How to Make a Therapeutic Corduroy Heat Pack
Create your own soothing corduroy heat pack using rice, lavender and a printed corduroy fabric. Designed with four separate compartments, the heat pack distributes warmth evenly and can be comfortably placed across the neck, shoulders, back or lap.
This intermediate sewing project takes approximately one hour to complete and also makes a thoughtful handmade gift.
Project Details
- Project number: C026
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Approximate project time: 1 hour
What You Will Need
Materials
- Printed corduroy measuring 45 cm × 24 cm
- 2 cups of rice
- A few drops of lavender oil
- A small amount of dried lavender
- 100% cotton thread
Equipment
- Sewing machine
- Iron and ironing board
- Fabric scissors
- Funnel
- Pins
- Dressmaker’s marking pencil
Prepare the Lavender Rice Filling
Place the two cups of rice into a clean bowl. Add a few drops of lavender oil and a sprinkle of dried lavender.
Mix thoroughly to distribute the lavender oil and dried lavender evenly throughout the rice.
Sew the Heat Pack
- Fold the corduroy in half with the right sides of the fabric facing together.
- Press the folded fabric with an iron and pin the edges securely in place.
- Sew around the edges, leaving an opening of approximately 10 cm for turning and filling.
- Carefully trim the excess fabric from the corners without cutting through the stitching.
- Turn the fabric right side out through the opening. Gently push out each corner using a pencil or another blunt tool.
Create the Compartments
- Fold the heat pack in half and press the fold with an iron.
- Mark the fold using a dressmaker’s marking pencil.
- Repeat the measuring and marking process until the heat pack is divided into four equal sections.
Fill and Finish the Heat Pack
- Place a funnel into the opening and pour ½ cup of the lavender rice mixture into the first section.
- Push the rice towards the closed end of the heat pack.
- Pin along the first marked line, ensuring there are no rice grains near the stitching line.
- Sew across the marked line to close the first compartment.
- Repeat the filling and sewing process for the remaining compartments, adding ½ cup of rice to each section.
- Once the final compartment has been filled, fold the raw edges of the opening towards the inside.
- Pin the opening securely and topstitch close to the folded edge to finish the heat pack.
Important Safety Information
Use 100% cotton fabric and 100% cotton thread for this project. Synthetic fibres may not be suitable for microwave heating.
Heat the corduroy heat pack in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Check the temperature after each interval and stop heating once the desired warmth has been reached.
Do not overheat the heat pack. Always inspect the fabric and stitching for signs of damage before placing it in the microwave.
