Far From Normal

Parenting, Homeschooling & Life Lived Happily Outside the box

Home » DIY Handwarmers –12 Days of Handmade Christmas

DIY Handwarmers –12 Days of Handmade Christmas

by

Sharing is caring!

Have you finished your Christmas shopping? Haven’t started??

Or maybe you’re looking for something that you can’t find in a store. Something special with a personal touch.

Well my friends I am here to help! I am a big believer that handmade gifts can be some of the most special, not to mention one of a kind.

So over the next 12 days I will be bringing you Far From Normal’s 12 Days of Handmade Christmas- gifts for everyone on your list, kids, co-workers, neighbors, pets…even some you might make for yourself!

First on our list is something warm and cozy that can be put together with things you probably have around your house right now.

I was purging my closet a couple of weeks ago and came across this pretty red cashmere sweater. Before you hate me for cutting up cashmere let me say this. It was bought second hand and was marked XL and was snug on my medium self. Then in my clutches it happened to find it’s way into the dryer once again and shrunk again. Without a little girl to put it on, and thinking cashmere was overkill for my dog it was purged. And it had a hole in it… not sure how that happened.
Now it gets new life as super soft handwarmers.
Here’s what you’ll need for this easy project.
-A sweater- most sweaters will work. I recommend a fairly tight knit though so that the rice can’t find it’s way out.
– Rice- I used about a cup for these
– A pattern- whatever shape you want to make them, obviously I chose a heart
– Scissors- nice sharp ones
– Sewing method of your choice- I used my sewing machine but if you don’t have one you could hand sew them.
– Chalk
– A funnel
First lay your pattern on your sweater. You can easily make a few pairs from an adult size sweater, keep that in mind when you are laying out your pattern.
 
Now trace around it with your chalk.
Now we’re going to sew it first, that makes it easier because you don’t have to deal with unraveling. Line your sewing machine foot up on the chalk line. Sew a few stitches and then back stitch to secure them.
 
About halfway through things get a little awkward working with a whole sweater.
 
When you have about an inch left stop, back stitch again, you’re leaving room for filling.
Now this is what you should have. Lovely
Now start cutting around the edges leaving 1/4- 1/2 an inch of fabric.
Now you may be wondering why I chose to make these and not turn them inside out. Mostly I like the unfinished edge. I turned them inside out at first and didn’t like how they looked as much. If you want to do that go ahead, you’ll have to finish it off a little differently though.
Once it’s all cut out here’s what you’ll have.
Now using a funnel fill it with rice.
 
It took about 1/4-1/3 of a cup to fill mine up. You want them nice and plump but not overfilled.
Now back to the sewing machine we go. Smoosh all the rice over to the side and line up your hole under the foot of your machine. Sew the opening closed, back stitching to secure it.
And there you have it, a lovely handwarmer. Mine are a bit over sized, the size is up to you.
To use you just pop these puppies in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Then slip them into your pockets, or they can be used as small heating pads for those winter aches and pains.
 
Now don’t throw the rest of that sweater away! I’ve got a couple more projects we can make with it!

Sharing is caring!

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    I love these! Can I order a few? Since you have my sewing machine? I can find on old sweater or 2. Thanks, Mom XOX

  5. MommyonDemand says

    I love these!! So handy to have while watching the kiddos sledding! Thanks for coming over and linking up at The Create it or Bake it, you are being featured!

Trackbacks