hot/cold therapy pack tutorial

you'll need:

sewing machine

coordinating thread

scissors/rotary cutter

ruler

pins
fabric of your choice
coordinating ribbon
long grain rice(i've heard that long grain hold heat better)
*1/4 inch seam allowance

cut 2 pieces of fabric 6 1/2 x 12 1/2(now, by all means make this as big or as small as you want it...i was "winging it ~ again!)

put them together, right sides facing.  sew around three edges, leaving one of the short sides open.  trim the bottom corners.  turn ride side out, and press.  fill 3/4 of bag with rice.

fold in open side 1/4-1/2 inch, sew closed.  don't forget to backstich!  i also went over my straight stitch with a zigzag...that rice isn't going anywhere!!!(forgot to take a pic of that, sorry guys!)

*its a little difficult to sew something when its full of rice...so take your time!

you can stop here if you'd like, but i thought it would be nice to have a removable cover to be able to wash it.

so...cut 4 pieces of fabric 7 1/2 x 13 1/2.  cut 2 pieces of ribbon--long enough to tie a bow when you're finished.

sandwich the ribbon in the center between two pieces of fabric-right sides together~pin in place.  sew around three edges, again, leaving the short side open. (back stitch over the ribbon to make sure its not going anywhere!)  i also left a little over hang of ribbon, so i could see where it was...trim that before turning it right side out.

snip the two corners, turn right side out and press.  repeat for remaining fabric and ribbon.

if you used 2 different fabrics as pictured, decided which one you'd like to be showing(i supposed this could also be reversible though!!)  sew three edges together, turn right side out, press.  slide rice bad inside.  (mine was snug...like trying to put a pillow in a pillow case.  so if you want, make the cover slightly larger.)  tie ribbon, trim ends and singe with a lighter so they don't fray(or use fray check...whatever you have on hand)  

its ready to go!!  throw in the freezer, or microwave for one minute at a time until its as hot as you want it!!

my sissy gets migraines, so she likes hers in the freezer.

also linking up @ its so very cheri