Now here's a simple money saving idea that (in my opinion) just about anyone can do with a sewing machine! You COULD sew this with one of those little hand stitcher machines, or by hand with very small stitches, but a sewing machine set to stitch about 8 stitches per inch works best for me. This is a Great sewing project for a beginning sewer. (Just make sure to read the directions that come with the sewing machine first - I don't want to get sued * see disclaimer below.)
The actual sewing part takes about 10 to 20 minutes or less per bag depending on your ability. (Or up to an hour from threading the needle to putting the machine away depending on how many pairs of magnifying glasses you need to thread the machine.) If you don't own a sewing machine see if you can't find a machine to borrow. Try the local high school or community college if you are 'new' to your area. Or you can enlist the help of a friend who DOES have a sewing machine. If you find a friend to sew for you, buy & prepare enough materials for 4 heating pads so that you each get 2 heating pads out of the deal.
This is a money saving idea you can use when you are camping, IF you 'plug-in' AND have a microwave on board. If you don't plug in or don't have a microwave in your RV, these home-made heating pads are still good to have at home for when you return from your trip achy and sore.
Sometime before your trip secure (this mean buy, if you aren't a sew-er or crafter, and means sift through the box(es) of fabric you already have if you are a 'fabric saver'). You can also recycle a flannel night-gown or receiving blanket if the fabric is still tight. The other items you will need handy are: thread, scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting board, a filled bobbin, and 2 to 5 pound of rice (dry, regular, unflavored, rice; it can be stale, you won't be eating it).
Use about 1/2 to 1 yard of flannel fabric depending on what size and how many heating pads you want to end up with. Wash new flannel in hot water to pre-shrink and dry. Iron the fabric and fold in half, then iron the fold to a crease. Cutting through 2 layers at the same time (pinned together with straight pins if you like), cut out one or two pairs of 'matching' rectangles so that you have 2 pieces of fabric the same size. Cut them into any size you want your microwave heating pad to be when finish, plus one inch all the way around. The size of a sheet of 8 x 10 paper is a good size to start with, AND you can use a sheet of paper as a 'pattern' if you prefer, pinning the paper to the 2 pieces of fabric and cutting out around the piece of paper.
Take your first pair of matching rectangles and place them on top of each other wrong sides out. Now, LEAVING ABOUT A 5 INCH GAP THAT YOUR HAND WILL FIT THROUGH FOR FILLING, carefully sew around all four sides about 1/2 inch from the cut edge - remember not to sew the 5 inch gap closed. Tie off your threads and turn your 'bag' inside out by putting your hand inside the gap. Now, fill your flannel bag about one half full of rice. Fold the edges of the 'gap' in and sew shut; by machine is fine, it doesn't matter if the stitches show, it just matters that the rice stays in.
That's it. You have just made a microwavable heating pad. Place in a clean microwave or place on a paper plate to protect it from picking up grease spots and microwave for one to two minutes. Check often to make sure it doesn't get too hot, especially the first time you use it. I don't know the wattage of your microwave and different sized bags require different amounts of time. Carefully feel it with your hand to make sure it's not too hot BEFORE your place it, OVER YOUR CLOTHING, NOT on bare skin, wherever you would use an electric heating pad.
Use the same good common sense you would with ANY heating pad. They are not for infants, invalids, or anyone incapable of telling you it's TOO HOT, just for example! Works Great, cost's little, is reusable! When not in use, allow to cool completely before storing in a clean, dry place that is cool to room temperature. I don't recommend storing it in an 'air-tight' plastic bag.
If you feel creative you can make one with a fabric handle so you can hang it up. Or make one with soft belt-like flannel ties so you can tie the heating pad around your knee or back, but not your neck please, or where ever you usually feel achy after too much hiking and camping fun.
NOTES: This is my own copyrighted material, however, please feel free to share this idea with a friend by emailing them a link to this page. If you are using IE 6.0, you should have a little opened envelope icon on your toolbar (or can set it to do so). If you click the envelope, the drop down list will have a selection: 'send link' that you can toggle. If not, you can copy and paste this URL address (in red) into an email for your friend. The URL is: http://www.carlyrv.com/carlyrv_articles-homemadegear.shtml Thank-you.
If YOU have any good ideas for Home-made Camp Gear that you'd like to share,
please email them to CarlyRV with
a note saying that it's YOUR idea to share OR public property and not copyrighted by someone else, and let me know if you want your name included in the credits. If and when it's published on this website I will send you a link along with my personal 'thank-you'.
LEGAL DISCLAIMERS: PLEASE NOTE !
1. USE EXTREME CARE WHEN OPERATING A SEWING MACHINE, WASHING MACHINE, IRON, MICROWAVE OR ANY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE ASK YOUR PARENT/S OR GUARDIAN/S FOR PERMISSION AND TO ASSIST YOU BEFORE USING ANY ELECTRIC APPLIANCE.
2. USE EXTREME CARE WHEN HEATING THIS BAG OF RICE IN A MICROWAVE, EVEN 'FLAME RETARDANT' FABRIC CAN CATCH FIRE IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY SET THE TIMER TO HEAT FOR TOO LONG. PAY ATTENTION TO THE BUTTONS YOU PUSH, DO NOT HEAT FOR 100 MINUTES WHEN YOU ONLY NEED 100 SECONDS. CHECK EVERY 20 OR 30 SECONDS THE FIRST TIME YOU HEAT THE BAG UNTIL YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG TO WARM IT. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE ASK YOUR PARENT/S OR GUARDIAN/S FOR PERMISSION AND TO ASSIST YOU BEFORE USING ANY ELECTRIC APPLIANCE.
3. ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING ANY HEATING PAD OR HEATING APPLIANCE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE ASK YOUR PARENT/S OR GUARDIAN/S FOR PERMISSION AND YOUR DOCTOR FOR ADVICE ON WETHER OR NOT TO USE A HEATING PAD. IF YOU NEED A HEATING PAD FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR AGAIN FOR ADVICE.
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