Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Herbal Rice Pillows


We're finally beginning to warm up here, but I know a lot of you are still in a deep freeze and trying to stay warm.  I love heating up a rice pillow and snuggling up with it!  They stay warm and cozy for a long time - and if you add some dried herbs, you get a wonderful scent too.

Materials:
*2 12 x 8 pieces of flannel
*dried white rice - you can use other grains, but I have a lot of grain allergies so I use rice
*dried herbs

1.  With right sides together, sew a 1/2 inch seam on the two long sides and one short side of the flannel to make a bag.  Trim corners diagonally to help get a crisp corner.


2.  Turn bag right side out and iron, turning the top (the unsewn edge) under 1/2 inch.  Sew along the seamed edges 1/4 inch in from the seam - start and stop 1/4 inch down from the top.


3.  Fill the bag with the rice - how much you put in will depend on how firm you want the pillow to be.  If it's less filled, you can wrap it around parts of you if that's something you're planning on doing.  I fill mine to a little more firm - they don't wrap well.  Pour it out into a bowl and add your herbs and mix well - I used a handful of dried peppermint.  Dried lavender's a good one too - use a tablespoon or two, depending on how strong you want the lavender smell to be.  Other ideas - dried spearmint, thyme, sage, lemon balm, ....


4.  Pour the rice/dried herb mixture into the bag ....


5.  ... and sew the final edge 1/4 inch in.  I also sew it again close to the first seam, for reinforcement.


6.  To use, heat for about 1 to 2  minutes in the microwave.  The first couple of times you heat your bag, it may feel a little damp from moisture in the rice escaping.


Happy Creating!  Deborah
   

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