DIY: Pocket Hand Warmers




These homemade pocket hand warmers are simple to make and you probably have all of the supplies you need just hanging around the house.

This tutorial is from the folks over at the Instructables website (where they have lots of tutorial pictures).


What You’ll Need

  • Scraps of cotton, fleece, or wool felt
  • Fabric pen or pencil
  • Scissors
  • Needle and thread
  • Crochet hook or knitting needle
  • Straight pins
  • Rice or barley
  • Funnel (you can roll up a piece of paper and tape it if you don't have a funnel)


Directions

  1. Cut 2 pieces of fabric of equal size and shape per warmer. The easiest shape is just a rectangle or square. For adults, 4″ x 5″ rectangles seem to work well, while 3″ x 4″ sizes fit well into smaller hands.
  2. Place the fabric “right” sides together, and sew the seams 1/4 to 1/2 an inch from the edge of the fabric. Be sure to leave a 1/2-inch gap in the seam, preferably along one of the straight edges—not in a corner.
  3. Turn the hand warmer right side out.
  4. With your funnel, fill the hand warmer with rice or barley. You'll use between 1/4 cup and 3/4 cup depending on the size.
  5. Use a straight pin to close the gap and keep it closed while you're sewing.
  6. Sew the gap closed.
  7. You can now decorate the edges with a blanket stitch (if you like).

To use the warmers, place in the microwave for 30 seconds.