Homemade Heating Pad

Here's a Good Thing that will be useful after a long, hard day at work: a homemade heating pad using dried cherry pits.

What You'll Need

Materials

  • Sewing machine
  • Iron
  • Fabric (about 1/2 yard will make at least one)
  • Machine-sewing thread in coordinating color
  • Bone folder
  • Scissors
  • Dried cherry pits or buckwheat
  • Lavender oil (optional)

Instructions

  1. Fold a 20-by-14-inch piece of fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing.

  2. Sew one short side and one long side with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

  3. Fold the open end out 1/4 inch and press it.

  4. Clip the corners, being careful not to cut into the seams. Turn the fabric right side out.

  5. Use a bone folder to push out the corners and make them sharp.

  6. Fill the bag a little less than halfway with dried cherry pits or buckwheat. If desired, the pits or buckwheat can be mixed with a few drops of lavender oil before filling.

  7. Close the open end of the bag with a top stitch.

Originally appeared: THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW, MAY 2008
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