How to Make Wheat Bags

Fill a soft bag with wheat for warm pain relief.

People with pinched nerves, sprains, and other aches are often advised to put heat on the afflicted body part to help relieve pain. A heating pad is a common tool for delivering heat, but they are not very flexible and the cord can be a nuisance. Wheat bags can get the same results without the drawbacks. Heat one of these soft flannel bags and the wheat inside will hold heat for a surprisingly long time. The bags are flexible, making them easier to wrap around affected body parts, and safe to take to bed with you at night.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton flannel fabric
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Chopstick
• Wheat kernels
• Funnel
• Measuring cup

Instructions

1. Cut out two pieces of flannel fabric that are seven inches by 19 inches. Make sure that you do not include the selvage edge in your fabric, which is the tightly woven edge that runs along each side on a bolt of fabric.

2. Lay one piece of fabric on the table with the right side, or more colorful side, facing up. Place the other piece of fabric on top of the first, making sure that the right side is down so they are facing one another. Make sure that all edges are even.

3. Pin all four edges to hold the fabric pieces together. Sew along both long edges and one short edge using a 1/2 inch seam. Sew the fourth edge, but stop when you are three inches from the end of the fourth edge. This will leave an opening in one end of your bag.

4. Turn the bag right side out by pushing the fabric through the opening that you left in the end. Use a chopstick or other blunt-ended stick to help push the fabric through the hole, and to push out the corners and make them square.

5. Put the tip of the funnel into the hole in the bag. Pour in 1 1/2 cups of wheat kernels. Tap the bag on the table to make sure that wheat has gotten to the bottom of the bag.

6. Measure six inches from the bottom of the bag and pinch the bag closed at this point. Place a pin here to mark this spot. Sew a seam at the six inch point across the entire width of the bag, trapping all of the wheat in the bottom section.

7. Add another 1 1/2 cups of wheat to the bag and sew another seam six inches from the first one, to trap this wheat in the second section of the bag.

8. Fill the top section of the bag with another 1 1/2 cups of wheat. Pin closed the hole in the top of the bag and stitch it closed by sewing right along the fold line.

9. Place the wheat bag into a microwave along with a glass of water, which will add a small amount of moisture to the wheat. Heat on high for one minute, then feel the temperature of your bag. Depending on the strength of your microwave, you may need to heat the bag a little longer or a little less next time.

Tips & Warnings

• Hand-stitch felt facial features onto one end of the bag to turn this into a friendly worm heating bag for children to use.

• Allow your wheat bag to dry out in an open space before storing it in something enclosed. This will prevent the wheat from becoming mildewed.

References

• Health Guidance: Make Your Own Soothing Wheat Bag