My mom and I made rice bag heating packs for all of our relatives this holiday season. They're a simple and practical gift that everyone will love. Rice bags are great for stiff necks, cold feet, and sore backs. Just pop it in the microwave for 3.5 minutes and you're good to go. If you don't want to use rice you can also use dry beans.

Things You Will Need:

12"x45" plain muslin fabric
12"x45" cotton print fabric
drafting triangle
pen
sewing pins
white thread (for the sewing machine)
black thread (for baste stitches)
sewing needle (for baste stitches)
6.5 cups of rice
sewing machine
Ruler

Step 1: Cut Fabric

The rice bag consists of an inner bag and an outer cover. You will need to obtain two types of fabric: 12" x 45" wide Muslin for the inner bag and 12" x 45" wide cotton print for the outer cover.

Fold each piece of fabric in half and pin in place. The dimensions at this point should be roughly 12" x 22.5". Use a drafting triangle to make sure edges are square.

Outer Cover: Cut outer cover fabric to 9"x 22.5". For beginner sewers like myself, draw a line 5/8" away from each of the long edges of the cover for a seam guide.

Inner bag: Cut inner bag fabric to 9" x 21.25". Draw a line 5/8" away from each edge of the bag for a seam guide.

Step 2: Sew Inner Bag

Keep the fabric for the inner bag folded in half (9" x 21.25"). Pin the long edges of the bag allowing space for the 5/8" seam and the sewing machine foot.

Using the sewing machine, sew the long edges of the bag.

After sewing the long edges, flip the bag inside-inside out.

Step 3: Fill Inner Bag With Rice

Fill inner bag with 6.5 cups of rice. Shake rice to the bottom of the bag.

Taking the open end of the bag, fold edges over 5/8" and pin them together. Baste stitch about 1/4" from the edge.

Using the sewing machine, sew the open edge of the bag shut using the baste stitch as a guide.

Your inner bag is now complete!

Step 4: Sew Short Edges of Outer Cover

Take one of the short edges of the outer cover. Fold this edge over 1/4" two times to create a finished edge and to prevent the fabric from unraveling. Pin the folded edge to hold it in place. Baste stitch the edge and remove pins. Using the sewing machine and using the baste stitch as a guide, sew along the folded short edge of the cover.

Repeat for the second short edge.

Step 5: Finish Sewing the Outer Cover

Take the first short edge of the outer cover and fold it over 13" towards the center.

Take the second short edge of the cover and fold it over 10.5" towards the center. The second edge will overlap the first. The total length of the bag should be approximately 20.5" long.

Pin long edges of the cover together and sew them with the sewing machine.

Flip the bag inside out. Your cover is now complete!