Rice Heating Pad DIY (Free Kitty Template!)

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 …

• Homemade Bath Bombs
• Citrus Mint Sea Salt Foot Scrub
• Easy Pumpkin Spice Soap

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Get the How-To

How to make a cozy rice heating pack at home

Supplies

1x2x3x

• ▢ 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!

© Author Laura Gummerman

Keywords sewing