Since I have started my new job(s) I have had a a few aches and pains from lifting things that are slightly too heavy, in an awkward way. (But I would argue that there isn't a graceful, pain free way to carry a wedding cake into a room with 100 people watching...) and so I dug out my wheat pack to pop on a few aches and pains... But it was very small. I have no idea why I bought a wheat pack the size of ones palm, but I can tell you, it didn't cover the neck or the back aches. I was so sure it was bigger when I bought it.
So, I decided that I could make a wheat pack after I had a look at the prices and decided I wasn't paying that sort of money. (Which is probably why I bought a small one, now I think about it...) So off I went to the shops to get some wheat, and do you think I could find any? No. So I bought some barley for $1.45 and hoped that it could be used the same way... (If not I was going to put it in a soup!)
A bit of a google search later and it seems that you can use many grains for wheat bags - and so I made mine with a $1.45 worth of soup barley and it works very well!
Here's what I did...
Then I used a funnel to put the barley in the pillow...
Sew up the wee hole that you used to put the barley. Pop it into the microwave for a minute or two and then pop it onto that sore spot and sit back and relax!
Here is a couple of links to some other wheat bag tutorials - Here and Here.
Don't forget to shake up your bag a bit when you get it out of the microwave to distribute the heated grains evenly - And test it before putting it directly on youngsters and older people with more sensitive and delicate skins.
Oh - And only use cotton, synthetics may melt in the microwave... :( I used old pillow case scraps for mine.
Score card:
Green-ness: 5/5 Recycled material and grain with a few herbs and spices - nice and planet friendly.
Frugal-ness: 5/5 Free is as frugal as you can get!
Time cost: About 1/2 an hour all up to make, fill, sew up and heat up.
Skill level: You can make this as simple or as complex as you are able!
So, I decided that I could make a wheat pack after I had a look at the prices and decided I wasn't paying that sort of money. (Which is probably why I bought a small one, now I think about it...) So off I went to the shops to get some wheat, and do you think I could find any? No. So I bought some barley for $1.45 and hoped that it could be used the same way... (If not I was going to put it in a soup!)
A bit of a google search later and it seems that you can use many grains for wheat bags - and so I made mine with a $1.45 worth of soup barley and it works very well!
Here's what I did...
First I found some scraps of material (a couple of old pillowcases in this case) and sewed them into a rough and ready pillow with a small opening to put in 500gm of barley. (I was going for a rustic country feel) I kind of measured it against the barley packet but made it a bit bigger so that the wheat bag will mold to the sore part of my body and distribute the heat evenly. (Do you like my little sewed on heart?)
Then I used a funnel to put the barley in the pillow...
Just like this!
If you put too much barley in at one time, it gets a bit blocked up. I used a skewer poked down the funnel to free it up and get the barley to flow into the pillow.
Then I added a few nice smelly spices like ground cloves and Cinnamon, Then I got some rosemary and lavender out of the garden and added a bit of them in too. I'm hoping that a spin the the microwave will dry them out...
Sew up the wee hole that you used to put the barley. Pop it into the microwave for a minute or two and then pop it onto that sore spot and sit back and relax!
Here is a couple of links to some other wheat bag tutorials - Here and Here.
Don't forget to shake up your bag a bit when you get it out of the microwave to distribute the heated grains evenly - And test it before putting it directly on youngsters and older people with more sensitive and delicate skins.
Oh - And only use cotton, synthetics may melt in the microwave... :( I used old pillow case scraps for mine.
Score card:
Green-ness: 5/5 Recycled material and grain with a few herbs and spices - nice and planet friendly.
Frugal-ness: 5/5 Free is as frugal as you can get!
Time cost: About 1/2 an hour all up to make, fill, sew up and heat up.
Skill level: You can make this as simple or as complex as you are able!
Fun-ness: Great fun - and wonderful to relax with!
Comments
I enjoyed your writing style