I am into into the things that make me feel cozy and relaxed.
If you haven’t seen or made a rice heating pack before, it’s basically a pouch filled with uncooked rice (and usually essential oils), that you can stick them in the microwave for a moist heating pad.
I thought it would be cute to make my DIY rice heating pack look like a kitty. I even included a free template in the supply list for you to use!
Related: You can find more tutorials like this in our spa archive.
Supplies:
–1 yard cotton fabric (don’t use fabric with metal or metallic decorative threads in it)
–3-4 pounds of uncooked rice (Don’t use instant rice, it might cook itself!)
–essential oil of choice (optional)
–embroidery thread in pink and black
–heat erasable pen (optional)
–kitty rice warmer template (right click to download)
Step 1: Download and print out your kitty template for your rice pack. Fold your fabric over so it’s doubled up and use your templates to cut out your body and head shapes.
Step 2: Pin the layers together and then sew the body with a 1/2″ seam allowance and the head with a 1/8″ seam allowance. Make sure to leave an opening of a few inches to turn them back right side out again.
Step 3: Cut some “v” shapes into the curved ends on your head and body to help the seams lay flat, and turn your shapes right side out through the openings you left.
Press your shapes flat with an iron and sew up the head opening with a hidden stitch.
Step 4: Use your embroidery thread to add a nose, mouth, eyes, ears, or whiskers to your face (I used an iron-erasable pen to get my face right and then the iron heat removed the marks when done).
Use a needle and thread to tack your head onto your body right above the front paws. I also added some paw lines to the paws at this point.
Step 5: Once your kitty is ready to be stuffed, pour 3 pounds of rice into a bowl and add in 5-10 drops of essential oils, mix together, and spoon or pour into your body opening (use a funnel if you have one).
Step 6: Fill it to your liking, adding more or less as needed, and then sew up your opening with a hidden stitch. Heat in the microwave for 60 seconds or so until warm, and relaaaaaax!
I mean, I love any time I can make a kitty version of something, but this is definitely a product that’s useful as well as just plain cute.
You can use whatever essential oil you want (and drop some into my favorite diffuser for extra relaxation). This shape is great for your neck and shoulders, but you could make a larger rectangle “fat cat” version for a back or belly heating pad, as well.
If you don’t have a microwave, you can get an electric heating pad that you plug in for consistent heat too! xo, Laura
Looking for more DIYs that use essential oils? Check out …
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Supplies
- 1 yard cotton fabric (don’t use fabric with metal or metallic decorative threads in it)
- embroidery thread in pink and black
- 3-4 pounds uncooked rice (Don’t use instant rice, it might cook itself!)
- essential oil of choice (optional)
- heat erasable pen (optional)
- kitty rice warmer template
Instructions
- Download and print out your kitty template for your rice pack. Fold your fabric over so it’s doubled up and use your templates to cut out your body and head shapes.
- Pin the layers together and then sew the body with a 1/2″ seam allowance and the head with a 1/8″ seam allowance. Make sure to leave an opening of a few inches to turn them back right side out again.
- Cut some “v” shapes into the curved ends on your head and body to help the seams lay flat, and turn your shapes right side out through the openings you left.
- Use your embroidery thread to add a nose, mouth, eyes, ears, or whiskers to your face (I used an iron-erasable pen to get my face right and then the iron heat removed the marks when done).Use a needle and thread to tack your head onto your body right above the front paws. I also added some paw lines to the paws at this point.
- Once your kitty is ready to be stuffed, pour 3 pounds of rice into a bowl and add in 5-10 drops of essential oils, mix together, and spoon or pour into your body opening (use a funnel if you have one).
- Fill it to your liking, adding more or less as needed, and then sew up your opening with a hidden stitch. Heat in the microwave for 60 seconds or so until warm, and relaaaaaax!
Could you please send me the pattern. I is lovely
I wish the template had some size info. I’d like to have the some length and width info and measurements for the head piece also. Want to be sure I don’t end up with too little of a head or some mismatched pieces.
gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, un abrazo
Cannot open link for cat heating pad. Please email to me.
What a great ideas from everyone!
But a couple of warnings. A doctor told me not to put anything very hot or cold on my skin. Just lukewarm is fine.
For a sprain, use a cold one first, to prevent swelling. Later a warm one is good.
If want to reading more,Pls check follow link.
http://www.person-cares.com/blog-hot-cold-wrap.html
Hope this may help of everyone.
…….
Alice Zhang
Oh my goodness, these are so cute!!! I love the cat design. My friend made a ferret design on her DIY heating pack https://permacrafters.com/diy-heating-pack/
Hi, I’m wondering what are the measurements for the cat body?? If anyone can help that would be amazing.
So beautiful. Would love to make it. Can you please email pattern for me. Thank you
I love this and want to make one for a friend’s birthday but I couldn’t open the pattern. What are the heating pad dimensions ? Thank you for this cute idea.
I can’t print the pattern either. I tried but it wouldn’t print. Please tell me the dimensions so I can make this project. Thank you.
Sorry about that! Email us at support AT abeautifulmess DOT com and we’ll send the files to you.
We can email the files to you! Just contact us at support AT abeautifulmess DOT com
make this
What an adorable idea! Will be wonderful to have around my neck while reading in bed on a cold night. Now I can use up my favourite old bed sheets. Would make a great present for my cat-loving sister. (And I’m thinking it could be easy enough to turn into a dog!) I’m just a bit worried about putting in the essential oil – won’t it make the rice go mouldy?
I love it. Just in time to sew for Christmas. Thanks for the sweet kitty pattern.
The kitty is soooo pretty! (;
I love heating pillows and have sewed several by myself. I definitely will sew the kitty the next time!
Thank you for sharing the project!
Anyuta
I’ve been making little rice ‘pillows’ for years, and I can tell you from experience, you WILL want to wash them. The trick is to put the rice in an inner sleeve that can be removed. You can leave a fairly large opening to insert that into the softer/fuzzier/cuter outer sleeve and do an envelope-type closure or use velcro.
YES! I know the birth center has the plug in heating pads, but I’ll probably pack this guy too!
Laura 🙂
Yes, good tip!
Laura
This is so cute! I never realised you could use rice in a heat pack and I’m Asian! 😛
This is such a great idea! And so cute! I wish I would have thought of this when I was pregnant!
So cute! I’m definitely pinning this so I can make this sometime!!
These are so so so cute!!
AVOCADO THEORY