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Microwave Heating BagsThis is the season to make microwave heating bags. These bags are terrific for:
So, how do you make them? Easy! A microwave heating bag has four parts, an inner pocket, the filler (we recommend feed or deer corn), a zippered plastic bag and a pillowcase. Why corn instead of rice or wheat? Corn stays cleanest the longest, won’t have problems with humidity, mold and mildew and generally won’t provoke allergies. You can purchase field corn by the pound where bird food is sold -- it is the whole kernel corn. Be sure to use whole corn, not cracked corn. Start with a 9 x 22 piece of scrap fabric. Fold it in half, right sides together, so it measures 9 x 11. This will be your inner pocket. Sew three sides, leaving a little opening to fill, and turn it inside out. Fill with 3 ½ to 4 cups (about 2 pounds) of Extra Clean Feed Corn. You may be able to find this in a feed store, or a discount store in the hunting section. Examine it closely as you fill the bag and remove anything that is not corn, like husks or leaves and the occasional bug. You want the corn to be loose inside the bag – don’t pack it too tightly. When you are done, sew the final section closed. To both sterilize the corn and help it to dry out, place the newly made bag on a paper towel in your microwave and heat it for 2 – 3 minutes. Let it cool for at least two hours, shake it up, and do it again on a dry paper towel. If your paper towel or the inside of your microwave is still showing moisture, do the heat/cool cycle one more time. Mmmm, doesn’t it smell good? That smell won’t last for more than the first couple of heatings, though. After it has completely cooled, place your pocket inside a plastic zippered storage or freezer bag. (Sandwich bags are not thick enough.) This will keep the corn bag itself clean and dry. This bag-in-a-bag is what you will put in a pillowcase. Now the fun begins! When making the pillow case, let your imagination run wild. Use your orphan blocks, a discarded appliqué, or maybe a scrap of flannel. Make a ruffle or add piping to the edges if you like. Have fun with it, but keep in mind it will be microwaved so you may not want to use metallic threads or threads that melt. The 9 x 11 size may not be practical for all applications. For example, hand warmers should probably be smaller (6 x 6), to fit in the persons glove. Or larger (18 x 18), to use over your feet when you are sitting on the couch, or to drape over your hands like a muff as you stand at a cold bus stop. If you do make an alternative size, remember to keep the amount of corn in the bag loose and either increase or decrease the amount of time you microwave your heating bag according to how large it is. Are you giving your bag as a gift? Here is a little poem you can use: The Rice Bag Click here to read a story about how a rice bag helped someone in the hospital. Click here for some handwarming ideas and embroidery designs.
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