How to Sew A Rice Hand Warmer is a blog post about how you can easily sew a rice hand warmer. #howto #ricehandwarmers
How to Sew A Rice Hand Warmer
This can be a very Inexpensive and cheap thing to make and uses up some of those scrap fabric remnants!
You can make just one, but most are are sold in pairs (as in two hand warmers) one for each hand!
Why rice works well as a hand warmer
Rice makes a good hand warmer because it has the ability to hold heat for a long time. When rice is heated, it absorbs the heat and releases it slowly, which makes it effective for keeping hands warm.
To use rice as a hand warmer, you can heat it in a microwave or an oven, then place it in a small cloth bag or pouch. The pouch can then be held in your hands or placed in your pockets to keep your hands warm.
Rice is a good choice for hand warmers because it is inexpensive, readily available, and safe to use. It is also a natural and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable hand warmers that use chemicals.
However, it’s important to note that rice can potentially burn or catch fire.
Additionally, it’s important to use long-grain rice or other varieties that are less starchy, as these types of rice tend to hold heat better than short-grain or sticky rice. Finally, it’s important to regularly replace the rice in the pouch, as over time it can become dry and lose its effectiveness as a hand warmer.
Items needed per hand warmer (one hand warmer)
- 12 +/- teaspoons of rice (¼ cup) long-grain rice (uncooked, dry)
- Two – 4 inch squares of 100% cotton fabric
- 100% cotton thread
- Funnel
- Measuring spoon or cup
- Chop stick
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Ruler to cut and measure
- Marking pencil
- Sewing pins or sewing clips (optional)
- Sewing machine (or hand sew)
- Sewing needle
Note: Your fabric and thread must be 100% cotton! If you use any thing else it could melt, burn or catch fire more easily.
Instructions
1. Cut your 100% cotton fabric Into 4 inch squares. You’ll need 2 per hand warmer. (4 for a pair)
If you want them bigger or smaller adjust to the size needed. I don’t think you want them any smaller!
2. Match both the right sides of the fabric together. (Showing the wrong side of the fabric)
3. Mark a slit at the top center. (1-1½ inches).
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This slit is used both to turn out right the hand Warner and fill with rice)
4. Sew around the piece, leaving around an inch for the turn out. (Don’t forget to do back stitching)
5. Turn out the square to show the right side of the fabric, a chop stick helps out a lot.
You can use chop sticks to do this. Don’t poke too hard or you can puncture holes in the hand warmer. Pushing out all the corners!
5. Fill the hand warmer with rice.
Use a funnel to do this. That chop stick can also help push the rice down the funnel.
Do not fill it all the way either, you will need room to sew and allow the rice to move around d too.
If you go really, really slow you might not need the chopstick.
Also adjust the amount of rice based on the size you are making.
6. Sew along the top making sure to sew the slit.
Now you can enjoy the hand warner by microwaving for 20 seconds. I do not recommend microwaving more than that. Use caution as these do get hot.
Rice works well for homemade hand warmers because it can hold heat for an extended period when heated in a microwave or oven. Additionally, rice is readily available, affordable, and non-toxic, making it a popular choice for DIY hand warmers.
Rice hand warmers can typically be reheated multiple times. After using them, simply allow them to cool down to room temperature before reheating them in the microwave or oven again. However, over time, the rice may dry out or lose its effectiveness, so it’s a good idea to periodically replace them if they no longer provide sufficient warmth.
Notes:
Did you know, you can put these in the freezer and use as a cooling pack too!
Also do not use any metallic fiber thread, fabric or batting as those are dangerous in the microwave.
Rice can give off a smell. People add essential oils to help with that.
Just remicrowave when needed.
They say they last 15-20 minutes heat wise. But that can depend on how cold it is outside too.
Do not leave rice hand warmers unattended in microwave oven and do not heat longer than the recommended time.
Other How-To Posts
- Add a LED Strip to your Sewing Machine
- Cricuit Explore Air 2 Dust Cover
- Get more flavor when slow cooking
- Hang A Sewing Peg Board
- On-the-go Handwashing Kit
- Pick Fabric
- Sew a Handmade Pocket Tissue Holder
- Sew A Rice Hand Warmer
- Sew a Zipper Pouch
- Use scrap fabric to stuff a stuffed animal
I plan to also share how I make my face masks and zipper clutches (Zipper pouches) and more. Coming soon!
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