Free Hot and Cold Rice Compress Tutorial

The hot and cold compress tutorial is an easy sewing craft project that can be made any time of the year. There are three basic items needed for this project.

Where can you find the items for this project?

Around the home. For any of you who sew frequently, you will have scraps of fabric and sewing materials readily available. If you cook the rice that comes in a bag or in bulk, you will have the rest of the items on hand without any further expense.

Wal-Mart. For those who do not have any of these items, I would suggest buying sewing needles, a bobbin of thread, a pair of scissors, a ruler and measuring tape, and a Singer Hand Held Sewing Machine. These items can be bought at Wal-Mart. I have not checked at Target or other stores to see if they carry the Singer Hand Held Sewing Machine. You can buy the cheapest bag of rice at Wal-Mart.

NOTE: Do not buy any instant rice for this hot and cold compress. It may not work properly if you do.

How many should you make?

I would suggest making at least two of these. This way you can have one of each for alternating the compresses. They could be made far cheaper than buying ready made hot and cold compresses even if you have to buy the extra items for making your first sewing project. You will be able to use the sewing kit for other quick crafts or mending of clothes and things around the home.

Can you make the compresses in different sizes?

I would suggest that you do so. By making them in different sizes, they can be used on small children, teens, and adults. Not only that, you may not need a larger compress for a smaller area on your body. You may also need a larger compress for a larger area on your body such as your back, neck, and shoulders.

How would you make the rice compress hot and cold?

Cold compress. The rice compress can be put in the refrigerator or freezer. If you are taking them to ball games, camping, or on other trips, slide them in a plastic bag and place in an ice chest with ice.

Hot compress. Place in the microwave for no more than a minute to warm it up. You will need to test the time it takes with your own microwave because wattages vary from microwave to microwave.

If you are out and needing to use the hot compress, try these tips:

*Lay on the hood of the car in the sun until the compress warms up.

*Lay across the defroster, with the heat on, to warm. If doing this one in the summer time, be sure to keep the windows rolled down so you do not get heat exhaustion. I would suggest doing the first tip if possible.

TIP: As with using the microwave, try not to get it too hot so it will not burn the skin.

Can you use the compresses as weights while exercising?

You sure could. I have written about using a bag of beans in a similar type of homemade weights. By having different types of hand held weights, you can use them in the same manner as the ones in the gyms.

These types of weights can be used while walking or exercising while watching television. They would be easier to store than the other larger manufactured weights. This would serve a dual purpose, after exercising and your muscles are feeling achy, you can throw one compress in the refrigerator or freezer while showering.

When you are out of the shower, heat the other in the microwave and alternate the two.