Let me introduce you to the next of our fantastic team of blog contributors, Liz of Simple Simon and Company. She is here today to help you get a head start on your Christmas gift sewing with this Simple Hand Warmer Tutorial! If you like this project then you may also like this Mini Christmas Stockings tutorial.
Hello Polka Dot Chair readers! I’m liZ, one of the two Elizabeth’s from over at Simple Simon and Company and I am super excited to hang out over here every once in awhile on Melissa’s amazing site!
Today I am sharing a simple tutorial for a project that is perfect for the cold weather ahead….hand warmers!
We love hand warmers at our house and take them with us on winter walks, caroling, and even slide them into our packets when we are out playing in the snow.
They are great scrap busting projects, good for first time sewing projects (especially for younger sewists), and make cute neighbor gifts. Sooooo…with all that said let’s get started!
Supplies:
All you will need for this project is:
*Two fabric squares cut into 5″ squares
*About a cup and a half of rice
*Basic sewing notions
Construction:
And to make them all you have to do is follow these easy steps:
#1. Cut two pieces of fabric into 5″ squares
#2. Place squares on top of each with right sides together and stitch around the perimeter of the square leaving about a one inch opening on one side. (The opening will be used for turning and filling.)
#3. Using your opening, pull your fabric so that the right side of the fabric is now on the outside. (You can press if desired.)
*Note: You can insert a pencil or chopstick through the opening to help you turn your fabric and to push the corners out nice and crisp. Just be careful not to poke through your fabric!
#4. Using the opening fill your hand warmer with rice until it feels nice and full.
#5. Hand stitch the opening closed.
*Note: You can stitch the opening closed on your machine….however you run the risk of the rice falling out and into your machine….so this method is not recommended.
And you are done!
Thanks Melissa for having us over today!
Other fun Projects by Simple Simon & Co.
For more simple projects that are great for beginners you can check out these great projects:
(They are a few of our favorites.)
How to Make a Oversized Gingham Baby Quilt
How to Poinsettia Throw Pillows
and this tutorial that always comes in handy…How To Bind A Quilt
We are Elizabeth and Elizabeth, two girls who married brothers and ended up with the exact same name. We are also the same age, both former school teachers, have the same number of children, live in the same county, have dogs rescued from the pound, and share a love for sewing, quilting and the art of homemaking.
Together we blog over at Simple Simon and Company where we get the opportunity to share tips, tricks, tutorials, recipes, and thoughts with our readership.
I have the same question..how long do we heat them for? Great gift idea!
About 30-60 seconds depending on how warm you like them.
I know you heat in microwave but for how long??
What a great stocking stuffer but where are the directions for heating these?
15 to 20 seconds is what I heat them on. these are also really good to put in the freezer and use in the place of ice packs. I use them for sinus or migraine headaches.
Actually cotton doesn’t hold the heat as well as some other fabrocs like flannel or fleece with cotton interior lining
The fabric needs to be 100% cotton and the thread also correct?
I’m getting ready to make a couple of sets for gifts. Can instant rice be used?
How long do they hold heat? I’m getting ready to make them as gifts and figured I’ll make some for myself for the upcoming high school football games 🙂
From the heating and holding in your hands, they stay a little warm. You can slip them inside the palm of your gloves too