Introduction: How to Make; a Water Charged Neck Cooler

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About: In a valiant attempt to keep myself from dying of boredom, I create.
Many years ago I took my small children to an Amusement Park.  It was HOT!  At one of the little kiosks, they has a strip of cloth at they claimed once it had been soaked in water would do a great job of keeping one cool.  I bought one and stuck it in a paper cup full of cold water.  At the end of about 30 minutes the cloth tube was swollen full and squishy.  I put it around my neck and went “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh”.  Over the years I have made many of these as gifts.  People love them.  It takes very little time to charge the crystals, but it takes over a week to completely dry out. They can be reused, again, and again and again.   I usually carry a dry one in my purse or pocket.   You never know when one might come in handy.  So here is: “How to Make; a Water Charged Neck Cooler”.

Step 1:

Supplies:
A 4” x 36(+)” of 100% cotton fabric (you choose the color/design)
2 tsp. 100% polyacrylamide crystals or sodium polyacrylate,(found in Home supply stores, may be known as  “Soil Moist” or “Water Storing Crystals”)
+/-$7 per 12 oz.)
Tablespoon measure
Sewing machine (not shown)
Serger (not shown, optional)
Thread (not shown)
Scissors
Straight pins (not shown)
Ruler (not shown)

Step 2:

If you haven’t already, cut your material into 4” x 36” (or longer) strip.  You want to use 100% cotton because it absorbs water easily.
I am going to explain how to make it using a serger, but the directions for a sewing machine will be in parenthesis.

Step 3:

Fold the fabric strip in half, length wise, right side out. Using a narrow hem stitch of the serger, surge the length of the strip of fabric. (Fold the fabric in half, lengthwise, right side in.  Sew a ¼ inch seam the length of the fabric.  Turn the tube right side out.)

Step 4:

Using the sewing machine, sew a seam down the middle of the tube, dividing it in two.

Step 5:

Pour 1 tsp. of the polyacrylamide crystals into one end of the tube. 

Step 6:

Use a straight pin to mark the spot 10 inches a way from the center line.  Repeat with the other end.

Step 7:

Using the sewing machine, sew a seam at the 10 inches mark on each end.
Surge each end closed. (Fold each end in ¼ inch and sew it closed.)

Step 8:

It’s done.  Now you can roll it into a ball and stick it in your pocket for that hike, or trip to an Amusement Park.

Step 9:

Now to charge it:  fill a container (1 cup or more) full of water and stick your neck cooler into the water and wait. 

Step 10:

This is how it looks after 15 minutes

Step 11:

and this is how it looks after 30 minutes after more water was added.

Step 12:

Put it around your neck and “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh”.  If you are going to be active, use the tails to tie it around your neck.  If it starts to feel warm, take it off and turn it over.  If it gets dry, add more water.  It’s great especially with the triple digit temperatures we have had lately.  Enjoy!
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