Take the chill out of your bed and keep your feet toasty warm with these easy-to-make therapy bags. This DIY foot warmer tutorial will guide you through an easy, peasy winter sewing project.
My husband and I have been using these for years. I guess we have become wimps in our old age, because now we can’t go to bed without a heated corn bag in our bed. My husband will heat one or two up and throw them under the covers a few minutes before we go to bed, then when we jump in, ohhhhhh nice and toasty. If you have cold feet, these are the bomb! Wrap your feet around one and you are good to go.
These little bags are great for placing anywhere on your body that needs some soothing. You can also place the bags in the freezer to use as a cold pack.
Foot Warmer Materials & Items Needed
- 21 1/2 inches x 11 inches fabric (I prefer flannel, but any woven cotton or knit piece will work)
- feed corn (don’t use popcorn), rice, buckwheat, or flax seeds
You can fill your bags with feed corn, rice, buckwheat, wheat, or flaxseed. I have tried all of them and feed corn seems to hold the heat the longest. Be prepared for whatever you used to smell when it’s heated- feed corn like popcorn, rice-like cooked wheat, rice, and buckwheat… smells a little grainy. The flax has the least amount of smell but doesn’t stay heated near as long.
I usually make a liner and a slipcover for my other therapy bags, but I don’t for the footbags because it is just too bulky.
1. Cut out a strip of fabric 22 inches x 11 inches.
If you are using 45-inch wide fabric, you can get two bags out of an 11-inch strip of fabric. You might as well make two while you are sewing.
2. Fold in half with Right Sides Together (RST). Sew down the sides, leaving the top edge open.
3. Turn inside out and fold the top edge down 1/2 inch. Press.
4. Fill the bag with 5 – 6 cups feed corn, or other filler of choice.
5. Line up the top edges, and pin in place.
6. Sew along the top edge using a straight or zigzag stitch.
To heat the foot warmer: microwave for 2 minutes and flip over and heat for another 2 minutes. *note that all microwaves heat differently. To be on the safe side, perhaps you could start with 90 seconds on each side. If it isn’t hot enough, heat a little longer.
This footwarmer makes a really nice gift. You can download the tags here.
Make a matching eye pillow for a nice therapy bag gift set.
You can get the other pattern to make the other bags here. Eye pillow, hand warmers, neck bag, big soothing sack all work well both hot or cold.
Give your tootsies some warm loven.
Keep cozy warm and have fun sewing!
Jan Howell
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Jan Howell
Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.
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