Rice bags for gifts

What are the rice bags used for?

Thanks! That sounds like a good idea!

My girlfriends and I use them for our headaches! Of course we don't have as pretty ones like Shelly's (those are fabulous!). A really bad headache takes two - one across the back of the neck where the tension creeps up and one across over the eyes...all in place while in a relaxed, reclining position. Now I have a neurologist who prescribed a pill that can take away one of these wicked migraines in 1/2 hr where I would fight it with rice bags for many - but I still believe in the rice bags for preventing the "biggies" and dealing with all the stuff life throws my way. I really don't know what people do without them. Shelly - your friends are going to be very lucky indeed as your gifts will be so warmly appreciated for years to come. What a thoughtful friend. Joy

Gorgeous things! You do beautiful work. How long do you nuke the rice bags in the microwave? another Sharon

Thanks for sharing Heidi. I had fun browsing at all your projects.........great job!

Lorraine

Yup. It was I.

--Heidi

Thanks! It depends on the microwave, but between 1 and 2 minutes, depending how big the bag and how powerful the microwave. No more, though.

--Heidi

You can use corn, not pop corn but dry feed corn, like you give squirrels and birds and it stays warmer longer.. Marsha

I make these too. When I give them to someone, I always print out heating and use instructions. (they are forgetful and just telling them the directions doesn't always sink in. lol) I tell them 2 minutes also, and I suggest placing a cup or bowl of water in the microwave with the rice bag. That gives it more of a moist heat. Also it reduces the risk of fire. I also tell them to test the heated bag on the inside of their wrist (like a baby's bottle) before they put it on their body. I make headache bags. I make them heart shaped. That way they can go over the face like an old time sleep mask. Oh and Joy, have you seen those C shaped "travel" pillows? I have made some rice bags in that shape just for putting on the back of my neck for a tension headache. Between that and the heart shaped one on my face, it gets rid of them all. ;)

Also you can put essential oils in with the rice to make them smell nice. (Hot rice smells good, but lavendar doesn't make your tummy growl while you are using the bag. lol)

Sharon

heidi.. i love the coasters you made! betsey "we do not inherit the earth, we caretake it for our children"

I am so sorry Heidi to be so confused as to who made the lovely rice bags. It just goes to prove I had one of my bad headaches this morning and I really wasn't thinking straight. My rice bags are made from old tube socks and must be quite a bit bigger because I nuke them for 3 minutes (dry). Everyone knows when I have a headache because that odd smell permeates the house.

I read somewhere that vanilla scent actually surpresses the appetite....so I was just thinking of buying a bunch of that and putting it all over the house (before I grab for the vanilla ice cream). Joy

Re: Rice bags for gifts (Joy=A0Hardie) I read somewhere that vanilla scent actually surpresses the appetite....so I was just thinking of buying a bunch of that and putting it all over the house (before I grab for the vanilla ice cream).

I've made a gazillion rice bags in all sizes and shapes:

*bath towel folded in half with ~ 10 lbs of rice (VERY unwieldy) for DH with back aches *wash cloths sewed together for little babies with colic, terrycloth shaped like an ear for a toddler with ear aches. *tube socks filled with rice for neck problems *hand towels for shoulders

I've heard of someone making a set like gloves. I just consider what it's for, to determine size. I use velcro, to make changing the rice and washing the cover easier.

Sharon

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changing >the rice and washing

I made a pair of rice bags for a friend's mother who had terrible arthritis in her hands. Poor lady would be in so much pain and get so bad that she couldn't hold a glass or cup, let alone an eating utensil. I made them out of some gingham I had had in my stash for who knows how long. I cut the material about 12" wide and 16" long. I sewed it up the long side and turned it seam side in to make a tube. I used about a 1/4 seam so the tube was just shy of 6" wide. I then ran a line of stitching across the middle from side to side and then ran seams the length so it was divided into thirds. Then ironed each long side so I had creases in 1/3 divisions, side to side, on each long half. I poured 1/2 cup of rice into the three tubes, shook it down and then ran a seam side to side on the crease until all nine sections were filled then stitched the end closed and repeated on the other half. Then I folded it on the side to side center seam and stitched the long sides closed so there was a pocket for her to slip her hands into. The rice stayed in place quite well without slipping to the sides. I then made sort of an envelope out of baby fleece long enough to you could slip it down inside the pouch with enough hanging out the opening so you could fold a cuff back all the way to cover the outside and then put a strip of baby snaps (because that's what I had handy at the time) to close it up. This way both inside and outside of the pouch would be covered and could be easily washed while keeping the rice bag clean. Just don't put the fleece envelope in the microwave. She also puts a cup of water in the microwave about every 3rd or

4th time she nukes them and that seems to keep up the 'moist heat' factor. She just loves these. When her hands get stiffening up or painful on her she just slips them into her mitts for about 20 minutes and she says it gives her more relief and movement than any of the arthritis medication she's ever used. She says she heats them up every night and wears them to bed and now she doesn't wake up to throbbing fingers and sleeps through the night. And bless her little heart, she can even do her "fancy work" again, as she calls her embroidery, that she hadn't done in a long time, she's just thrilled.

Don'tcha just love it when you take the time to do something so simple and it gives a person so much in return? Kind of makes your day! :-)

With a little adjustment on the size I'm sure this would work well for achy, cold feet, too.

Val

Oooh, thereby hangs a tale. LOL!

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

You all have such great ideas for these. I made a couple of small ones for a persistent eye infection; the doctor told me to use hot compresses, but they don't stay warm long enough. The little square rice bags was just right, and the infection cleared up in no time.

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati