I have a back problem, and the best remedy is usually a hot water bottle in bed.  Hot water bottles are also great for that *ahem* time of month when you want to kill someone.  Or maybe you just enjoy a nice warm bed.  But I have a problem with hot water bottles, they tend to hate me and like to leak.  Not very nice. When I was pregnant I discovered the rice heating pad.  I didn’t have a sewing machine at the time but made a simple rectangle one with some cotton fabric I had and hand stitched it.  It has been looking really sad lately and I wanted a new one.  So I made a simple one shaped like a hot water bottle and you can make one too.

You can download the NotAHotWatterBottleTemplate here.

Materials Needed:

• Some scrap cotton or linen.  You can use any fabric that can go into the microwave.  I used linen because I had it on hand and I love its texture
• Cotton thread because you don’t want it melting in the microwave
• Almost 3 cups of uncooked dry rice.
• Essential oil of your choice (optional) but it really does add a nice relaxing touch to it.  You only need to add a couple of drops to your rice.

Cut out two pieces with the template on the fold
Pin the two pieces wrong sides together
Sew them together, leaving a 3 inch gap at the bottom.  Clip the curves.
Turn it right side out and push the corners out
Fill it up with dry rice.
Sew the gap using an invisible seam or a ladder stitch. To heat it up put it in the microwave for a minute.  If it is not hot enough put it in the microwave again for another 30 seconds.