Here are a few heating pads I made. They are very useful gifts that can be stored till needed. I make an inner pouch of muslin, fill with rice and lavender buds. I then make an embroidered outer pouch with any lovely design of my choice. Since I love to see the designs come to life, this allows me to embroider to my hearts content. I then make a label with directions for use and pop them into a ziplock bag till needed. Scroll through all my comments. I hope this helps those who wanted more explicit directions. Thank-you for your kind words on my project. Therese

Very very nice great job!!!!

Love this idea and I would also like the instructions as well as finding out where to get the lavender and can you tell us where the designs came from as they are just lovely.

2 comments

by quail 23 Feb 2010

If you scroll down the page, I have added some instructions. The lavender I purchased on e-bay. Do a price check to get the best deal. The designs themselves I got at http://www.fordelinkembroidery.co...
I love their designs for their beauty and accuracy, not to mention their great prices. I stitched the designs on the heating pads twice because I wanted them to "pop" on the fleece.

by joanne8125 24 Feb 2010

Thank you so much for the information. I did go to the site and purchased the designs and yes they have some nice designs as well as some great prices. I think these would also be good designs for making cards. Now off to stitching.

I am so sorry, I just saw all these requests today. When people were asking in January, I was busy with the news of a sister-in-laws medical problems, and wasn't on the computer much. This is how I make these. I take a piece of fleece to fit my 4X4 hoop. I use a stabilizer also. I then embroider a design of my choice, but before I remove the fleece from the hoop, I trace around the inside of the hoop with a air erase marker. This gives me the perfect placement for when I sew it out. I then remove the fleece from the hoop and using my sewing machine, I stitch on the air erase line I made. I then take two other pieces of fleece, finish the edges and overlap them as when you make a pillow. I put the pieces right sides together and using the line I sewed on the original embroidered fleece as a guide, I sew it all together. I insert the muslin lavender bags that I made previously into these pouches and voila! As I re read this, I can see that my directions are not very clear. Is there a place on this site where I could take pictures of what I do and show you all that way? Otherwise, I could make a little tut and send it individually to whomever would like it. In the meantime, I'll try to find the other pictures I posted with this one so that they are not so separated. Again, I am sorry for not responding more promptly. You have all been so generous to me that I want to return that generosity.

I make and use these all the time, but I use old pillowcases for the covering, because I'm too lazy to make myself something pretty, I guess. You just put them in the microwave, dry, never wet them. The time depends on how much rice is in the bag, and how powerful your microwave. Mine usually have 2 cups of rice, and I heat them for a minute, then if it's not hot enough another :30. Better to not heat enough at first, because too much and you can scorch the material, just like an iron would. Also, just heat the muslin bag, NOT the fleece or covering. If you get it too hot accidentally, you can melt that fleece. And, make sure your microwave is clean. Look before you leap, because if you accidentally put the bag on some spaghetti splatter your DH left in the oven, you'll have a mess!! Hee hee hee, ask me how I know this one, hee hee hee. You can make these any size, it's just a muslin bag. For the larger ones, like for my back, I put the rice in, move it out of the way, and run a couple of lines of stitching, dividing the filled bag into thirds. That way, all the rice doesn't end up at one end. Hope this helps, hugs, Marji

1 comment

by quail 23 Feb 2010

Thank-you Marji. You are always right on top of things.

This is such a great idea. I found some instructions at http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-m... if anyone is still looking.

Nancy

Cite, where do you get lavender buds? Health food store?? ans how do you mix rice, ratio?

I just love these, they would make great gifts. Is there any way we could get the pattern from you. Also could you tell us where you got the lavendar?
Thanks
Bobbie

These are really nice! What are the instructions for their usage?

Very nice. I like the fleece outside with the designs on them.

Lovely job!
Thank you for posting the photo;
*4u!
Jacqueline

I also would love to get your instructions on use for these and where you got the lavender buds. Thanks for sharing--very beautiful. Kathie

Can you share the instructions for heating that you put in with the heating pad. This is a wonderful idea. a lovely and useful gift. You did a great job. Sara

nice!! Where did you get the lavender from

I have looked all over for your directions. Would love to have them along with the note you enclose for heating. They are great! Thanks for sharing!

1 comment

by katydid 06 Feb 2010

Me too!!

i have a big rice bag and just love it but you have taken it to a new level with the embroidery on there very nice

Could I have your directions?

These are beautiful.

Yes I did search and found your tag thank you I will make a set love new ideals

I really like this ideal where would you find the direction for use? you did a great job!!

1 comment

by katydid 06 Feb 2010

I want to know too!

A wonderful idea ! Love it !

These r wonderful! Especially for achy old people like me *4U

Very nice and love the designs.

lovely collection!

heel mooi gedaan !

Terrific idea quail thanks for posting *4U

Just wonderful... (((HUGS))) & Flower 4U...
Sam :)

lovely flowers

Great idea Quail - I love these - my MIL makes something similar but not with such beautiful designs. Great to have around when you have a sore head or muscles. Love and blessings Chris

These look great!!! well done. Cheers Claire

Very nice! You are very creative!!!

Lovely designs, well done!!

Lovely project. The only heating pads I saw were much larger, but this size makes a fun gift. Thanks for sharing!

nice work*

Excelent fun project to make when you want to embroider something as a gift. Is your outer pouch fleece? You have done a very good job.

2 comments

by pennifold 03 Apr 2009

Hi there Denice - I don't know if I have welcomed you to this site or not - as you only have 94 flowers I assume you are a new "Cutie", so welcome to the best site in the world for embroiderers, sewers and purveyors of all things beautiful. Love and blessings Chris, Newcastle Australia.

by quail 03 Apr 2009

Yes, Denice, the outer pouch is fleece.

Great gift idea.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of making pouches, it's a great idea...And you can change designs often to suit your mood of the day....

I could use one right now, been embroiding all night and my back need some TLC. You have a lovely idea and the pads look great!

1 comment

by quail 02 Apr 2009

You know, I put my embroidery machine on a dresser that's about 43 or 44 inches high. I keep my thread and other items in the drawers. I never have to bend my back very much and the embroidery is close to eye level. It sure works great for me.

Very pretty

Very nice.

1 comment

by shirlener88 27 May 2009

These designs also look great on all occasion cards, too.

Very pretty designs.

really nice idea

Lovely idea and your designs match just great

What a great idea!! Well done!!*

3 comments

by 10tje 02 Apr 2009

quail, how large are the pads? Thank you.

by quail 02 Apr 2009

I use my hoop to size them. After I sew out the design but before I remove it from the hoop, I use an air erase marker to trace around the inside of the hoop. I then remove the design and use my sewing machine to make a basting stitch following the air erase marker. Mine end up being about 5"x6".

by 10tje 03 Apr 2009

Thank you, Quail