Easy Soothing Hot/Cold Packs

So, another gift I made for our handmade Christmas this year was soothing hot/cold packs. These are fairly easy to make, and generally very much appreciated, since not all of us can afford massage therapists!

I made both an eye mask, and a neck warmer.  For the eye mask, I cut out rectangles of 4.5 x 10 inches.  Then I placed the fabric right sides together and stitched 3 sides together at a seam allowance of 3/8 inch.

For the neck warmer, I cut one big rectangle of 9 x 26 inches.  Then I folded it in half, hot-dog style, and stitched up two sides at a seam allowance of 3/8 inch.  Basically what you will get is tubes with a small opening at the top.

The cut fabric

stitched and ready to fill

Neck warmer, stitched 2 sides

Eye masks, stitched 3 sides

 Then, it's time to mix the filler.  You will need:
A large mixing bowl and spoon
A funnel
A lot of rice
Your favorite essential oil (I used lavender and vitamin E)

Mix a bag of rice and about 4-5 drops of oil thoroughly.  That's it!  You are ready to fill.

 Turn your fabric right side out, and use the funnel to fill in your hot/cold packs about 2/3 full.  Really, you can make these as packed or as loose as you want them to be.  I kept mine fairly full, so that they will retain heat or cold longer.

And of course, I forgot to take a final picture again.  But here is what you do to finish these off:
Fold under the ends about 1/2 inch and topstitch as close to the top end as you can.  This will seal off the opening and finish your project.  Don't forget to include a card with instructions!  To make these cold, simply place them in the freezer.  To make them hot, place the eye mask in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.  To make the neck warmer hot, place in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.  And enjoy!