S/o: rice bags

1Thess517

Does anyone had a "pattern" for a reusable heatable (? lol) rice bag? I have been having some insane sciatic nerve pain and heat feels good, but, being pregnant, I can't just hang out on a heating pad. I figured rice bags would be safer. Any suggestions? Like, dimensions? And how to heat them?

Shortcake2675

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2007/11/rice-heat-therapy-bag-tutorial/

I can't find the tutorial I used.  I found making chambers as I was filling helped. I used long grain rice because it was what I had. And I used flannel instead of muslin because I had it.   

rockymountaingirl

I used the same tutorial that pp mentioned.  You can make it pretty much any shape or size you want.  I put the rice in a muslin bag and then made a flannel cover for it.  I didn't use velcro or anything to keep the cover closed, not sure if that could be microwaved.  I just overlapped the fabric where the opening is on the cover and that seems to work well.

As for heating, I just pop the muslin bag with rice in the microwave and maybe heat for 1 minute.  I take it out and mix the rice around in the bag and pop in for another 30 sec or 1 minute.  I keep doing that until it's the temp that I want it.  Then I put the flannel cover back on.  My only complaint is the rice has a strong smell when it's heated.

nursecramer

Were rice bags discussed here the other day and somebody said they use cherry pits instead?

1Thess517

rockymountaingirl:

I used the same tutorial that pp mentioned.  You can make it pretty much any shape or size you want.  I put the rice in a muslin bag and then made a flannel cover for it.  I didn't use velcro or anything to keep the cover closed, not sure if that could be microwaved.  I just overlapped the fabric where the opening is on the cover and that seems to work well.

As for heating, I just pop the muslin bag with rice in the microwave and maybe heat for 1 minute.  I take it out and mix the rice around in the bag and pop in for another 30 sec or 1 minute.  I keep doing that until it's the temp that I want it.  Then I put the flannel cover back on.  My only complaint is the rice has a strong smell when it's heated.

OP, thanks for the tute. I'll buy extra rice next time I'm in the big city...we're totally out!

Rocky - Thanks! I plan on trying some lavender or tea tree oil in with the rice, we'll see how those work on maybe masking that rice smell? Thanks for the tip about making a flap instead of velcro, I never seem to have velcro when I need it.

TheBridesMom

I make chambers in mine and fill as I sew too.

I made up a pattern based on the width of the fabric, the width that I wanted, and how I could get the most for my money out of the fabric.

I make shorter/wider ones for backs (my daughter uses this one for cramps), and longer, narrower ones for  necks.  My Chiropractor buys them from me (or one of his other patients who also makes them), and sells them to patients.  He uses them in his treatment, so everyone wants them.

I like the smell of the rice filling, but it does wear off after a bit.

We use ours all the time, for backs, necks, if we are cold, etc.   If I set mine down, the dogs steal it..  I like mine much warmer than DH likes to have his heated.  We heat ours for about 2 minutes (I heat mine longer,  but we use a lot of rice in our bags, and that makes a difference) and if you let it sit in the microwave for a couple of minutes before you use it, you get moist heat.

joanart

nursecramer:

Were rice bags discussed here the other day and somebody said they use cherry pits instead?

 Yeah, I like cherry pits.  Smells like cherries instead of rice, and the heat is more moist.  

MommaK.not

TheBridesMom:

if you let it sit in the microwave for a couple of minutes before you use it, you get moist heat.

Be careful!  I once heated mine so much that the rice cooked and it burned the item (I made bun warmers)!

nursecramer

joanart:

nursecramer:

Were rice bags discussed here the other day and somebody said they use cherry pits instead?

 Yeah, I like cherry pits.  Smells like cherries instead of rice, and the heat is more moist.  

I find this intriguing. Do you have to save up your cherry pits? How do you wash them so that all the little cherry bits come off?