My hands are always cold, there is just no getting around it. I spend a great deal of time outside, even in the winter, and I find that if I can get my hands pretty warm right away, I have a better shot at keeping them warm over a long period of time
I am not a very big fan of the commercial hand warmers on the market today, so I decided to create my own using some organic felt from my kid’s art collection, pie weights and rice, and a little bit of embroidery to spiffy them up.
Materials:
Coordinating colors of felt
Contrasting thread
Regular scissor or rotary cutter
Scalloped scissors
Pie weights or rice
Lavender (optional)
If using embroidery:
Machine embroidery patterns (if using machine embroidery)
Hoop and embroidery thread and needle (if using hand embroidery)
If you are choosing to embroider your top piece, either machine stitch or hand embroider the design of your choosing prior to cutting your pattern pieces.
Using regular scissors, or a rotary cutter, cut two coordinating pieces of felt into 4” x 4” squares. Choose a decorative stitch on your sewing machine (these can also be hand embroidered in any decorative stitch of your choosing).
Measure ½” in from one side of the square, and begin stitching around three of the sides of your square, being sure to stop ½” before the end of each side, and pivot, without turning the needle.
Fill your hand warmer with either pie weights (which can be found at cooking stores), or rice. I also added in a bit of dried lavender to mine, simply because I like the smell.
Using the same decorative stitch, and remembering to measure ½” in, stitch your end closed.
These hand warmers make great gifts as well. Simply group a few together, and tie with a big silk bow.
To heat, place in microwave for 30 seconds to start, and check temperature after that time. These will not stay hot for long periods of time, but they are wonderful when first setting out in the cold. Gives the hands an extra boost of warmth, and allows you to stay out longer. I place a hand warmer in each of my mittens when I go outside, and my hands are still warm and toasty when I come indoors.
Heather Fotenot lives with her family on the Front Range of Northern Colorado. She has a passion for natural and creative living, and spends as much of her time outdoors as possible. She loves to knit, sew, garden, photograph, read and home school her two sweet little ones. She writes the blog, Shivaya Naturals, where she chronicles her life as a mother, artist, and gluten free baker.