Sunday 29 January 2012

Heat Bag/Spice Trivet Tutorial

I had quite a few requests for instructions on how to make a spice trivet come heat bag over the last week so I thought I’d put together a tutorial for you.

I’ve tried using it for both…..and it works a treat…..talk about multi- skilling purpose!!!

Ok, here we go….

Firstly, cut two pieces of coordinating, cotton fabric 11 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches.

001 (Medium)

Fold and iron 1/4 inch  towards wrong side of fabric on one end of long side of each piece.

002 (Medium)

With right sides together, sew both long sides and across bottom using a small stitch for added strength.  Cut corners.

007 (Medium)

Turn right side out.  I like to press flat here but before I do, I wriggle the fabric between my fingers close to the stitching to ease it flat…..makes ironing a flat seam much easier.

008 (Medium)009 (Medium)

Fold in half lengthwise and iron a sharp crease.

011 (Medium)

012 (Medium)

Fold each long edge towards centre crease and iron 2 more sharp creases.

013 (Medium)

014 (Medium)

Stitch, using coordinating cotton, along creases to form channels for filling.

017 (Medium)

Fill channels with rice mixture consisting of 1/2 kg of rice (about 1 lb) mixed with a teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves. You can sometimes find 5kg bags of rice on sale at the supermarket, so you can make it up in bulk in a large container as I have here.   I just increase the amount of spices accordingly. 

019 (Medium)

If you are using this as a heat bag to ease pains and ailments, you might like to add lavender or some other fragrant herb….just be careful to check whether it is safe to heat up in the microwave first!

You’ll notice I have some tools to help me with this task….a scoop and funnel are essential (I think so anyway!) and a teaspoon (or something with a thin handle) helps with poking down the funnel when it gets jammed up!

021 (Medium)

Just a hint I found from experience (yes, I did drop LOTS of rice on the floor *yikes*) I like to start in the middle channels as it gives more stability when I’m trying to fill the others, rather than starting with the outside edge ones.

How much to fill???  Well, depending on what you’re using it for….For a spice trivet, I fill it up right to the top and tap it down  till it’s about 1/4 inch from the top.  I pin each channel closed as I finish filling it.  After filling all of them, I almost always find the rice has settled some more and I need to top it up again.

020 (Medium)

For a heat pack….because it needs to mould to the injury site, I tend to leave about 3/4 inch space so there’s room for the rice to move about a bit more.

022

Hand stitch the channels closed with coordinating cotton using a ladder stitch.  I find this the best stitch to use as it is virtually invisible and is super strong.  You can find out more about the ladder stitch here.

025 (Medium)

Tah Dahhhh…….One completed spice trivet, to keep your hot pots from marking your furniture whilst simultaneously filling the room with the lovely scent of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves…...

028

OR….

a heat bag…..just place in the microwave for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes  (no more or it might burn you…or worse still……catch fire!!!!,….*eek*)

027 (Medium)

Then place on the offending sore spot and relax with the beautiful spicy scent.   I used mine whilst penning this post as my shoulder is still a bit sore from the accident….certainly helped to  loosen up those tense muscles….and  hubby kept mentioning how nice the room smelt!

And….I have another finish for OPAM (you still have time to join in!!!)  and my Christmas Through the Year gift box!

Hope you like my tutorial…… a simple but wonderful multi-purpose gift idea always comes in handy!

Sugary hugs

xo Wendy :O)

21 comments:

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Hey Wendy! I couldn't live without my hotpack!! I accidentlly left it at my parents' place when we spent Christmas there and boy did I miss it til I could have it returned!! Perhaps I should follow your fun tutorial to make myself a spare ... just in case! :0) Well done on another OPAM finish and hope it helps your poor shoulder recover from the jolt. Bear Hugs! KRIS
PS. May be up your way later in the year for a visit! :0)

Plum Cox said...

What a lovely tutorial - thanks! I feel inspired to sew one this afternoon....

Marlene said...

Thanks for sharing the tutorial Wendy. I wondered what you filled the trivets with. These are definitely on my to do list now.

Arlene White said...

Wow thanks buddy, I think I might just have to make one of these.

Arlene
http://arlenes-crafts.blogspot.com/

Fiona said...

I love yours... the sections are such a great idea and it doesn't all shift to one place....
Hugz

Anonymous said...

thankyou and it looks fantastic Wendy.xx

Kate said...

Thank you for a great tutorial!

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Fantastic Wendy great tutorial...well done on the finish

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

Thank you Wendy! I have bookmarked this page and will be making some for sure!

Cheryl said...

So cute!!!! I will be adding this to the list of tutorials for Christmas Through The Year...so glad you joined up this month!

Quilting Chemist (Danette) said...

Thanks for the tutorial, I wondered how they were made and what's inside.

Celtic Thistle said...

Thanks for the tutorial I have been wanting to make one of these for my mum, who has just had a hip replacement op, now I can!

beth said...

What a GREAT project!

Quiltingranny said...

Great tutorial my dear and what a nifty idea. Please stop by my blog for a chance to win (of course I will ship to you and others out of the USA:
http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com/2012/02/we-are-not-moving-giveaway.html

Shiloh said...

Oh, I love the idea of putting herbs inside! Thanks so much for the directions:)

Jill said...

GREAT tutorial! and I love the fabrics you used too!


Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Great tut. These would make great stocking stuffers for next Christmas. Saw you on A Round Tuit.

Allie said...

Hi Wendy, just gave you an award on my blog!

Jo said...

I have found if you place a cup of water in the microwave with the heat pad the rice doesn't dry out as quick.
Love the tutorial.

Raewyn said...

Thank you for this useful tutorial Wendy. I've just made one and written about it on my blog :-)

Betty H said...

What I was wondering if you use the powdered spices, what keeps it from coming thru the cloth. Won't it stain the cloth that it made out of.