Just a little about nothing: DIY warming pillow

A warming pillow makes a wonderful gift for many occasions. You could make one for a new mom, friend's birthday, or just for yourself. They are a great way to relax. You can use this heat therapy to relieve tight muscles, for menstrual cramps, or even sinus congestion. These pillows are perfect because they are heated with your microwave and the best part is there is not an annoying plug or cord to have to worry with.

Materials needed to make your own warming pillow:

Piece of flannel fabric, cut 22 x 10 inches
Piece of muslin fabric, cut 21 x 9 inches
4 cups of rice
1/2 cup dried peppermint leaves, lavender, or other scented herb (optional)
4 inches Velcro
Straight pins
Sewing machine

Instructions:

First, we are making the pillow insert. Fold the muslim in half length wise and press with iron.

Using 1/4" seam, sew one short side and long side. On the 3rd side leave a 2" opening, then turn inside out and press.

Next fold in half, press, fold again, and press. Unfold and you will see 3 lines pressed in fabric.

Pour 1 cup of rice and some of scented herbs if using them into the pillow. Then stitch across the first pressed line. I like to use my triple stitch for this part to reinforce the seams. Continue with each section till the pillow is complete. You may need to use pins to keep rice from moving too much while you are making your stitches. Then sew across the top to close the opening.

Your insert is complete!

Now take your flannel fabric piece. On one of the 10" width ends, make a 1/4" fold, wrong side to wrong side, iron, then fold again 1/4", iron. Sew a simple stitch the whole length.

Then fold fabric in half length wise (right sides together) and press with iron. Open fabric back up.

Sew your velcro on the inside of the flannel fabric near the top of the fold from above.

Fold fabric right sides together again, using 1/4" seam, stitch all the way around except the side with the velcro leave open.