Heat ‘n Go Pocket Warmers
June 21, 2023
Hi!
This week has been cold here in Australia. We have been spoiled a bit with a milder than usual winter, but it’s making up for it this week!
With morning temperatures below freezing, it’s been frosty all week, and this morning I had to drive Miss 17 to school in a frost-covered car with NO HEATING, and let me tell you – I really felt it! I decided it was time to make some Heat ‘n Go Pocket Warmers, and now I’ll be all set for tomorrow! 🙂
These Pocket Warmers are really quick and easy to make, and I’m sitting here right now with one in either pocket, feeling quite toasty.
I’m definitely making more of these for the rest of the family, and for those of you who have a wintry Christmas ahead of you, I can recommend these pockets warmers as fantastic stocking stuffers!
Here’s my pattern. Give it a go and let me know what you think…
Heat ‘n Go Pocket Warmers
No more cold fingers for you! My hands get really cold in winter, and if you’re anything like me, you’re going to LOVE these super easy, super warm, and environmentally friendly reusable pocket warmers. They are really quick to make, and you’ll want to whip up a bunch for your friends and family too.
Our pocket warmers measure approx. 4 ½ x 4 ½ inches square.
You Will Need:
Small amount of fabric – it MUST be 100% cotton, as you don’t want anything funky to happen to the fabric when you heat it up (ie. melt…)
1/3 cup of rice per pocket warmer
Funnel
To make a pair of pocket warmers, cut 4 squares measuring 5 x 5 inches. You could go slightly larger if you like, but I wouldn’t recommend any smaller.
These are a good size without being too bulky.
With right sides together, pin, and make sure to leave an opening in the middle of one side, as shown.
Sew around the sides with a ¼ inch seam, leaving a gap in the middle of one side.
Trim the corners.
Turn right sides out.
Tuck in the seam allowances at the gap and press flat.
You will need 1/3 cup of uncooked rice to fill each pocket warmer.
A funnel makes this job soooo much easier and cleaner!
Fill your pocket warmer with the rice.
Ta dah!
Then pin the gap closed and carefully topstitch around all four sides of your pocket warmer.
Note – you will need to jiggle the rice grains out of the way as you sew. (I didn’t have any trouble, but I imagine your machine needle may not be happy if you sew over the rice grains.)
I left one pocket warmer like that, but decided to add to the second one again, to make two pockets for the rice.
I thought this may keep the rice more evenly spread in the pocket warmer, and not all bunched up in one corner when it’s in your pocket.
Pin down the centre of your pocket as shown.
Jiggle it as best as you can to get the rice away from the pins.
Then carefully sew down the middle line to divide into two.
This worked quite well, but was a little fiddly to get the rice out of the way. Another option would be to sew your squares together and turn right sides out, leaving the gap across the middle of one side.
Then sew up the middle, stopping a ½ inch from the end. I would topstitch around the other three sides, then fill each half separately with the rice. Tuck in the seam allowances and topstitch along that last side to close the pocket warmer.
Two finished warmers, made in about 10 minutes!
Cheap and easy and they would make great stocking stuffers too if you have a wintry Christmas.
A note of caution:
Please use these warmers safely, as they can cause burns if heated for too long, or could even cause a fire. Do not leave hot warmers unattended in pockets for this reason. Pull them out and let them cool down before you put them away.
You will find that around 20 – 30 seconds each in the microwave will be enough to warm them for use, and do check them before giving them to a child to use.
Use care and common sense, and you will find you get a lot of use from these Heat n’ Go pocket warmers!
Let me know what you think…
Stay warm!
21 responses to “Heat ‘n Go Pocket Warmers”
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I’m originally from Minnesota and know what COLD is! Can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing your pattern.
I didn’t know about using rice, I always thought you use wheat, which I have had trouble finding. I’ll definately give this a go.
When I heat up my heat bags I put a cup of water in the microwave with the bag, it’s supposed to stop the wheat/rice(now) from drying out and catching fire.
That’s a good idea! Will try that one too.
I wish I had seen this just two ago before my son’s family went down to the snow. My daughter-in-law will love these as she has cold hands.
I made a similar mini wheat bag 12 cm square that travels in suitcase so if my accommodation ( cabin in caravan park) has no electric blanket I have warm toes.A sleeve like a pillowcase ensures it stays clean
great idea – will definitely be making these.
thank you for passing it on 🙂
Perhaps I will make some with Ice!! Hier in Denmark is it now very hot, more than normal
🙂 Want to swap? I’m ready for some warm weather again!!
These are a great idea and so much more practical than purchased one-time-use pocket warmers.
I do love that they’re reusuable too. It always seems like such a waste to get those single use ones.
These are so cute and easy. I will have to make some.
Thank you for the tutorial. These will come in handy here in Michigan.
I am definitely going to make a few of these. I made a few neck warmers using the same method, I love the ease of these, thank you
Great idea! I just had an email from Gail H., who said “The rice pockets can also be put in the freezer to use as a cold pack for bruising. I made blankets with rice, lavender and cloves to relax under when I’m cold or just want to be snug. Mine are about 41”x 21”. 10 pockets by 5 pockets.” Another good idea too!
I used to make these a long time ago for school fetes but had forgotten about them. I used to add some dried lavender in with the rice – gives a lovely aroma when heated. Off to make some as we’re really shivering in Queensland! Thanks for reminding me about them.
Lavender would be lovely too…!
Love the ideas, please tell me what sort of rice:- long, short Aborio or wholemeal. Sounds like a silly question to ask. Thank you in advance.
Thanks for your comment. I honestly don’t think it matters too much. I had basmati rice on hand for these, and they worked fine. I have wheat in other bags that we heat up as well. It may just affect the heating time slightly, so I’d just use whatever you have, and heat in bursts rather than one long go, so you can check it’s not getting too hot.
lovely idea. thanks. I will make 2 to take to bed to heat up my hands, quickly.
I have made them with shelled corn from feed store.
That’s a good idea too! Thanks for sharing.