No one likes to slip in to a cold bed at night or during the day if you are lucky enough to get a nap. After a while, our body heat will keep the bed warm, but it can a chilly experience until you get to that point. I am going to walk you through how to make a bed warmer that you just pop in the microwave for a few minutes before you put it on your bed. No need to have an expensive electric blanket or mattress pad heating up your whole bed when  this can do the job for cheaper.

You can alter the measurements of the bed warmer to make a hot/cold pad to put on injuries. Consider making it half the width but the same length if you would like a hot/cold pad to wrap around across your next and over both shoulders. Or make one with half the length but the same width if you would like a hot/cold pad to put on your back or another body part.

Step 1. Use a piece of fabric that will respond well to heat and has a tight weave. Cotton or flannel would be perfect. I chose to use a flannel fabric for the outside. Check out remnant pieces at fabric stores to cut your cost. Mine was a remnant that I paid 60-cents for.

Cut your piece to your desired size. I cut mine 8″x21″. Cut 2.

Step 2. Cut 2 pieces of the same size fabric in a cotton of cotton muslin for the inside liner. Be sure you pick a color that will not show through your outside fabric.

Step 3. Layer your pieces in the following order: outside pieces with right sides facing together, then liner pieces on top and bottom of stack. See the picture to the left.

It is important that you place the outside pieces with right sides together in the center, because after stitching you will be turning it right sides out and you want to be sure your outside pieces are where they are supposed be.

Step 4. Stitch around the perimeter with 1/2″ seam on all 4 sides, leaving a 1-2″ space open at the end of the 4th side. Consider doing a double seam to prevent leakage. Stitch the second seam at 1/4″.

You need to allow this space so you can pour in your rice/beans/corn/buckwheat.

Clip all four corners. This will help make an even corner without puckering.

Pull the fabric from the inside through the opening so that right sides are now facing out. Use a pencil (eraser end) to push the corners out square.

Step. 5.  Fill the warmer with 7 cups of  your choice of filler. I chose rice and a 3 pound bag of rice is roughly 7 cups.

You will only fill the warmer about half full. You do not want it filled too much more than that it, otherwise it will lake longer to heat and will not be as flexible (if you were using it to wrap around an object or body part.)

Hand stitch or machine stitch the opening closed.

And you’re finished!

You could add dried lavender when you add the fill, if you would like it scented. Lavender is supposed to be very relaxing.

Instructions: To use the bed warmer to heat your bed, all you need to do is microwave it for 3 minutes. To use a hot pad, I like to microwave it for only 2 minutes since it is going directly on your skin. To use as a cold pad, place it in your freezer for an hour or two before using.

Be sure to check out Save Green Being Green, to see more crafts that I have made, including these Counting Bean Bags and our Backyard Xylophone.