♥︎ Free guide
Sew your own heat pad
Heat pad, wheat bag. Whatever you call it, luckily it’s really easy to sew yourself. It’s a lovely little project to make for yourself, your family or as a handmade gift for someone you care about.
The small compartments filled with grains give the pad a comfortable weight and help it mould nicely around the body. Warm it up for your neck and shoulders after a long day, or for little tired legs at bedtime. It’s simply lovely to have one ready when you need it.
Fancy sewing your own? Pick out a lovely piece of fabric and we’ll guide you through it step by step.
- Time1–2 hours
- DifficultyEasy
- Finished sizeapprox. 20 × 68 cm
What you’ll need
- 50 cm of fabric at 105 cm wide, or 25 cm of fabric at 140 cm wide
- Approx. 1.4 litres of your preferred filling, equivalent to around 1 kg. See what you can fill your heat pad with
- Sewing thread to match your chosen fabric
- Optional marking pen or tailor’s chalk
How to sew your heat pad
Cut
Cut 2 pieces of fabric measuring 22 × 70 cm. Fold and press 1 cm to the wrong side along one long edge of each piece.
Sew together
Place the 2 pieces right sides together. The 2 edges pressed to the wrong side should lie on top of each other. Sew the other 3 sides together with a 1 cm seam allowance.
Sew the compartments
Turn right side out and press. Sew 7 rows of stitching across both layers to create 8 compartments, each 8.5 cm wide. If you like, mark the lines first with a marking pen or tailor’s chalk.
Fill and close
Fill each compartment with 175 ml of filling. Pin each opening, then sew it closed by hand with invisible stitches, or machine-stitch close to the edge with a 0.3 cm seam allowance.
Good to know before you start
Good to know before you start
- Choose the right fabric: Go for a closely woven fabric made from natural fibres, such as cotton or linen. Avoid synthetic fabrics, as they can melt when heated.
- Fill a little at a time: Use approx. 175 ml of filling in each compartment. Measure by volume rather than weight, as different types of filling vary in weight.
- Find the right heating time: Fabrics, fillings and microwaves all vary, so there isn’t one heating time that works for everyone. Start carefully, for example with 45 seconds at 600 watts. Heat for a little longer if needed. Always check the temperature before placing the pad against your skin. A pad that is too hot can cause burns. Allow the pad to cool completely before heating it again.
- Make it easy to keep clean: The heat pad itself cannot be washed. If you like, sew a removable cover that can be taken off and washed when needed.
- Take your time the first few times. Get to know your heat pad and microwave, and keep an eye on the pad while it is heating. You sew and use the heat pad at your own risk.
Good fabric choices for your heat pad
What can you fill your heat pad with?
There are plenty of options when choosing a filling for your heat pad. Search online and you’ll find all sorts of suggestions, from rice and wheat grains to cherry stones, grape seeds and rapeseed.
But it’s worth taking a little care here. Not all types of filling are equally suitable for heating, and your choice will also affect how the pad feels and how well it retains heat. Always choose a filling that is suitable for heat pads and for heating in a microwave.
Wheat grains or barley
A classic choice for a heat pad. Wheat and barley retain heat well and create a soft, flexible pad that moulds nicely around the body.
Rice
Rice is an easy option that you may already have in the kitchen cupboard. It heats up quickly and makes a soft pad, but generally doesn’t retain heat for as long as some other types of filling.
Cherry stones, grape seeds or rapeseed
You can also use cherry stones, grape seeds or rapeseed. Each type of filling gives the pad a different weight and feel, so choose the one that best suits how you want to use your heat pad. Please note: Cherry stones are lighter than grains and seeds, so 1.4 litres weighs only around 600 g.
A small but important tip: Always make sure the filling is completely dry and follow the instructions for the filling you choose.
And that’s it
From sewing machine to sofa in no time. Warm up your heat pad, settle into your favourite spot and enjoy that lovely feeling of having made it yourself.
You don’t need much fabric for a heat pad, so have a look through your fabric scraps before buying anything new. And once the first one has found a home on your sofa, don’t be surprised if the rest of the family wants one too.
Fancy making something else?
Luckily, we have plenty more ideas waiting for you. In our inspiration universe, you’ll find more than 100 creative projects, from sewing guides and quick makes to ideas for handmade gifts and cosy seasonal projects.
Everything is organised into categories, making it easy to find the next project you’ll want to get started on. Explore all our ideas here
