A sewVery Simple Hot Pad Tutorial

I am off to a slow start with blogging this year, but I have been very busy at home sewing and working on projects.  One project in particular is a tutorial on how to make your own rice filled hot pads with a removable cover.

You may remember my original hot pad post from last year where I made some smaller sized hot pads with a velcro closure.  This velcro closure allows you to remove the inner rice bag and wash the exterior cover.  We use hot pads to warm up our feet in the bed, so being able to wash the outside cover is a necessity!

We've been using these smaller hot pads all year, but I've been wanting to make a larger version with a simpler bag closure for a while now.  So today, I'm sharing with you my tutorial for making these oversized hot pads with an overlap closure for the exterior bag.  This method is by far the easiest way to make a hot pad cover.  So, gather your supplies, and let's get busy!

Sew the pieces together using a 1/4" hem along the three sides that you pinned.

At this step, you have an option to sew a 1" piece of velcro to the overlap closure to help keep it secure when the rice filled bag is inserted.  I did not do this, although I thought about it at first, but my bag stays closed just fine.  For a narrower, smaller bag, this would definitely not be needed.

Now to make the inner bag that will hold the rice. Take your two pieces of muslin, pin together, and sew together using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Just make sure you leave a 2" or 3" opening in order to turn the bag inside out. Press the bag flat making sure to press under the raw edges at the opening. This will make it easier to sew closed in a minute.

Using a funnel, fill the muslin bag with your rice.  For these large hot pads, I used roughly 18 oz. of white rice to make the bag full but not overstuffed. Carefully pin the edges of the bag opening shut and sew together using a 1/8" seam.

Insert the rice filled bag into the hot pad cover, heat the bag in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, and remove the bag from the microwave using the handy dandy twill tape handle.  Place the hot pad under the covers in your bed a few minutes before you jump in, and by the time you crawl into bed, you'll have a nice toasty warm spot to put your feet.

This oversized hot pad will stay warm for more than half an hour when you heat it up for 3 minutes.  Just be careful when you first remove it from the microwave because it will be very hot!

This tutorial can be used to make any size hot pad.  Just adjust the measurements to fit any scrap pieces of fabric you have lying around.  Make small ones to keep your hands warm or medium ones to use on sore muscles, but please remember to always make sure the pads are not too hot before letting a child or elderly person use them.  These things can be extremely hot when first removed from the microwave, especially if you hold them in one spot on your body for more than a few seconds.

Now I just need a day or two off really nice, sunny weather so I can make pictures of Ella outside wearing all the new things I've made her!  I have a lot of blogging to do!  Come back soon to see the two Sweetheart Dresses I made using LuvintheMommyHood's pattern, a pair of leggings using the Go To Leggings pattern by Andrea from The Train to Crazy, plus a few other things I put together since the new year began.

See you soon!  Have a great day!