Easy DIY Heat Pad Sewing Pattern

This DIY Heat Pad sewing pattern is an easy project for learning how to sew! With a soft flannel cover, this heat pad will keep you warm and cozy on a winter day. It can even help alleviate tummy troubles and calm you down after a stressful day. Read on to make one for yourself!

Although I love using my heat pad on chilly days, heat pads can actually be useful for more than just warmth. Dealing with achy muscles and joints? A heat pad will feel very soothing to your sore body. Struggling with an upset stomach or cramps? A heat pad will help unwind those knots in your tummy. Worried, stressed, or upset? A heat pad can be just the right thing to help you calm down and relax.

These heat pads are very simple to make, using only flannel, cotton, and rice. After you’ve made your first one, you’ll be hooked! Heat pads make lovely, customizable gifts that everyone will appreciate. You probably already have everything you need to sew one right now, so what are you waiting for?

What are heat pads filled with?

You can fill your heat pad with rice, dried beans, or flax seed. The best option though is rice because it will give your heat pad a smoother texture. You can also add essential oils to your heat pad filling to give it a nice scent.

Tips for making your DIY heat pad

• If you don’t have any rice on hand, you can also use dried beans instead. Your heat pad may not have as smooth of a texture, but it will still turn out fine.
• When topstitching around the edges of the heat cover, make sure that the raw edges along the bottom get caught in the stitching and stay on the inside of the cover. If you’re having trouble sewing the raw edges so they stay on the inside, you can also hand stitch the opening closed.
• Similarly, if you’re having trouble sewing the raw edges of the rice bag so they stay on the inside, you can hand stitch the opening closed instead of topstitching. Whatever is easiest for you!
• If you want to make your heat pad scented, you can add a few drops of essential oil to rice in the bag before sewing it closed. I’d recommend lavender, but feel free to use whatever fragrances you like best.

Tools you will need

To make this DIY heat pad, you’ll need

Sewing machine
Iron and ironing board
Pins
Scissors
Rotary cutter and mat

Materials you will need

You’ll also need a few basic sewing materials:

1/2 yard flannel
1/4 yard cotton or linen
matching thread
1 lb uncooked rice

How to make this DIY heat pad:

To make the cover:

Use the rotary cutter to cut out 2 pieces of flannel that are 13″ x 6.5″. Cut out 4 pieces of flannel that are 7″ x 6.5″.

Sew one of the 7″ long rectangles to the end of one of the 13″ long rectangles with right sides together. Sew another 7″ long rectangle to the other end of that 13″ long rectangle. You should now have a rectangle 26″ by 6.5″. Repeat with the other rectangles. It should look like this:

With right sides together, pin the rectangles together. Sew around the edges of the rectangles, leaving about 3″ open at the bottom. It should look like this:

Turn it right side out and iron it flat. Fold the raw edges to the inside at the opening.
Fold the side panels of the heat pad to the inside, with one overlapping the other by about 1/2″. Sew across the top and bottom of the heat pad cover making sure to close the raw edges as you go. In the end, it should look like this:

To make the rice bag:

Use the rotary cutter to cut out a piece of cotton 24″ x 5.5″.

Fold it in half with right sides together, pin along both of the sides lengthwise, to make a bag. Sew along each side. It will look like this:

Turn the bag right side out and fill 2/3 of the way with the rice. If you want to make your heat pad scented, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the rice.

Fold under 1/2″ at the top so the raw edges are on the inside and topstitch across to close the bag. At this point, it will look like this:

You can heat the bag separately or put it in the cover to warm up. Everyone’s microwave is different, but I’d recommend warming your heat pad for 2-3 minutes. Grab a cup of tea and cuddle up with your cozy DIY head pad!

Did you enjoy sewing this DIY heat pad?

If so, check out other simple sewing tutorials at the Craft Counter! These include:

• DIY Tote Bag
• How to make a Hair Scrunchie
• How to sew a Drawstring Bag

Let me know how yours turned out in the comments section below!