Gifts I made this year, Part IV : Corn Therapy Bags

I've referenced these before, so they aren't a huge surprise. I wanted Corn Therapy Bags for... myself, to be honest, and thought other people on my gift list might like them, too. Someone did great research HERE on corn vs. rice, what kind of corn, different patterns to use... and also a pdf file with tags you can attach to tell the recipient what they are getting and how to use it.

Basically I went with corn because it is supposed to stay hot longer, since it's bigger than the rice. It does smell a little popcorn-y, but that is fading each time I heat it up. I didn't put any herbs or oils in it because I read that the scent fades each time you heat it up and there is no way to renew it. 50# of screened corn was $7 at a local feed store and all the material was from my stash.

I kind of made my own pattern. I decided how long and wide I wanted the bags, doubled it so I could fold it in half the long way and save some cutting. I folded it, sewed it across the short bottom and up the long side so I ended up with a long sleeve with the top open. I turned it right side out and lightly marked off even intervals so I knew where to sew each 'pocket.' I dumped about 1/2+ cup screened rice in the bag, let it fall to the very bottom (you want each pocket to be about 1/2 - 2/3 full so it will form nicely to your body), sewed across the bag at the marked line. I did this six times and after the seventh I folded in the ends and sewed the bag shut. Done!

 Then I made little pillow cases so the outside can stay clean. Who wants to use a sweaty bag? Eww.

 I also made myself a larger bag that has found it's way to my lap when I'm chilly and is often under the covers at the bottom of my bed. If I heat it, throw it in bed and go do all the bathroom bedtime activities, by the time I slide into bed, my feet have a toasty warm place all prepared. I love this! Again, no pattern, I just made it up as I went.

In it's pillow case:

These can also be stored in the freezer and used cold. I sent one a set to my grandparents. Gramma is always chilly and Grampa gets hotflashes as a side effect of chemo so they will each use them for different things.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.