Saturday, Scott had two soccer games back to back – a double header. It was a gloriously beautiful fall day until it was time to load up the truck to go to the games… then the sky opened up and it rained all afternoon – through both games!
The kiddos were drenched. Some tried to play with their jackets under their jerseys, but the effort to stay dry was futile. They played well and won the second game!
I was bundled up in rain pants over my jeans, a rain jacket and rain boots, sitting under a giant umbrella. But the amount of rain was too much for my inexpensive golf umbrella to bear and it started dripping through the fabric. At the start of the second game, I had to get up and take my youngest to the bathroom… I left the umbrella up over my chair but when I returned, there was literally a puddle in my chair.
So by the end of the two games we were all soaked and cold. So very cold.
Today as I was thinking about what I’d like to make tonight, I was still thinking about warm things, so hand warmers came to mind. You can buy chemical hand warmers “Hotties” that work great, but they are a one use and done.
Using super soft flannel scraps from my “Quick Make Kimono” a few weeks ago, I began today’s make by cutting four 4″ squares. You can make these any size, but I played around with a few sizes and found this to be a good hand size that still fits in my coat pockets.
Once the squares are cut, place two squares wrong sides together.
Select a decorative stitch to use to close the square. You can use any kind of a stitch, but since the stitching will show, a decorative stitch is a fun option.
Then I decided I didn’t like this decorative stitch, and switched to a classic three step zigzag. 🙂 Sometimes simple is best. Make sure you leave a small opening to insert a funnel and fill the square with rice.
Now, grab a funnel and rice and fill up your square. Be careful to not overfill, because you need to be able stitch the opening closed without rice spilling out all over your sewing machine. Use regular rice – do not use the minute microwave rice! You don’t want to cook it when you heat it in the microwave!
Sew up the opening.
Trim the edges with pinking shears to prevent fraying – and I love the way this looks too!
Enjoy your new hand warmers! Now go heat them in the microwave 30 seconds at a time to your desired temperature.
I think these would make great gifts! Coaches gifts, teacher gifts (especially the recess teachers), or in gift sets that are “warm themed” – like with hot cocoa, a blanket and slippers 🙂 So many possibilities!
Happy Monday Friends! Enjoy your week!