wheat bags

WhatKatyDid_2

Once you have made these rice/wheat bags, how long do you usually microwave them for to heat them up?? Gonna make loads for my kids/family for Xmas!

Nile

I much prefer a hot water bottle.:o

I've found that you get around one hour of heat/warmth from a wheat bag, whereas a hot water bottle keeps warm for hours and hours.;)

Zed42

I (well, DH) normally heat them for about 2mins in the m/w.

hotwater bottles, I love them, but am afraid of them splitting and scalding me (others)

Queenie

I've replied to a few posts about these so, if you don't mind, I'll just copy and paste my previous posts

Original Post:

I have been making rice bags for a number of years now, really easy to make and use.

No - you cannot launder them. (But you can make a cover for them)
Yes - you can refill them.

One of the reasons those heating bags may begin to smell a bit whiffy is if they have been overheated and the contents have "scorched". Not much you can do about that other than refill it.

If you choose to refill and have some long grain rice in your cupboard (*not* the quick cook rice!!) I suggest you make up an "inner" bag, which you can seal the rice in from any cotton fabric and then make a pillowcase style cover in a pretty cotton fabric which will be removeable and therefore washable I designed my own cross stitch outer cover for the ones I gave as gifts and stitched the instructions into the design

If you don't have a heating bag but might need one in a hurry ... simply half fill a cotton sports sock with some rice, tie a knot in the sock, add a few drops of essential oil, then heat in the microwave. Timings vary depending on your microwave and the amount of rice used. I suggest starting with 45 secs and then 15 sec bursts after that. Gave that advice to an elderly couple on holiday once when I saw them pay out for a brand named heating pad ... they took the heating pad back after first trying the sock/rice method, got a refund and when we bumped into them again a few days later were *very* happy :laugh:

A little spritz of water occasionally is all that is needed to keep the contents from drying out to the point of scorching (as well as not over heating too long or too often).

Fillings can range from rice, wheat, cherry stones and I forget some of the other stuffings I've seen.

Quote:
What would you use one of these for?

Queenie:

• My son's g/f used one for backache while pregnant.
• Across the abdomen if you suffer period pains.
• My youngest son uses one when he gets growing pains.
• The are great (depending on size) as a warmer-upper on chilly nights.
  
• Attach some ribbon and then tie one around a cafetierre - keeps the pot warm
• Elderly neighbour uses one to warm up their slippers when they come in from the cold.
• Across the back of your neck if you have been on the computer/car journey too long.

All sorts of things really!

Original Post:

Yes. Here are the instructions, taken from the Sewing.Org website:-

Rice Bags

Rice bags can be made from novelty or decorative fabrics of from muslin and a cover. What size should a rice bag be? Well, that depends on what it will be used for.
Possible uses are as:

• warmer for knees, ankles, backs and hands
• bed warmers
• lovies
• bread basket warmer to keep food warm or cool

To wrap a joint or arms or legs, try the dimensions 5 x 30. For a back warmer, make the dimension 10 x 12. If the recipient would use the rice bag for a back warmer, consider making a vest with a big pocket on the back to insert the rice bag in.
Want to make a gift for someone with arthritis in the hands? Make the rice bag in the shape of a glove.
For a bed warmer or a lovie on those cold winter nights, make the rice bag in the shape of an animal.
For a bread or bun warmer, make a basket liner with a pocket in the bottom in which to insert a rice bag shaped to fit the basket bottom.
Rice bags cannot be washed. If you need a washable bag, make the rice bag out of muslin and then add a removable (washable) cover. This a good way to use fun, novelty prints. Or better yet, make a quilted cover using a pattern such as bargello.

Things To Know When Planning Your Rice Bag

• Use white, long grain rice. Do not use instant rice.
• Do not wash rice bags.
• To help the rice stay evenly spread, sew channels in the bag before inserting the rice. Sew three sides, press a hem on the open side, then sew channels from the sewn side to the open side. Add the rice using a funnel (don't overstuff the channels...fill one-half to three-quarters full) and sew shut across the open end.

Hot or Cold
When you are ready to use your new rice bag, place it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes on high (the time will depend on the size of the bag). Do not heat the rice bag too long-you could burn yourself. If you want a cold pack, place the rice bag in the freezer until cold (a couple of hours).
Note from Candace: Rice doesn't hold the cold very well. For a cold pack, fill the bag with gel crystals from a garden center (the kind used to keep houseplants from drying out). Never heat a gel pack in the microwave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note from Queenie:

If you heat the rice for too long or you reheat it too often, the rice will dry out. This can lead to it giving off a yukky "burnt" smell rather than a lovely comforting scent. I have a little plastic squirty bottle (from Boots) which I keep a mix of water and lavender essential oil in. Whenever I'm heating up the rice bags, I give the bag a spritz with the lavender water first. Just a couple of squirts really.

I've been using these for several years and the original one's are still going strong with just a periodic wash of the covers and spritzing before using.

When deciding how long to microwave the bag for, start with 45 secs and work up in 15 sec bursts because when hot, they really can be HOT!![/QUOTE]

Fruball

I decided to make some wheat bags to sell at a local craft fair coming up - I have 2 weeks to make them and, i'm not very good!

So, went to the pet food store to buy my 'wheat' and came out with a sack of poultry corn which we squeezed to remove a grain to check and I was assured is 'wheat'.... which it is.... except... included in the 'MIX' :rolleyes: was split corn hence, when I popped (scuse the pun) it in the microwave to test, I took out a bowl of popcorn, along with some perfectly warmed grains of wheat :eek:

:rotfl: :rotfl:

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I have one beautiful bag ready to fill, and plenty more to make but...

Anyone know how I can get pure wheat?

Thank you x

FunkyFairy

Sorry i cant help but that is funny

raphanius

arent wheat and corn two different things?

thriftlady_2

:rotfl: :rotfl: Gosh that is so funny -just imagine putting the bag in the microwave ready to warm your neck up and it exploding.

Have you tried a health food store for wheat berries? Bound to be expensive though:rolleyes:

thriftlady_2

raphanius wrote: »

arent wheat and corn two different things?

Yes they are -the corn for popping is the same species as sweetcorn.

jellymid

Thanks, Frugal - I needed a good laugh...