The Easiest DIY Homemade Heat Pack Ever
You won’t believe how easy it is to make this homemade heat pack and it doesn’t require you to be an expert sewer. Learn how to make it here
Are you as cold as I am? If where you live is as cold is as where I live, this tutorial will help you a lot to stay warm. I made these 2 as gifts for friends back in Bogotá since it’s cold most of the year there!
This is the easiest DIY Homemade Heat Pack you will ever make!!! Either if it’s for yourself or as a gift you will have it done in less than 30 minutes.
You might also love these other sewing craft ideas: DIY 10-minute Envelope Pillow Cover Tutorial, DIY Baby Doll Crib Bedding set, and DIY Craft and Knitting Organizer Tote Bag.
Table of Contents
DIY Homemade Heat Pack Tutorial
You may have endless ways of doing this project. I found this one the easiest but as you might know, imagination is the limit.
This project is something that would make a perfect and thoughtful gift during winter or if your life is mostly cold.
You only need fabric, ribbon, and white rice, besides thread, needle, and a sewing machine. Though, I think this is something you might be able to hand sew as well.
Anyway, have a few scraps of fabric you can make this. Also, the size is what you want it to be.
I just love this and the best part is a couple of minutes in the microwave and you will have quite some time of warmth. I love putting the diy heating pad on my lap while watching TV or close to my hands while I’m on the computer. It’s just awesome.
How to make this DIY Homemade Heat Pack
Let’s go!
Supplies:
- Your favorite fabrics. I used 2 different ones, one for each side.
- Ribbon {fabric matching color}
- Regular rice – uncooked rice.
- Large funnel
- scissors
- fabric (mark-and-be gone) markers.
- Essential oils *optional.
Rice Variation and alternatives
- Best overall options: Whole corn, walnut shells, flax seeds, and jasmine rice are great fillers. I read that cherry pits are great for larger packs, but their heat doesn’t last in a small pack.
- Best scent: Cherry pits, jasmine rice, or walnut shells. If you choose a different filling, you can make it smell really nice by mixing in drops of essential oils, dried flowers, dried herbs, or cherry pits.
- Most pleasant calming feel: Flaxseed, whole corn, jasmine rice.
- Best heat retention: Whole corn, rice, wheat, and walnut shells.
- Worst options: Buckwheat hulls (too expensive), clay beads or cherry pits (poor heat retention in a small pack), dried pinto beans, lentils or whole peas (beany smell), or flaxseed (even after a few heatings the oils were starting to smell a little rancid). Quick note, flax seed would probably make an amazing cold pack if you kept it in the freezer.
Tools:
- Sewing machine
Instructions:
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Step 1: Cut the fabric
First, cut your fabric to the desired size. Mine was 30×15 cm {12X6 Inches}. It’s a large homemade heating pad.
Step 2: Creating the heating Pad Main bag
Then putting together the front and back pieces right sides together, trace your layout.
I left 1cm (1/4 inch) seam allowance from the edge on each side and traced lines every 7 cm (2.75 inches). This will make the rice pockets.
Or course this will be only for reference you will see why in a bit.
Cut a string of ribbon about double the length of your heat pack.
Fold in half.
Place it in between both fabrics lengthwise about in the middle of one of the short sides.
Pin in place.
Step 3: Sewing the pack
Stitch along the sides leaving one long side open.
Turn it right side out. Press.
This is where I was talking about the reference.
Your lines are now inside but you can make a few dashes so you know where to stitch.
Fold your open side edges inwards to make a hem. Pin in place.
I do this because it’s easier to fill each pocket from the open end and then stitch them close later.
Stitch around the edges again (french seam) to make it look prettier.
Stitch each pocket’s lines.
Cut all the remaining threads.
Step 4: Filling up the heat pack
Using a large funnel fill 3/4 of each pocket with white or jasmine rice.
Optionally you can add a few drops of essential oils to each pocket
Step 5: Closing up the heating pad
Using a pin, Close each pocket really close to the top of the rice. Sorry I completely forgot to take a picture of this step.
Once you have filled a pocket just press all the rice down press closing the pocket right where the rice is and pin. This is only to make it easy to stitch close the heat pack.
When you are done filling the pockets and pinning each one, just stitch along the edge.
Remove the pins and let the rice spread.
Step 6: Finishing up the cute Heat pack
Roll the heat pack and tie it with your ribbon and make a cute bow.
There you go!
I even made some other Homemade Heat packs in different colors!
It’s super easy, quick to make and so, so awesome to stay warm.
Hope you enjoy today’s tutorial and that you got inspired to make your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
A heat pack or heating pad is a microwavable grain-filled bag that is widely used to provide relief for general muscular aches and pains and to bring heat in cold weather. They consist of a fabric outer cover with a grain filling which is usually rice, wheat, barley, or lupin.
A heat pack is great to keep yourself warm which is a great benefit but the original purpose of a heating pad is to relieve pain. It could help increase blood flow and decrease pain for muscular injury. It can also be used for relaxation, menstrual cramps, back pain, sore muscles, and so much more.
