Tartan Hand Warmers
DIY Hand Warmers Help Beat Old Man Winter
Hand warmers can be made out of any type of flannel, high quality felt or polar fleece material scraps you have laying around. These are so handy to have available when the brutal winter months cascade down on us. They also make easy and very welcomed Christmas presents.
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I think they make really cute little gifts for stockings or the friends of your teenage girls. Everyone likes to keep warm. They cost next to nothing to make and take about 10 minutes. All you need is scrap material and pearl barley, or rice.
Tie the hand warmers up with a pretty ribbon, and for the top of a Christmas stocking. They are also perfect small gifts for teachers, or how about having a basket of them by the front door for guests.
Directions for DIY Hand Warmers
To make one hand warmer.
Take any scrap of material and cut into two 4 ” squares.
Pin the good sides together and sew all around the edges leaving a 1″ gap open for stuffing.
Do this again in a Zig Zag stitch as close to the edge as you can. (A double seam is nice to avoid barley leaking out)
Turn right side out and iron.
With a funnel add about 1/3 of a cup of pearl barley. Once it is as full as you want it, sew the open portion closed.
Repeat for the second hand warmer.
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Warming the Hand Warmer
Heat with a microwave in 30-second intervals, once it is warm (not hot) place it in your pocket.
Caution: Don’t put this on for a couple of minutes and leave. Barley is a natural product so I suspect it can burn if left too long.
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It’s cold here already. These little bundles are already proving handy for frozen fingers. Hand made gifts are always a special treat.
Like this idea, Pin for Later
I hope you’re enjoying Christmas preparation as much as I am.
Leanna
Hi Nikki:
I should really consider a design for bigger ones. Maybe a moon or something like looks like a big ole snowball. Winters just starting and I am never ever ready for it.
With making your cushions you could make baskets of these out of the pretty material leftovers you have.
Thanks for commenting. i always appreciate it. Leanna
Leanna, these are adorable. They would make great gifts for anyone on your list. As I type this the heat just kicked on. Our warm November turned into winter over night. I think I need a whole basket full of these, I would sneak them under the covers to warm the bed!
Love these, what great gifts too! Thank you for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s House we go link party, hope to see you when the new one starts tomorrow, you’ll be featured at it! 🙂
Oh that’s really exciting. I have not been posting to your party for very long. Its really nice to make new contacts and read different bloggers submissions. I will absolutely be dropping by tomorrow. This is great news!
Leanna
I need some of these for myself 🙂 I always have the coldest hands in the winter.
Hi Kati: As you are so creative I am certain you have all kinds of tidbits of material leftovers. These only take a few minutes to whip up and warm those hands. If I get organized I want to make a basket full of them for company to take away as small gifts when they leave. That is a mighty big IF though.
Thank you for commenting. Leanna
I love this idea so much. We’re having a handmade gift exchange this year, and I will definitely make some of these for my brother in law! Thanks so much for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Hi Kimm: I really enjoy Funtastic Friday. Imagine these in buffalo plaid or sewn in work socks. They would be seriously “manly” for your brother in law. I bet everyone hopes you draw their name in the home made gift exchange.
Thank you for commenting. Leanna
I’ve made these before for myself and my co-workers. They are awesome! Love your colors!
Hi Roseann: Glad to hear it I have heard of neck warmers made with pearl barley so I used that as the stuffing.
Thank you for the compliment on the tartan, I love tartans and plaids.
Thank you for commenting. Leanna
These look so cozy <3
-Clarissa @ The View From Here
Hi Clarissa: I like these little warmers. Its even better when I didn’t have to buy anything to make them. Thankfully it hasn’t gotten cold here yet, soon though very soon. Thanks for commenting. Leanna
My hands are always freezing in the winter. I need to make these!
Hi Sarah. These take just a few minutes. Cut, stitch, stuff and your done. My hands freeze all the time, my hubs new truck has a heater steering wheel, sadly my older car does Not. Thanks for commenting. Leanna
Great idea Leanna. I can start making some now and hand them out when winter comes around again. All the winter fabrics are on sale at the moment so I should score a bargain or two 😉
Hi Michelle: They don’t need any type of special material. I made mine out of scraps. I have to admit that the polar fleece is my favorite material for these though.
Thanks for commenting. I am just so jealous of the southern hemisphere this time of year. Cheers Leanna
Great idea for stocking stuffers or to add to a hostess gift basket! During those really cold months I could throw a couple of these under the covers near my feet to keep the tootsies warm.
Funny you should mention putting some in bed. I of course made some for my grand daughters hands and their mom suggested making something a bit bigger for their feet. I may make them something if I get the time. Thanks for commenting. I enjoy the feedback.
Hello Mo: I think they are, I remember buying these chemical hand warmers you use to shake to start. it was really cold so I put on in the babies bunting and it got too hot and gave him a burn. I never trusted them again. These are natural and they won’t get hotter after you remove them from the microwave.
Great idea for stocking stuffers
What a good idea, Leanna! I was thinking you could put them in your boots after warming them, then take them out in a couple of minutes and put your warmed boots on. Can you tell that my feet are always cold?
That’s a really great idea, I hadn’t thought of it. I just love the thoughts of WARM.