A cozy bed warmer is one of my favorite things. Put them in the microwave for a few minutes and they work wonders for cold feet, aches and pains, or plain old stress relief. Bed warmers make a such a wonderful gift. They are easy to make, inexpensive, and both pampering and useful.
For years I would climb into bed in the winter and put my cold feet on my husband’s legs to warm them up. Then my Mom made me a bed warmer. Now I heat mine up every cold night before I go to bed. I think my husband appreciates it more than I do.
Last year for Christmas, my Mom made them for all of her grandchildren. But I wasn’t sure if my kids would ever take the time to use them. I was wrong. It’s a winter ritual now. Every night before bed my girls line up at the microwave to heat their warmer. Even my son loves his, especially after a day of skiing, snowshoeing or playing in the snow.
My husband steals mine for back or neck aches… come to think of it, maybe he needs one for Christmas. We have also used them to soothe stomach aches and the chills from fevers.
To heat up your bed warmer, simply put it in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes. (Don’t overheat like my husband did once, we heard popping like it is turning into popcorn!)
You can make a bed warmer filled with feed corn, rice or buckwheat. I use feed corn, because it is very inexpensive and it stays warm for an exceptionally long time. I purchase feed corn from our local IFA, a feed and farm supply store. A 50 pound bag is less than $10. That’s enough feed corn to make between 17 to 25 bed warmers. You can also purchase it by the pound if you are only making a few, but it is not as cost effective. Buckwheat (use whole seed, not the hulls) can be purchased in bulk from many natural foods stores. Buckwheat is wonderful, but just more expensive. Rice is inexpensive, but doesn’t hold the heat as long. Be prepared for what ever you use to smell when it’s heated- feed corn like popcorn, rice like cooked rice and buckwheat… smells a little grainy, but has the least smell of the three.
We have found several fabrics that make good warmers, such as cotton chenille, cotton flannel or cotton fabric. I prefer chenille or flannel as you want it to be cozy and soft. The only thing we’ve found is that the fabric should be a natural fiber, for some reason the synthetic fabrics seem to sweat when the bed warmer is heated (we found out the hard way using minky.)
I prefer a bed warmer with a removable, washable cover. Today I made a warmer with a chenille front for comfort and a print fabric back to make it easier to remove the inside pillow. The same technique can be used for flannel on both sides, you just don’t need to line the back fabric.
Here’s what you will need for this project:
- 7″ x 21″ 100% cotton chenille fabric for the front (available from most quilt shops) (or flannel)
- 7″ x 24″ cotton print fabric for the back (or cotton flannel)
- 1/2 yard cotton muslin for inside pillow and to line the cotton print fabric
- 7 cups feed corn, buckwheat, or rice (it is just under 3 pounds of the corn- I don’t know weights for rice or buckwheat.)
- rick rack for embellishment, if desired
Here’s how to make a cozy bed warmer:
1. First start by making the pillow. Measuring on the fold, cut your fabric 6 3/4″ x 21″. (Over all fabric will be 13 1/2″ x 21″ when opened up.)
2. Stitch around raw edges using 1/4″ seam, leaving one end open. Stitch around again using a scant 1/4″ seam (still leaving the one end open.) This double seam helps insure against leakage.
3. Clip corners and turn pillow right side out.
4. Fill pillow with 7 cups feed corn or filler of choice.
5. Fold a 1/2″ seam in and stitch the pillow shut, using a 1/4″ seam. Stitch a second row using a scant 1/4″ seam. (Again double seam to prevent leakage.)
6. Now to make the cover: Make sure to square up fabric if it has a grid or line pattern (like the fabric I am using.) Trim top chenille fabric to 7″ x 21″.
7. Cut back print fabric into two pieces measuring 7″ x 12″. I also cut muslin to the same dimensions make a lining for the print fabric (to help it match the weight of the front fabric better.) These two pieces will overlap on the back of the warmer, so the inner pillow can be removed for washing.
8. Place print fabric and muslin lining, right sides together. Using 1/4″ seam stitched one end. Open up so wrong sides are together and press along the seam. This makes a nice clean seam for the opening. I’m not really sure why I thought this picture would help, but I was hoping to show the print fabric sewn together with the muslin lining… I think?
