Warm Rice Bag

All of us know it's hard to keep warm in the cold winter months. This Instructable will show you how to make a rice bag that you can hold - on your lap, over your feet/ankles, across your neck, anywhere you're cold. They can also be used to heat away aches and pains.

Step 1: Materials

You will need:
Fabric (about a 10x10 square - or whatever size you want, but I made a 10x10)
Scissors
Thread
Rice or Corn (not popcorn)
Container to Pour Rice With (optional)
Sewing machine (technically optional, but I wouldn't recommend sewing these without it - your filling will be everywhere)

Step 2: Cut the Fabric

Cut a 10x10 (or whatever size you're using) piece out of your fabric, making sure that the fabric is folded over on itself, making a double layer with the edges lining up. Otherwise you will need to cut two pieces out and sew an extra edge.

Step 3: Iron the Fabric

Iron out all wrinkles, then fold your fabric in half, making sure that the good side (the side you want to see when you're done) is on the inside.

Step 4: Start Sewing

Start on the edge indicated in the last picture, making sure to leave seam allowance. Sew to the next corner. Once you finish that edge, make sure to cut off any thread hanging. Sew the opposite side next.

Step 5: The Tricky Part (optional)

Start sewing on the last unsewn edge. The result we want with this step is to have about an inch and a half  of stitches on both sides. This step isn't necessary, but it will make it a whole lot easier later.

Step 6: Reverse the Bag

Now you need to turn the bag inside out. Make sure that you get all of the corners pushed out and crisp. You can use a pencil, a corner turning thingie, or your finger.

Step 7: Turn and Iron the Open Edge

Now take the edge indicated in the last picture and turn it. The edges need to be folded inside neatly and then ironed down. After you fill it with rice or corn, you're going to sew it, so it needs to look nice and neat.

Step 8: Fill Your Bag!

Open the edge so that you can pour your filling in the bag. Usually about half full is enough, but you might like a little more, maybe a little less. You'll just have to play around with it.

Step 9: Sew the Last Part Closed

Okay, last sewing part, I promise. Start on the last edge using a zig-zag stitch. This will help to keep the bag closed without any rice escaping. After you sew it closed once, either back stitch and go over it again, or sew over the stitches again.

Step 10: Microwave and Enjoy!

Microwave for about 2 minutes. Depending on your microwave, you will probably have to tweak the time by 30 seconds. But on 4 or 5 different microwaves, microwave time for me has always been between one minute and thirty seconds (1:30) and two minutes and thirty seconds (2:30). Now take your rice bags, and use freely.