Mini Rice Bags

Six newly stitched mini rice bags.

If you know about rice bags than you know how wonderful they are in a multitude of ways. They are unbelievably effective as bed warmers on cold winters nights. Folks with chronic cold feet love them heated up and slid into the foot of the bed to cuddle their frozen toes against! Many have requested I scent them with lavender flowers or with essential oils which permeate the room when the bag is heated.

Those of us with aches and pains swear by them to wrap or brace up against any afflicted area of the body. I generally heat a large one in the microwave for 7 minutes and it will stay warm for hours. No electrical cord or overheating worries. If I get it a little too warm I just place a towel or light blanket around it which seems not only to keep me from being too warm it insulates the bag further and keeps it warm even longer. Just the thing for our weekend warrior activities and overzealous gardening projects.

One day last week I had an epiphany. If the large rice bags are great, why wouldn't small ones you could just tuck here and there be equally useful? For instance, for a stiff neck how about a smaller neck roll? For an arthritic wrist why not a smaller pillow? And, for a sore spot someplace on the back, a larger pillow to just slip into place??

Also rice bags can be put in the freezer to be the ready for bumps and bruises. A rectangle in the freezer might just be lovely for placing it across the forehead and eyes to alleviate a headache.

Funneling rice into a light blue mini rice bag.

I pulled out the fabric scraps and the remainder of the last 25 pound bag of rice I had purchased and set about to stitch the together.  (Although a observer would have wondered if I had gone into producing "corn hole" bags.)

Six assorted bags ready and I am well stocked. I am putting half of them in the freezer and will use the other half for aches and pains.  Time will tell if this is a great idea or not.  Time will tell!!

Make a Scented Rice Bag as a Compress or Bed Warmer.

This heart shaped rice bag is made of pink checked flannel with lace trim and is perfect for a Valentine's Day gift.  It is COLD in February and this is a terrific bed/foot warmer!

Today I read a message from my sister-in-law Darla who I adore, asking me to give directions for a rice bag. I tried to put it on Face book as she requested but it was too long even after I cut as much as I could. then I scanned it and sent it to her e-mail hoping that would do the job.  We love these heated in the microwave for about 5-7 minutes then used as a warm compress or as a BED WARMER!  (Heavenly, just heavenly.)

Scented Rice Bag of Red Cotton Pillow Ticking.

Now it occurs to me since I have invested the time to take it from "just what I do" to "here is how to do it" maybe I should just go ahead and share the method. 

So here you go......my method of making a rice bag.

I usually make them about 16-18" w by 26-28" long to start when I cut them out. SO, you would cut 2 pieces the exact same size OR, if I can double one end or the other to save having to sew a seam I will cut it for example in one piece. Either 32" by 26" or 16" by 52". You then could either fold at the end or along the long side and save sewing one seam. I also have made a lot of these out of scrap fabric and it works just to make it fit sometimes.

Always use 100% cotton of a medium to medium heavy soft fabric. Wash and dry it before you even cut it and press it flat. If you want to be able to wash it you can make the bag out of plain cotton muslin then make a cover for it like a sham. Then just wash the sham. I usually just pitch the bag after a couple of years and make new ones. 

I buy the rice at Sam's club in 25 pound bags but you just want to use plain old cheap rice.

After you have cut the fabric to the size you desire PLACE THE RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER matching the raw edges and pin with straight pins. I always back stitch with my sewing machine to start then sew the seams about 3/8". On one end LEAVE AN OPENING OF ABOUT  5" to use to fill with the rice. BE sure to back stitch either side so you don't unravel. When you have finished stitching turn the bag right side and press it, ironing the 5" opening smoothly under. 

Next I cut a slice to the center of a paper plate and at the center cut a circle about the size of a nickel and fold it to form a funnel and use it to direct the rice into the bag. I staple the paper plate when I get it to where it works for me to direct the rice down into the bag balancing it on my lap. 

It takes 3 1/2 to 4 pounds of rice for the bag. You want to be able to fold and wrap it around where ever you are using it so don't pack it so tight you can't manage it. 

Add lavender flowers, or droplets of essential oils onto the rice and massage in into the rice now if desired. I would use a heaping cup of flowers or 4-5 drops of essential oil. Fold the 5" raw edges under to form a smooth edge and pin the whole end down flat. Shake all of the rice to the other end and then machine top stitch across the entire end of the bag.

Note: I double stitch all of the lines I sew and by that I mean I go back and sew a second line on top of the first one. I do this because the rice is heavy and small and I don't want to take a chance it will work an opening and leak out.

I microwave 5-6 minutes and have warmth for hours, especially under a blanket. If it is a little too warm just wrap it in a towel until it is cooler to the touch. 

ENJOY. 

I have probably made a hundred of these by now.