9. Pin rick rack to print fabric (if desired) and stitch into place. I place them 3 1/2″ in on either side.
10. With right sides together pin the front chenille to the two pieces of the back print fabric. The back pieces will overlap in the middle. Stitch around entire cover. Clip corners.
11. Turn right side out and use a chopstick to push out the corners.
12. It’s a little bit of a squeeze, but fit the pillow inside the cover.
I’ve dropped the corn to one end to show a picture of the front and back in one shot. If you are giving a bed warmer as a gift, I love to fold it this way and tie a ribbon around the bundle. Make sure to include a tag that says to microwave the bed warmer for 3-4 minutes in the microwave. (Do not overheat.) You can also put your warmer in the freezer to make a cold pack. I hate cold packs! Heat it up and enjoy!
For another great gift idea, check out my Lavender Eye Pillow tutorial, which uses buckwheat and lavender.
What a great gift idea! I was panicking just last night….what to make for my husbands 12 siblings and their families?!! We celebrate Thanksgiving,Christmas and Grandma’s craft day all on Thanksgiving weekend and I need to get cracking on gifts!!!! With that many gifts to get I wanted/needed fast & economical!
Thanks again for a wonderful idea….and so easy!
I’ve seen those before, but I love what you did with yours. It’s cute and functional! I love the idea of putting it in bed to warm up your feet and giving one to your kids. I might have to do that this Christmas. Thanks for the ideas!
[…] Keep your toes toasty warm in bed with this bed warmer by Calli from Make It Do. You can fill it with rice, buckwheat, or corn and then just pop it in the microwave to heat it up. The tutorial is on her blog. Get the how-to. […]
What a wonderful gift idea – thank you for sharing! I’ve seen these before, but never as adorable as this. This post is definitely going in my Christmas gift idea file! :)
I SO need one of these!!! (I’ve been just using a plug-in heating pad to warm my toes, but the cord is really annoying and it gets too hot.)
I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sew-a-microwaveable-bedwarmer/2009/11/04/
–Anne
What a beautiful idea. Lovely photography as well.
Thanks so much for posting this tutorial! Have you tried adding an essential oil so it doesn’t smell like corn (or rice or buckwheat)? I would be interested to know if anyone has, what kind did you use and how much of it??
I haven’t used essential oils, but I have used dried lavender with buckwheat for eye pillows. Lavender smells wonderfully soothing when heated and does override the smell of buckwheat, which as I mentioned is already mild. I actually love the smell of my feed corn bed warmer, it smells like comfort to me. I’m sure you could use which ever essential oil scent you love with a buckwheat pillow and I would think a few drops would be enough. You could just reapply a few more drops to the inner pillow when it fades. cheers, Calli
Love these. My mom has made quite a few for me and family members…..but in our household, they are known as Bed Buddies.
Oooh…I’ve made the smaller rice heat therapy bags from sew, mama, sew, but these sound awesome! Thanks for sharing :)
I love your red bed warmer! Thank You.
I am totally linking to this in a few weeks for my sewing segment…love it!
What a great gift idea, thanks so much for this! I’ll be linking.
I had a rice one and burnt it in the microwave. I will try the buckwheat next. I didn’t think to use it to warm the bed. good idea.
Too bad my parents don’t own a microwave, or I think they’d really enjoy this. Ditto for our house in sun valley. Ooh, they would be nice there in the winter
I might make some for my brother and his wife. I would have loved this when I lived up north
I LOVE this idea! I’m definitely going to try it! This might be a stupid question, but do you put the whole thing in the microwave, or just the filled pillow part?
Hi Tiffany, you do put the whole pillow in the microwave to heat it up.
It was fun to meet you and your girls tonight at the PW book signing. I hope you made it home before 1.
I love this gift idea! I’m in dire need of economical this year, and I think most of my family would love this. I’m adding your blog to my must read list. Thanks!
As I read this post I have my heat pack to soothe my back and tummy (we’ve been sick the last day or two). I bought mine from my chiropractor over 10 years ago. It smells like cinnamon, even after all that time. My mom uses one of these every night. Her husband of one year even bought a mini microwave to keep by her bed to rewarm it.
Thank you for the tutorial. Yours is beautiful. I might just use it to make some for Christmas.
