warm it is when you remove it from your heating source. The recommended time for applying heat at any one time is 20 min. Bags used as a cold pack will stay cold for about 15-20 min. They are very pliable and soothing when applied.

3. How long does the fragrance last?

The aroma will last for a long time. Every now and then, take your bag and squeeze all along the channels, this will reactivate the lavender in the rice.

4. How can I preserve the life of my bag?

Place your bag, in a plastic bag and store in your freezer or refrigerator.

5. What if I don't have a microwave?

Simply wrap a damp towel around the bag and place in a very low temp oven (less than 200 degrees) and heat for 10-15 minutes. The towel can be fairly damp but don't make it soaking wet. Be careful removing it from the oven as the damp towel can and will produce steam.

6. Can the bags be used on any part of the body?
Bags can be placed on any part of the body, hot or cold. But, in the event of any sudden onset of pain or elevated body temperature prior to rice bag use, please consult your physician. Rice bags are for comfort, and are not a cure.

Curl up and read
And have a relaxing day.