Just keep in mind that a homemade rice heating pad is not a substitute for real treatment or your doctor’s diagnosis.
Best overall options: Whole corn, walnut shells, jasmine rice. I read that cherry pits are great for larger packs, but their heat doesn’t last in a small pack.
Best scent: Cherry pits, jasmine rice, or walnut shells. If you choose a different filling, you can make it smell really nice by mixing in drops of essential oils, dried flowers, dried herbs, or cherry pits.
Most pleasant calming feel: Flaxseed, whole corn, jasmine rice.
Best heat retention: Whole corn, rice, wheat, walnut shells.
Worst options: Buckwheat hulls (too expensive), clay beads or cherry pits (poor heat retention in a small pack), dried pinto beans or whole peas (beany smell), or flaxseed (even after a few heating’s the oils were starting to smell a little rancid).
Quick note, flaxseed would probably make an amazing cold pack if you kept it in the freezer.
More Sewing Projects to Try
If you enjoyed this fun DIY Heat Pack tutorial, you might also love these other cute sewing project ideas too:
✂️ Tutorial
Homemade DIY Heat Pack Tutorial
Equipment
- Sewing Machine
Ingredients
- Your favorite fabrics. I used 2 different ones one for each side.
- Ribbon {fabric matching color}
- Regular rice
- Large funnel
- scissors
- fabric mark-and-be gone markers.
- Essential oils *optionl.
Instructions
STEP 1: CUT THE FABRIC
- First, cut your fabric to the desired size. Mine was 30×15 cm {12X6 Inches}. It’s a large homemade heating pad.
STEP 2: CREATING THE HEAT PACK MAIN BAG
- Then putting together the front and back pieces right sides together, trace your layout.
- I left 1cm (1/4 inch) seam allowance from the edge on each side and traced lines every 7 cm (2.75 inches). This will make the rice pockets.
- Or course this will be only for reference you will see why in a bit.
- Cut a string of ribbon about double the length of your heat pack.
- Fold in half.
- view of string of ribbon on open fabric marked with measurements
- Place it in between both fabrics lengthwise about in the middle of one of the short sides.
- Pin in place.
STEP 3: SEWING THE PACK
- Stitch along the sides leaving one long side open.
- Turn it right side out. Press.
- This is where I was talking about the reference.
- Your lines are now inside but you can make a few dashes so you know where to stitch.
- Fold your open side edges inwards to make a hem. Pin in place.
- I do this because it’s easier to fill each pocket and then stitch them close later.
- Stitch around the edges again (french seam) to make it look prettier.
- Stitch each pocket’s lines.
- Cut all the remaining threads.
STEP 4: FILLING UP THE HEAT PACK
- Using a large funnel fill 3/4 of each pocket with white or jasmine rice.
- Optionally you can add a few drops of essential oils in each pocket
STEP 5: CLOSING UP THE HEATING PAD
- Using a pin, Close each pocket really close to the top of the rice. Sorry I completely forgot to take a picture of this step. But once you have filled a pocket just press all the rice down press closing the pocket right where the rice is and pin. This is only to make it easy to stitch close the heat pack.
- When you are done filling the pockets and pinning each one, just stitch along the edge.
- Remove the pins and let the rice spread.
STEP 6: FINISHING UP THE CUTE HEAT PACK
- Roll the heat pack and tie it with your ribbon and make a cute bow.
- There you go! You are done! You can make more in different colors.
Some other heat packs I love from my favorite bloggers:
- Diy No-Sew Natural Heating Pads (Rice Socks) by Making Lemonade.
- DIY Rice Heating Pad with Lavender essential oils by Crafting in the Rain
If you enjoyed this DIY Homemade Heat Pack tutorial, don’t forget to PIN and share it with friends!
Til' next time...
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Love this pattern! I’m quickly sewing some up now for Christmas Presents. How long should you microwave the heat pack for approx? I wanted to add a cute tag that has instructions ;)
Thank you so much. It will definitely depend on the size you make it. This one takes about 2 minutes (it also depends on the Microwave power). I would suggest starting with one minute and then heat 30 sec batches until you like the temperature. I made these as gifts and my dad told me he usually puts 2 min on his mic and it has lasted for over 2 years. I’ll probably have to change the rice for him soon LOL.
Hope this helps.
Hugs
I don’t have a microwave. How am I supposed to heat this?
Hi Deanna,
Thank you for stopping by. My dear, the answer is easy, Don’t make This particular heat pack. As you can see, it’s a tutorial to make these and of course the people likely to make them are those who have microwave or to give away as a gift. It’s completely up to each person. Hope this helps!
Hugs
Hey there! I loved these heat packs, they’re adorable and really easy to make (and they’re pretty useful for relieving cramps).
Hi, I opened a different browser and was able to copy and paste easier. Thank you for all of the cute projects and everything!! Great fun and great site!
Hi!! Great post! I would love to print, but find no easy way to do it. Tried “copy” but am having a hard time copying to paste in different program. Any ideas!! I like to have a visual on paper to do this, even though it i pretty much self explanatory! Thank you!