I’ve heard that cherry pits make a good filling, and that they can also be purchased from IFA. I’ve never tried it. Do you have any experience with them?
QUESTION: Do you heat it with the removable, washable cover?
Microwave it cover and all.
How ironic I ran across this today. Just a couple days ago I was tracking down a supplier for hulls for a pillow. So I thought I would pass on this hint… If using buckwheat it’s important that you use buckwheat SEED and not the hulls. The hulls can be made into pillows but if it’s something that will be put in the microwave you need to use the seed.
I will make that distinction in the article. Thanks for the tip. cheers, Calli
[…] How-To: Cozy Bed Warmer November 6, 2009 | By admin In Crocheting, crochet patterns, crochets, free patterns, knit crochet | Here’s a good legal holiday present thought by Calli of Make it Do — stitch up a cozy bed warmer. […]
I am so glad I found this while stumbling today. My son deploys to Afghanistan in the near future and I have been looking for a pattern to make a bunch of the for the troops for this winter!!! I’ve already bought 10# of rice and am ready to go!!!!!
Kelly, My hat is off to you. I pray your son will be warm and safe in Afghanistan. All the best, Calli
I love this tutorial. So pretty and such a great gift. One question though, I tried making it and I don’t get the measurements. If the front is 7×21 and the two back sides are 12×21 then it doesn’t just overlap in the middle, it overlaps in the middle and the sides. Should the back sides be 7×12?
I don’t know how I managed that typo! I have made the change in the post. It is 12″ x 7″. Thank you for letting me know. Let me know how it turns out. All the best, Calli
What a great idea! I HATE being cold in bed. Am definitely going to give it a go, if I manage it ok will be making one for my mum as well for Christmas :)
Hey! Great tutorial, using it to make tons of Christmas gifts this year. My question…can you use cracked corn to the same result or does it need to be the full corn? Thanks!
As far a I know, you have to use whole kernel feed corn. It doesn’t pop (unless heated for way too long) or degrade quickly. Our family has some feed corn bed warmers that are 5 years old and still going strong. Happy sewing, everyone on your Christmas list is going to love you. cheers, Calli
[…] want cold feet! My feet get so cold in the winter that they feel damp, and then they start hurting. Make It Do’s Calli has a great step-by-step for a homemade bed warmer, which also makes for a great gift idea for the holidays. This craft would also be handy for […]
I have something similar to this I purchased a few years ago, and it included flax seeds in the filling with the buckwheat. They stuffed the thing with a lot of different herbs including lavender, so it smells really good.
If I wanted to make something like hand warmers to tuck inside my kids’ mittens, how long should I heat those for, do you think? Have you ever tried a small item?
Natalie, I would use the buckwheat seed or rice for something so small, and I would think 30 seconds would be enough. But you will need to experiment. What a great idea for those bitter cold days. I think I need to make some for my children.
I am going to make some of these for my family as Christmas Gifts. Thankyou for the pattern. What I did in a pinch was take one of my Son’s heavy socks that I could only find 1 of and I filled it with rice. I tied a knot and put that inside another orphan sock, tied that so no rice could escape. I then put in microwave for about 30 to 35 seconds and we use it on our neck, forehead for a sinus headache and I use it if my stomach isn’t feeling too good.
I use a homemade rice warmer all the time and find that if I put a small bit of water in a cup in the microwave along with the warmer (maybe 1/4 c. of water), there is no smell and definitely no scorching.
I am totally going to make one of these to put into the bed before I climb into it. I loathe the first few bitter cold minutes when I climb into bed on a cold winters’ night. Thanks for the pattern! (My husband thinks they’re really funny, but he’ll want one soon enough!)
They’re such a great idea but one tip if you’re making gifts – please don’t use lavendar! Many people are quite surprised to find out that it is a common trigger for migraines. You cannot buy a warmer bag like this without lavendar (at least not where I am) so making one could be a lovely gift for a migraineur
This is a great idea! I think that I will do this for my husband’s family!!
Has anyone warmed these in an oven on like 200* or something low? We don’t have a m’wave. Thanks!
