How to Sew a Heated Neck Pillow
A heated neck pillow is a wonderful way to soothe away aches, pains and the stresses of the day. You can make your own pillows with just a small piece of fabric and some filler. This is an inexpensive item to make, since it uses less than half a yard of fabric. It's a good way to use up fabric scraps from other sewing projects, too.It's simple to sew, and would make a great gift for just about anyone on your list, especially when you sew a washable cover in a contrasting print or decorative fabric.
Things You'll Need
- Pillow fabric (such as flannel, tightly-woven cotton)
- Washable fabric for the cover
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Filler (such as buckwheat hulls or rice)
- Essential oil (optional)
- Sewing machine
- Hand-sewing needle
- Thread
Instructions
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Making the Pillow
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1
Make a curved paper pattern for a pillow half. Use the guide in reference 1 or draw your own shape.
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2
Fold the pillow fabric in half with the right sides together, place the pattern on the fold and cut around the pattern. Cut two of these.
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3
Unfold the cut fabric pieces and put them together with right sides together. Stitch around the edge, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave an opening on the straight side of the pillow for stuffing.
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4
Clip the curves by cutting into the seam allowance, being careful not to cut through the stitching.
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5
Turn the pillow right-side out.
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6
Stuff the pillow firmly with buckwheat hulls, rice, flax seeds or lavender seeds.
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7
Hand-sew the opening closed.
Making the Pillow Cover
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8
Place the pattern on another piece of paper and draw a line around it, one inch larger. This is the pattern for the cover, which can be removed for washing.
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9
Cut out the pattern for the cover.
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10
Cut and sew the cover pieces in the same way as the pillow pieces, except leave a three-inch opening on the straight edge.
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11
Press under the seam allowance on both sides of the opening.
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12
Sew hook-and-loop fastener to the pressed-under edges.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To make a scented neck pillow, place your filler material in a jar and add several drops of essential oil. Mix thoroughly. Let the mixture stand for several days to absorb the scent. Stir it once a day.
Heat the pillow in the microwave for two to three minutes before using.
Use only cotton fabrics for the pillow, since other fabrics shouldn't be heated in the microwave. If you make a decorative pillow cover from other fabrics, don't microwave it. If you're giving the pillow as a gift, include a card with directions for use.
When you remove the pillow from the microwave, shake it to distribute the filling and test it to make sure there are no hot spots that might burn you. Be especially careful to test the pillow when heating it for a child.
