No matter how cold it is my two little boys, ages 2 and 4, absolutely refuse to wear socks around the house. Every time I feel their feet they are literally like ice. When I put them to bed they often complain that their toes are cold but still don't want to wear socks. So, in an attempt to keep their little tootsies warm, and have a great excuse to sit around and embroider, I made these bed bug heat packs to throw under their covers at night.
I warm them up in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes and they stay warm for about an hour - as long as they stay covered.
The boys love them because they get to have bugs in their beds! And I love them because I don't hear about freezing feet anymore!
I titled this 'bed bug bean bags' but they are really filled with soft wheat. The name was a little more catchy than 'bed bug heat packs' so I couldn't resist.
You will need the following items to create bed bugs of your own:
-felt
-embroidery thread
-embroidery book - if you don't know the stitching
-needle
-scissors
-funnel
-filler - soft wheat, buck wheat, rice, dried beans, split peas, or anything that can hold heat. I used organic soft wheat. It retains heat longer than rice, and I like it better than dried beans because it is much smaller. Split peas also work well.
I warm them up in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes and they stay warm for about an hour - as long as they stay covered.
The boys love them because they get to have bugs in their beds! And I love them because I don't hear about freezing feet anymore!
I titled this 'bed bug bean bags' but they are really filled with soft wheat. The name was a little more catchy than 'bed bug heat packs' so I couldn't resist.
You will need the following items to create bed bugs of your own:
-felt
-embroidery thread
-embroidery book - if you don't know the stitching
-needle
-scissors
-funnel
-filler - soft wheat, buck wheat, rice, dried beans, split peas, or anything that can hold heat. I used organic soft wheat. It retains heat longer than rice, and I like it better than dried beans because it is much smaller. Split peas also work well.
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Signing UpStep 1: Bug 1 - Draw Pattern and Cut Felt
You will first need to start with drawing a pattern. I didn't model my bugs after any particular living bug, I just drew something I thought was fun. After you draw one pattern duplicate it so you have two. This way you can cut one up for pattern pieces and still have one to reference.
I made three different styles of bugs and will walk through them all so don't get discouraged by the amount of photos and steps in this instructable. One bug will not take much time to make.
After you draw your pattern choose colors of felt and thread that you want to use for the bug. It's hard to say how much you will need since it will depend on how large or small you want your bug and how detailed you want the embroidery. I was able to use scraps that I had in my sewing box.
Cut out felt according to your pattern.
I made three different styles of bugs and will walk through them all so don't get discouraged by the amount of photos and steps in this instructable. One bug will not take much time to make.
After you draw your pattern choose colors of felt and thread that you want to use for the bug. It's hard to say how much you will need since it will depend on how large or small you want your bug and how detailed you want the embroidery. I was able to use scraps that I had in my sewing box.
Cut out felt according to your pattern.
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I put them both in the microwave for 30 seconds, when i took them out, they smelled like rice and beans, and had a lot of moisture in them..
Do all beans do this?
I got a little creative after the first test one. the second two don’t have any filler yet.
Thanks for this project, I’m getting addicted! :)