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DIY Felt Heart Hand Warmers

If you're looking to add a cozy touch to your winter days, DIY felt heart hand warmers are the perfect way to warm up! These adorable little hand warmers are not only practical but also fun to make. Simply cut out heart shapes from felt, sew them together (leaving a small opening to fill with rice or flax seeds), and hand-stitch the opening closed. Pop them in the microwave for a few seconds, and voilà, you have your own handmade hand warmers to keep your hands toasty during chilly days. They make great gifts too! So grab your materials and get crafting - your hands will thank you!

Supplies

Makes: 1 hand warmer

  • 1 piece of 100% wool craft felt (synthetic felt isn't microwave-safe)
  • 100% cotton embroidery floss (synthetic embroidery floss isn't microwave-safe)
  • A needle
  • Approx. ¼ cup dry white rice
  • 1 tablespoon dried lavender or essential oil (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Fold the felt in half and cut out a heart shape. I sketched out a few different shapes on paper before cutting my felt because I wanted to make sure it was a good size - but you can freehand it, if you want.

The only real requirement is that it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. If giving as a gift, you may want to keep your recipient's hand size in mind when cutting out the hearts.

Step 2: Once you have a shape you like, use it as a template when cutting out your remaining hearts. In my experience, one sheet of 8" x 10" felt makes about 2 hearts (1 handwarmer).

Step 3: Place the two hearts together and line up the edges. If they don't match up exactly, trim off any excess felt and clean up the edges.

Knot the embroidery thread at the end and thread it through the needle (since embroidery floss is thick, it helps to have a sharp upholstery needle). Start sewing the hearts together using a simple whipstitch.

Step 4: When you're about ¾ of the way around the heart, spoon the rice and lavender inside. I used regular white rice, but you can use brown rice if you've got it. The amount of rice you need will vary based on the size of your heart. Just make sure not to pack it in because you'll want to be able to sew it shut (plus, I find it more comfortable if there's a bit of give!) Use your finger to evenly distribute the rice before adding more.

If you chose to use essential oils instead of dried lavender, add 4-5 drops of essential oil to a small bowl of rice and stir it together. Then spoon it into your heart.

Step 5: Sew the hole closed and knot to secure.

To use, stick your hand warmers in the microwave along with a small cup of water (this keeps the rice and fabric from drying out and catching on fire!) Heat for 20-30 seconds, turning occasionally, then tuck them into your pockets for toasty fingers.

If you don't have a microwave, preheat the oven to 175 degrees F and heat them for 5-10 minute. Just make sure to keep a close eye on them!

Reheat as needed to keep warm.

A note on dampness:

Rice creates "damp" heat, meaning it releases moisture when it gets hot. This will make your hands and clothes feel slightly clammy when using your homemade hand warmers. It's just a quirk of rice - you didn't do anything wrong.

Set your heart hand warmers somewhere they can dry out between uses. You don't want the rice to stay wet or you run the risk of your hand warmers mildewing. If kept dry, they should last for years.

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