Hot/Cold Pack

[crazycatladymel]

Finished last night, but not filled yet, a hot/cold pack. To be filled with rice or other filler. Materials - inner bag: muslin, outer bag: flannel. I'm making up a bunch for Christmas gifts.


 To the right you can see the muslin inner bag, waiting to be filled.


Sewn sham-style so the inner bag can be removed and the outer bag can be washed. No fasteners mean the whole thing can go into the microwave.


I'm waiting to see if the recipient wants me to fill the inner bag, or to mail it empty and have her fill it and stitch the small opening. My personal one is filled with rice, but I'm hoping to find a better resource for flaxseed or another filler (the rice has a faint, well, cooked-rice odor -- I don't mind, but others might).

[craftsbian]

I really like your hot/cold packs.  I have been meaning to make some, but i was not sure what to fill them with.  The san fransisco herb company sells flaxseed for pretty cheap.  http://www.sfherb.com/cart/webstore/product_layout2.asp

[fadedpink]

your pack is so cute! Mine is a life saver come PMS time  My outer fabric is just a blue flannel with a cat on it, I may make different ones.

I feel a christmas gift Idea forming..

[crazycatladymel]

I can't wait to use the flannel I got with red crabs embroidered on it (for crabby). They also had a pattern with cows that said "Moody" but I liked the crabs better.

[d]

I also make these, but mine are a bit longer so they can reach from temple to temple. I just happen to have an absolute ton of flax that I'd be willing to swap for ?? The beauty of flax is you get one minute of heat for every second in the microwave. 45 seconds = 45 minutes of heat. You can fall asleep with it. As an added bonus there is no smell. d

[craftykate]

wow. I want to make one. I must fix my sewing machine.

[SillyLittleSquirrels]

*steals lamb fabric*

[al oof]

and it works cold too?  i mean the rice?

i don't know why i always thought you needed a liquid for a cold pack.

[crazycatladymel]

d: a trade might be called for -- let me look around and see if I can even find the stuff in bulk locally.

al oof: I haven't tried it, but everything I've read says that you can keep a pack in the freezer and use it as a cold pack. Think frozen veggies. There is some moisture in even the rice.

A longer one for headaches is on my list. I wonder how the sham opening will work for a narrower bag.

Someone on my LJ asked for the "pattern," so I posted a step-by-step tut w/ pics, here.

[dyabolica]

I love the fabric choices, I made a bunch of these last year, but I filled them with feed corn, it seems to hold heat longer..It only smelled popcorny the 1st few times we used them..you have to makesure it says feed corn though...