Winter inevitably brings cold hands and one of the ways to fix this problem is to make your own hand warmers! These simple little packets are the easiest thing to make. All you need is some scrap fabric, rice and your sewing machine!
For this project you will need two different fabrics: the main and the lining. For the main you can use any fabric (I am using a mixture of cotton and velvet) and for the lining I would suggest a lightweight fabric (polyester, etc.). The rice filling is held in the lining, with a thicker covering of your main fabric. I have designed it this way so that you can easily wash the hand warmer.
You can find a few tips for heating your hand warmer here.
At the bottom of this post there will be a video for extra help.
What You Will Need:
1 circle of main fabric: 4" in diameter
1 circle of main fabric: 6" in diameter
2 circles of lining fabric: 4" in diameter
Approx. 1\3 cup of rice ( preferably jasmine rice as this holds the heat for the longest, but any rice is fine)
Essential oils (this is optional, but it will make the heat pack smell wonderful. Lavender oil is generally the most popular)
Iron
General sewing equipment
Method:
Take your larger circle of main fabric and cut it in half.
Fold a 1/4" hem on both of the straight edges.
Sew flat.
Pin your two semicircles right sides together with your second main circle. Your top semicircle should overlap the other by 1".
Trim the excess fabric around the edge.
Sew around the circles.
Turn right sides out and iron flat.
Pin your two lining circles right sides together.
Sew around them, leaving a small gap at the top.
Turn right sides out and iron flat.
In a bowl mix approx. 1/3 cup of rice with approx. 6 drops of essential oil.
Pour the rice in to your lining circles.
Sew the hole in your lining circles closed.
Place your rice packet inside of your main fabric.
Best Way to Heat Your Hand Warmer:
Take the rice packet out of your main fabric.
Place of small cup of water in your microwave ( this stops the rice from burning or smelling).
Place the rice packet in the microwave.
Heat the pack up for 30 seconds. If it is not hot enough, heat it for 30 seconds at a time checking it until it is at the perfect temperature.
Here is a video for extra help: