Being 7 months pregnant I am allll into the things that make me feel cozy and relaxed at the moment. Every preggo has her list of ailments, so anything that can add a few moments to the “self-care” routine are much appreciated. Sore back and neck muscles are certainly not limited to pregnant ladies though, and I’ve always wanted to have one of those rice heating pads around the house. So now seemed like the perfect time to make that wish appear! If you haven’t seen or made one before, it’s basically a pouch filled with uncooked rice (and usually something that smells good too), and you can stick them in the microwave for a moist heating pad that lasts a good while. I also figured if I’m going to make something, why make it regular when it can be a kitty, right? Much cuter to have around the house and just makes me smile to look at too.
Supplies:
-1 yard cotton fabric (don’t use any fabric with metal or metallic decorative threads in it)
-3-4 pounds of uncooked rice (Don’t use instant rice, it might cook itself!)
–essential oil of choice (optional)
–embroidery thread in pink and black
–heat erasable pen (optional)
–kitty rice warmer template (right click to download)
Download and print out your kitty template for your rice pack. Fold your fabric over so it’s doubled up and use your templates to cut out your body and head shapes.
Pin the layers together, and then sew the body with a 1/2″ seam allowance and the head with a 1/8″ seam allowance. Make sure to leave an opening of a few inches to turn them back right side out again.
Cut some “v” shapes into the curved ends on your head and body to help the seams lay flat, and turn your shapes right side out through the openings you left. Press your shapes flat with an iron and sew up the head opening with a hidden stitch.
Use your embroidery thread to add a nose, mouth, eyes, ears, or whiskers to your face (I used an iron-erasable pen to get my face right and then the iron heat removed the marks when done). Use a needle and thread to tack your head onto your body right above the front paws. I also added some paw lines to the paws at this point, but if you want the thread to not come through on the underside of the paws, then embroider these on your top layer before sewing the two body cutouts together and you won’t see them on the bottom side. I didn’t add a tail to my kitty, but you could definitely do that as well with embroidery thread before sewing your layers together too.
Once your kitty is ready to be stuffed, pour 3 pounds of rice into a bowl and add in 5-10 drops of essential oils (on the lower side for stronger scents and the higher for lighter scents), mix together, and spoon or pour into your body opening (try a funnel if you have one). Fill it to your liking, adding more or less as needed, and then sew up your opening with a hidden stitch when done. Heat in the microwave for 60 seconds or so until warm, and relaaaaaax!
I mean, I love any time I can make a kitty version of something, but this is definitely a product that’s just plain useful as well as just plain cute. You can use whatever essential oil you want, or I’ve seen people make these with dried herbs and flowers for the scent too. This shape is great for your neck and shoulders, but you could make a larger rectangle “fat cat” version for a back or belly heating pad as well. Actually, all this work making the pillow has got me a little tense in the shoulders, so if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ve got just the remedy for that… xo. Laura
Credits//Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with the NEW A Beautiful Mess actions.
43 Comments
This is so adorable, how cute it looks around the shoulders!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
Oh my GOD, I have GOT to make this! It’s so cute and perfect for me as well, since I have tons of rice at home (I’m Chinese after all ya know ahahaha) and I’m always cold.
Ha ha very cool 🙂
So stinkin’ cute!!
Adorable! And useful! Great job.
That is so endearing! Love this idea, Laura 🙂 I never would have thought of something like this.
This is going to be a great item when nursing, too! Never have my neck and shoulders been so sore (google nursing neck!). And bonus use: heating pads on your chest gets the milk flowing. I used mine a ton those first couple weeks. 🙂
Cute and cool!!
http://poshpossibilities.blogspot.com/
oh my gosh this is just too cute.
Love it! Totally making one for my mom! She has a little white cat that’s striped like a Bengal tiger 🙂
xo, Sofia
http://www.thecozie.co
That’s the most adorable heat pack I’ve ever seen. And it looks so cute around your neck! I would definitely try it but I already have a bunch of heat packs…
This is adorable! Making one for my daughter, then modifying to be a rhino for my son (his nickname). Thank you!!
How cute! If you want to use it a lot, maybe you want to be able to wash it, too. In that case you can make an “inner pillowcase” for the rice. If you make an opening with ribbons to tie you can just heat the inner thing and then put it inside the cat cover after heating.
This is so cute! I totally need one of these for our house!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Very interesting! How have I never heard of rice heating packs before? I sure could have used this during my sudden unexplainable stiff and extremely painful neck last week (all better now). Great post and definitely something to try out. Thanks for sharing!
How have I never heard of a rice heat pack before? This would DEF come in handy for my chronic sore back and neck. -__-
http://www.wonderlandsam.com
This is so adorable!! I love the design. Rice heating pads can be great for afterpains as well…not everyone has them with a first baby, but I did! My third baby just turned one, and when he was born I needed a huge dose of ibuprofen, two herbal tinctures, and a heating pad, and it was still rough for a few days…but the heating pad helped me relax when it was time to nurse and I knew the afterpains were coming.
You don’t need to post this comment, it’s just a helpful hint that this project reminded me of. If you’re planning a natural birth, my midwife had those hot packs that you whack and they heat up (hospitals have them you just have to ask). They were so wonderful and soothing during labor. I had them packed all around my belly and back and it was a big help! I only wish I had, had them for my first labor! These kitties made me think of that and I just thought I’d pass that along to you 🙂
one of the core songs I sing to my cat (normal) is “you are really nice, you are made of kitty rice” so this project very much excites me hahaha
I have a lot of neck problems and i love that kind of heating collar but that one is way too cute! I have a sheep one that bought but i might give this kitty one a go and do it myself! Adorable!
Also Laura you’re glowing girl!! You look beautiful! xo
Melodie
http://www.happymelodie.com
So sweet! Bet it would be cute in black, too. I think I’ll make one in honor of my dear departed (black cat) Molly. LOVE this! Thanks!
what an adorable idea. Its so cute. I cant wait to make one. my name is Brandy and im new to the blogging community, its nice to meet you. Have a blessed day. http://whimsicalwolfblog.com/
These are so so so cute!!
AVOCADO THEORY
So cute! I’m definitely pinning this so I can make this sometime!!
This is such a great idea! And so cute! I wish I would have thought of this when I was pregnant!
This is so cute! I never realised you could use rice in a heat pack and I’m Asian! 😛
Yes, good tip!
Laura
YES! I know the birth center has the plug in heating pads, but I’ll probably pack this guy too!
Laura 🙂
I’ve been making little rice ‘pillows’ for years, and I can tell you from experience, you WILL want to wash them. The trick is to put the rice in an inner sleeve that can be removed. You can leave a fairly large opening to insert that into the softer/fuzzier/cuter outer sleeve and do an envelope-type closure or use velcro.
The kitty is soooo pretty! (;
I love heating pillows and have sewed several by myself. I definitely will sew the kitty the next time!
Thank you for sharing the project!
Anyuta
I love it. Just in time to sew for Christmas. Thanks for the sweet kitty pattern.
What an adorable idea! Will be wonderful to have around my neck while reading in bed on a cold night. Now I can use up my favourite old bed sheets. Would make a great present for my cat-loving sister. (And I’m thinking it could be easy enough to turn into a dog!) I’m just a bit worried about putting in the essential oil – won’t it make the rice go mouldy?
make this
I love this and want to make one for a friend’s birthday but I couldn’t open the pattern. What are the heating pad dimensions ? Thank you for this cute idea.
I can’t print the pattern either. I tried but it wouldn’t print. Please tell me the dimensions so I can make this project. Thank you.
Sorry about that! Email us at support AT abeautifulmess DOT com and we’ll send the files to you.
We can email the files to you! Just contact us at support AT abeautifulmess DOT com
So beautiful. Would love to make it. Can you please email pattern for me. Thank you
Hi, I’m wondering what are the measurements for the cat body?? If anyone can help that would be amazing.
Oh my goodness, these are so cute!!! I love the cat design. My friend made a ferret design on her DIY heating pack https://permacrafters.com/diy-heating-pack/
What a great ideas from everyone!
But a couple of warnings. A doctor told me not to put anything very hot or cold on my skin. Just lukewarm is fine.
For a sprain, use a cold one first, to prevent swelling. Later a warm one is good.
If want to reading more,Pls check follow link.
http://www.person-cares.com/blog-hot-cold-wrap.html
Hope this may help of everyone.
…….
Alice Zhang
Cannot open link for cat heating pad. Please email to me.
gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, un abrazo