Robin, I’ve never tried that before. I would be careful about fabric in the oven, but it would be worth giving it a try. Once heated mine stays warm for about 40 minutes when it’s down at my feet in bed. So once it’s hot, it stays hot a while. I think you just have to give it a try. Maybe try it before making the cover. Good luck, Calli
I wish I would have known about these a few months ago. I am pregnant and am always hot and cold. This would have worked great. I’m gonna see if I can make me one tomarrow.
If it works out well Im gonna have to send one to my mom. She lives in California but is always so cold as she gets older. She would love this. Also you said you could stick it in the freezer to use as a cold pack. That would be great for those hot Cali days! ☺
Ah, this post reminded me of my rice sack, which has been making these chilly evenings much more bearable since I’m too much of a tightwad to turn the thermostat up. My favorite part? That CORN retains heat better. I am SO jumping on this for Christmas gifts! I linked to this on my weekly roundup, post can be found here. Thanks!!
I had the same problem with minky, at first. But I figured out if you take the insert out of the cover to warm it, you could put it back in after it’s hot and the minky wouldn’t sweat. I made mine on the spot one cold night and used navy beans because it was all I had. It holds heat for quite a while.
Im in the process of making 10 of these myself with flax seed, and was wondering if anyone had tried essentials oils. If yes, how much do I use? And are cinnamon and nutmeg scents going to fade? thanks
Calli – thanx SO much for posting this. I made a dozen of them this holiday weekend for holiday gifts. 2 of them are staying right here, though. LOVE them. cheers!
Oh, I love these. Ever since my hubby had heart surgery his feet have been like ice at night. Might even 2 or 3 of them. Thanks
momraggs aka Joan in IL
I just whipped up 4 of these for my neices and nephews and I have just enough feed corn left to make one for myself!!! Love them!!! Thanks so much for posting!!!!!
I love this idea and I’m going to make one for my husband. All I could find at the nature store were some buckwheat groats. Are groats the same as buckwheat seed? Thanks!
Kris, Buckwheat groats is just another name for whole buckwheat seeds. They are exactly what you need to make your bed warmer. (Buckwheat hulls don’t work.) Your husband is going to love his bed warmer! I am giving one to my husband for Christmas this year. Then maybe he’ll stop stealing mine! Best of luck, Calli
Whew! That was the answer I was hoping for. Thank you! :)
I made one and love it. I made mine with rice and my newborn loves it more than I do. It was kinda cold in our room one night and I laid it next to my son so he wouldn’t be to cold and he fell right asleep and I finally got a nice rest that night for the first time since he was born. I also used it toward the end of my pregnancy and over my stomach on my csection when it would hurt and it gave me lots of relief. ☺ Thanks! I also had the idea to make like a small blanket/quilt only like 1’x1′ and in the little squares put the rice and sew it shut for those areas that the pillow is to small for. Haven’t had a chance to try making it with the new baby but will let you know how it turned out when I get around to it. ☺
I linked to this on my handmade Christmas post (link to it is under my name) with a pic of the ones I made, though I didn’t bother with a cover. I also re-made MY rice sack into a corn sack! I have found that it takes longer to heat up than the rice did, but I do think it retains for longer. In my experience, it sweats the first few times I heat it up anyway, and again at the beginning of next “season”.
I also remade some small hand and pocket warmers that I had made with rice but used corn instead. They’re for my sisters in law who are former farm girls, so I thought they’d appreciate the piece of home. :>)
Thanks!
Hi Calli, I just wanted to let you know that I did end up making one of these for my husband for Christmas and it came out so well! Thank you! Here’s a photo of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krisobi/4238074410/in/set-72157623122338244/
I have some extra groats left over so I think I’m going to make one for myself too! :)
Hi Calli, just wanted you to know that I made one for my Mom for Christmas, and she absolutely loved it!! Your pictures and instructions were precise and easy to understand, thank you so much for this idea!!
If you use coarsely groung corn you avoid the POPPED EFFECT of using the corn kernnels as filler
“ground corn” ooops spelling mistake
Just a follow-up on a previous comment. I would NOT recommend making these out of beans. The bag I made for myself prior to finding feed corn, developed an odor no one would wish to have around them, much less on their person, Ha!
Also, I made over 40 of these to give away at Christmas and they were the hugest hit! I figured the adults would like them, but the kids did too! Especially popular among the young were the pocket sized ones I made to pre-warm boots, slippers or, of course, pockets. They were more time consuming and harder to sew when full, for those of you who may wish to try them.
