Easy Heating Pad

Happy New Year! For Christmas, my thoughtful husband bought me a sewing machine. I've used it five times in the last week and a half, so I'm thinking it will get good use.

Here's a little project I whipped up last night: a rice bag heating pad. Do any of you use these? I use mine (one I purchased this fall) almost daily. It's wonderful. So wonderful I wanted to make some myself.

Here's what you need (for one rice bag)

• Two rectangular pieces of fabric (pick whatever dimensions you want- I used 6 x 19). I used 100% cotton fabric from the fabric outlet down the street
• Matching thread
• 2 1/2 - 3 cups of rice

With the fabric inside out, sew three of the four sides together, leaving one short end open. Flip the bag right side out.

Fill with 1/2 cup of rice (more or less, depending on how full you want your bag). Smoosh all of the rice to the side of the bag and pin into place. This sounds confusing, so here's a picture:

Get the idea? Sew a straight line about 1/2 an inch away from your pin line, locking the rice in. Repeat this (fill with rice, pin the rice in, sew a seam) until you get to the last pocket. Your bag should be looking like this:

That's it! I had to get creative with my last finished edge (after the bag was full) and did this:

If anyone has a better suggestion, I'll be glad to hear it. Now go microwave your rice bag (for approximately two minutes) and enjoy the warmth!