Hot/Cold Bags Tutorial...

Do you remember my last post about the

hoodie scarves?...

I told you that Kass and I made something to go with them and I am finally

getting around to showing them to you now:)

We made some handwarmers to go

in the pockets at the end of the scarves!

Here in Utah the winters are long and cold...so handwarmers are a winter staple at our house.

I usually make a bunch this time of year and keep them in a big bowl in my pantry where they are handy and close to the microwave for a quick heat up on a cold day.

The nice thing about these hand warmers is that they work for cold packs too if you put them in the freezer first....

headaches and owies are quickly soothed

by using one or two of these little cuties! 

So here is how I make them.

I like to use 5" x 5" squares...I'm sure you all have a few of those laying around

 so that you can play along... right?

I use 2 different squares of

Sew Cherry for each bag...

one for the front...

and one for the back.

I also like to line them with flannel.

It helps to keep the heat/cold in longer.

I cut two 5" x 5" squares of

flannel for each bag. 

 I placed a piece of flannel on the wrong side of each square...

And I placed 2 squares with

right sides together.

Then I stacked them all up in

a pile for sewing!

I used a 3/8" seam allowance and stitched all the way around the edges... leaving an opening for turning and filling later.

I backstitched where I stopped and 

started sewing. 

I also used my walking foot because there

are 4 layers and it really  

keeps them from shifting. 

Before turning...

I clipped off the corners for less bulk.

I turned and used a crochet hook to get a nice point in the corners.

(my favorite turning tool)

I used a funnel...

and filled each bag with about

3/4 of a cup of rice.

I stitched the opening closed using

 my machine:)

I stitched them up in matching pairs...

one for each pocket!

Each set takes about 30-45 seconds on high

 to heat up in my microwave.

And there you have it...fast,easy and cute little square hot/cold bags...

what else could you ask for? 

Okay...maybe longer and larger hot/cold bags for your feet and neck?

You got it!

I made a few of those too!

I made them the exact same way ...

I used Daisy Cottage fat quarters

for these bags and I cut 2 different

pieces of  fabric 6" x 20"...

again...

one for the front and one for the back.

I also cut two pieces of flannel for

each bag the same size.

I stitched them up and turned them...

Filled them up with about 6 cups of rice

for each bag...

which is about halfway full.

I stitched them closed...and laid them out to show you!

These take about 2 minutes on high because they are quite a bit larger.

I like to put one at the bottom of my bed so that my sheets are nice and toasty for my feet when I climb into bed on a cold winters night!

 They also work nicely for a neck, shoulder or backache after a long quilty day!

And they also work in the freezer too!

After I have been out working in the garden on a hot summer day...it feels heavenly to lay one across my shoulders and neck to cool me down a bit...try it and see if it works for you too!

Until tomorrow...

have a quilty kind of day my friends:)

xx

Lori