I would love to hear back about how the ground corn works in comparison to the whole corn. The woman at the feed store recommended the whole because she said it would be less “sharp” and might “shed dust”. Please let me know if this is actually an issue, and how they hold heat. Thanks!
To Calli: People who are generous with their knowledge and ideas are one of my favorite things about the internet. It renews my faith in the human race. Thank you for being one of these people.
I used dried kidney & coffee beans in mine, it stays warm for hours. I’ve woken up after 8 hours & its still warmer then everything around it. When “blind cooking” pastry (for cream pies or puff pastry) you use beans, so it makes sense that you can continue to use these for a long time.
I’ve had mine since this was first posted, and for a few months used it daily (uncomfortable steel toes shoes) and it still is staying warm; & smells lovely (chocolate infused beans). I didn’t have buckwheat, but I did have dried kidney & black beans, rice & coffee beans, and am happy with my choice.
Thanks. Really helpful. I put lavender in mine.
LOVE this!!
Thank you for this tutorial! I heard someone talking about these type of bedwarmer/heatpads for aching muscles just a few days ago. Thanks to you…now I will be able to figure out how to make them!!
I made a version of these several years ago for everyone in my family. They made a popular gift.
This year, with rising heating costs, I think I should do it again.
Thanks for an excellent tutorial. I’ll put a link on my sidebar.
This is such a fabulous idea…and JUST what I was looking for. I know what you mean about warming up my toes on my husband’s legs. Does anyone make these and sell them? I really want one but don’t sew myself. Any tips on where I might find them would be appreciated!
i am thinking about making some out of old t shirts. 100% cotton but is it ok to put the imprint in the microwave
I found your blog a few months ago and bookmarked it- I just made 13 bedwarmers for Christmas gifts! Thanks for all your fun ideas we have made a few yummy recipes as well!
I have been making these for years now, but didn’t think to use them to warm my cold feet at night. I still warm my toes on my husband. They do make great gifts, I make them for my grandmother who uses them to sooth achy muscles. If you are having a hard time finding the feed corn, try looking at Tractor Supply. You can purchase it the for around $7, and it will last you for a very long time. Also, I add a couple drops of cinnamon oil to mine, it is a nice treat. Thanks for this tutorial, great instructions and some great new ideas for me. Thanks!
I had one for ten yrs and finally it developed a smell so I made myself a new one. I have severe migraines at least once a week but with all the weather changs this year, I’ve had them far more often than usual, and far more intense. So I had to have another heating pad immediately! I wound up making them for everyone for christmas sincewe all get migraines. For ten bags, maybe I spent $20! I used premade scarves found at the 99 cent store which I cut in half, getting two pads from each scarf, and bought 59 lbs. Of re-cleaned corn from the feed store. This corn is a whole kernel corn. Two and half hours later, my packages were complete and wrapped for Christmas. They were a big hit and I had requests for more before I left my sister’s. I have been using them each nite to warm the bed and then lay it on my feet for once I go to sleep. I notice that even in thhe morning when I wake, my feet can still find warmth from it, which I think is amazing and far superior to my last warmer.
I will make some for my kids next, long ones to keep them warm in their beds too.
Haha, even my boyfriend asked me to make one for his mom. Occasionally I find his feet looking for mine now!
Hi there :) I just wanted to let you know I used your awesome tutorial and blogged about it here:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=371210.0
Thanks so much for the great tutorial, it was a lot of fun to make :)
Just whipped one these baby’s up and I LOVE IT!! I am using it as a heating pad and I love how it contours to the shape of your neck or back, I can’t wait to warm up my feet later with it! Thank you so much for this great tutorial!
I made one of these for my mother for Christmas thinking it would be a pretty good idea. I didn’t know it would be the BEST. IDEA. EVER. I gave it to her early since all my family were going to be at my grandmother’s and she likes to keep her house on the chilly side. Christmas Eve I came down with a brief but brutal stomach virus and that bed warmer saved my lfe. Then it saved everyone else’s life as the virus whipped through the family. When I got home my sister asked for one, only to ask for three more a couple of weeks later. I’ve made nine so far and I’m afraid I’m not done yet!