How To Make A Microwave Heating Pad For Your Back

If you have ever done a little too much work or too much bending in the garden then you are probably familiar with back pain. When that happens to me I reach for my trusty heating pad. Today on Happiest Camper, I am going to show you How To Make A Microwave Heating Pad For Your Back! Making your own at home can save you money over buying one in-store, plus you can customize the size to fit you best. While this was made with the lower back in mind for the size of the pad, it also works on other areas of the body as well. I often use it on my knees. This is a simple sewing project that you can do in about half an hour. I love this one because all you have to do is toss it in the microwave for a little less than two minutes and it is good to go! How great is that! I am an instant relief kind of gal, and when it comes to pain, the less the better. This project is great for beginners or anyone wanting to try some DIY pain relief. If you are nervous at first about making this, but once have it all laid out, you’ll realize it is not nearly as complicated as you think.

You’ll only need about half a yard of fabric for this. I used some flannel I had leftover from another project, so this would be a good scrap buster if you had the material laying around. You can use any fabric that is 100% cotton. Synthetic materials are not microwave-safe, so be careful. Once you have your fabric picked out, you only need a few supplies. You’ll need fabric scissors or a rotary cutter, some thread, sewing clips, and some rice to fill your heating pad with. I definitely recommend using a funnel to fill up your heating pad as it cuts down on the mess significantly. Gather up the rest of your supplies from the list below and let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

• 1/2 Yard Of Flannel Fabric
• 37oz Rice
• Matching Thread
• Funnel
• Fabric Chalk
• Iron
• Pins
• Scissors 
• Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
• Measuring tape 
• Thread nippers
• Sewing machine
• Chalk or Marker

How To Make A Microwave Heating Pad For Your Back

Start this how to make a microwave heating pad sewing tutorial by pressing and cutting your fabric. Pressing the fabric will give you nice clean cuts. Once you have pressed it, cut out two 12 inch by 15 inch pieces.

Lay one piece face up and then the other piece face down on top of it. Pin it around the edges on the two longer sides and one shorter side for 3 sides total, leaving one side open.

Now on this how to make a microwave heating pad for your back sewing tutorial, it is time to sew! Using a 1/4 seam allowance, sew all the way around the three sides you pinned, making sure to do a backstitch at the start and finish.

Now, simply turn the fabric right side out through the side you left open.

Now on this how to make a microwave heating pad sewing tutorial, we will make the baffles for our heating pad. Mark the fabric with lines running from the bottom to the top side that is not closed. You want to stop about 1 inch from the top edge that is not closed. You also want the lines to be about two inches apart.

Once you have your lines marked out, sew down each of those lines. Make sure you stop the stitching about one inch before the open side as we need this to stay open all the way across for the next few steps.

You can also stop about a half-inch at the other end to allow the rice to be able to fill in the edge. I highly reccomend this as it gives you heating pad a more finished look.

Now on this how to make a microwave heating pad for your back sewing tutorial, it’s time to add the rice! Fill each of those long pockets you sewed with rice. This is what the funnel is for as it helps tremendously since your pockets are narrow.

Once you have them all filled with rice, pin each of those pockets closed just above the rice to help hold it in place.

Fold that open end inside by about 1/2 inch and pin closed. This will give our heating pad a more finished look.

For the last step in this how to make a microwave heating pad sewing tutorial, we just need to sew the last edge closed. You will use about 1/4 seam allowance to stitch it closed. Be sure to do a backstitch at the start and finish.

And that’s it! Now you know how to make a heating pad for your back! Now you have a cute and convenient way to soothe your back. This heating pad works amazing and is cheaper than buying one in-store. When you are ready to use this heating pad simply place it on a clean microwave-safe plate. Then heat in the microwave for 1 minute and 20 seconds. If it still needs heating after that, heat in 20-second intervals at a time. That’s it. Only minutes from relief! Make your own fun heating pad today!

If you liked learning how to make a heating pad for your back, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!

More Fun Sewing Projects:

• How To Make A Microwave Potato Bag The Easy Way
• How to Make a Microwave Bowl Cozy
• DIY Cast Iron Skillet Handle Cover With A Free Printable Pattern
• How To Make A Fabric Beverage Holder (Koozie)