Snuggly Heating Pad

How wonderful is it to snuggle up with something warm? With this adorable microwave heating pad, you can get cozy in under 5 minutes. Put it at the end of the bed for warm toes, behind your neck after a long day, on an upset tummy, or just pretend to have a significant other sleeping beside you at night.

Materials and Tools:
black fleece
white/cream wool felt
black thread
sewing machine
scissors
straight pins
rice

Step 1: Test Your Fabrics

Put a small piece of your fabrics into your microwave and set for 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it. If it melts or burns, pick another fabric.

You need a fabric made in large part by natural fibers.

I'm using the standard fleece you can get at any fabric store.

Step 2: Make a Pattern

Draw out your design on paper, making sure to add a 1/4" to the outside edges.

Mark on each pattern piece how many of each piece you'll need.

I needed 2 body pieces, 6 claws, and 4 of each arm, leg, and ear pieces.

Step 3: Cut Pattern Pieces

Cut out the pattern pieces and pin then to your fabric. If you need at least 2 of that piece, fold the fabric in half to cut two at once.

Cut out the fabric along the edges of the pattern, and repeat until you have all the pieces you need.

In addition to the pattern pieces, I cut eyes out of wool felt.

Step 4: Add Details

Pin the eyes onto the front body piece.

Use a tight zig zag stitch to sew around each of the eye pieces.

Step 5: Sew Extremities

Place the claws between the two halves of each arm piece as pictured with the front of the fabric facing inward.

Pin them in place, and sew around all edges except the end that will attach to the body.

Turn them right-side-out.

Sew the ears and legs inside-out. Turn them right-side-out.

Step 6: Add Rice to Extremities

You can choose how much rice to add to the arms and legs, but I chose to just add enough to give them a little weight.

Add rice to each arm and leg before stitching them shut.

Stitch the ears shut.

Step 7: Sew It All Together

Your going to sew the body inside-out.

Pin each arm, leg, and ear in place on the inside of the back piece with the back piece face-up.

Lay the front piece on top, face-down.

Pin the edges of the front to the back.

Sew around the edges, leaving the space between the legs open.

Turn it right-side-out.

Step 8: Finish Up

Fill half the body with rice.

Hand stitch the space between the legs tightly as shown.

Step 9: Enjoy!

Warm your new friend in the microwave for about 3-5 minutes and snuggle!