Homemade Fringed Flannel Rice Pack

This Homemade Fringed Flannel Rice Heat Pack tutorial is so simple for kids that even if you are intimidated by sewing with a machine yourself this will be as easy to make.

A flannel rice heat pack makes a lovely handmade Christmas gift for grandpas aches and pains, a sibling with sensory issues as a weighted lap pad, or for a teachers’ tired feet. It can be used as is warmed up in the microwave or add essential oil to make it an even richer experience. The fringe finish is very forgiving which nice when a beginner sewer is making these heat packs.

Flannel Rice Heat Pack Tutorial

Supplies Needed:

Flannel fabric
Scissors
Rice
Sewing machine
thread
Essential oil (optional)

Directions:

First cut two pieces of flannel to your desired size, 6” x 12” is a great size for a neck pad or weighted lap pillow but you can make yours a little smaller or larger as you need. Using a check or plaid makes it a little easier for children to cut a straighter line, that being said even if it is a little crooked like ours ended up being the edge that we are going to be putting on it is very forgiving!
Line up your two pieces of flannel right sides out, if they have one. Sew on the machine ½” from the edge all the way around leaving one end open. I recommend going around twice to be sure it is secure and tightly sewn. I used a dry erase marker to mark the line where I wanted the fabric to run to help give my daughter a better visual of where she should guide the fabric to keep it relatively straight.
Pour rice into the open end of the bag to fill it about ⅔ of the way full.
You can either hand sew up the end or run the open end of the bag through the sewing machine as we did, this will require your holding up the heavy end of the bag with the rice in it and helping guide it through.
Once your bag is securely sewn your child can begin picking out the loose strings on the edge of the bag- be sure to have something handy nearby for all the strings! This will create a frayed edge and the stitching will stop it from fraying any further.
Trim off any loose threads.
Add a bottle of peppermint, lavender, or other essential oil to complete your gift.