How to Make a Cherry Stone Warming Pillow

Make this cozy warming pillow and curl up with a book or movie and stay toasty warm all evening.

Step 1: Cut Fabric

Using a pinking shears and prewashed fabric, cut a piece of terry cloth or quilted fabric 14 x 7 inches. I used terry cloth and embroidered a design on the front. If you embroider on high pile fabric like terry cloth, make sure to use a water soluble topper so your stitches are visible. I used Floriani water soluble topper. Cut a piece of cotton broadcloth lining fabric the same size. Cut a piece of muslin or flour sac dish towel 13 x 6 inches for the inner cherry stone bag.

Step 2: Sew Fabric

Fold each rectangle in half, right sides together, matching short sides at the top. Stitch sides with 1/2 inch seams. Leave the top open.

Step 3: Turn Over Top Edge

Turn the main fabric and the muslin cherry stone bag right sides out. Leave the broadcloth liner wrong side out. Use a chopstick to turn out the corners. For the main fabric turn over 1/2 inch at the top of the bag toward the inside (wrong side) of the bag and press. For the liner, turn over 1/2 inch at the top toward the outside (wrong side) of the bag and press.

Step 4: Sew Liner to Main Fabric

Place the liner inside the main fabric bag, wrong sides together. The side seam allowances of the bag and liner should not be visible if you're set up correctly. Pin upper edges together with turned over edges facing each other. Stitch around the top of the bag about 1/8 inch below the top of the bag. I stitched on the inside of the bag and used colored thread in the bobbin to match the main fabric.

Step 5: Sew on Velcro

Cut a 5 1/2 inch piece of 3/4 inch wide Velcro. Pin each side of Velcro to upper, inner edge of bag just below the top and stitch all 4 sides of the Velcro. I stitched on the inside and kept the colored thread in the bobbin so my stitches were invisible on the main fabric.

Step 6: Make Cherry Stone Bag

Press 1/2 inch at the top to the inside (wrong side) of the muslin bag. Fill the bag 2/3 full with cherry stones. I made my first pillow from cherry stones I washed and dried myself. However, it took a whole Summer to save enough stones to make 1 pillow. Subsequently, I obtained my cherry stones from a crafting site. Pin the top of the muslin bag closed and stitch close to the upper edge. Place the muslin cherry stone pillow inside the terry cloth pouch.

Step 7: Enjoy!

To enjoy, heat the inner cherry stone pouch for 2-3 minutes in the microwave. Then place bag in the terry cloth pouch. The pillow will stay warm for at least 30 minutes. You can also place the cherry stone pouch in the freezer and use the pillow as a cold pack.