Make your own homemade hand warmers in all shapes and sizes for yourself or to give as gifts.
This is a repost of a fun craft from 8 years ago and perfect for this chilly weather!
It’s our last week of Workshop Wednesday!
I can barely believe July is almost over, much less that we’re that much closer to Christmas.
But I’m that much closer to being ready for Christmas with this homemade hand warmers tutorial!
This is a great stocking stuffer idea that you can whip up in no time at all.
But you can also make some for yourself!
Especially if you use my templates and printables!
So let’s get started on making some Homemade Hand Warmers!
Homemade Hand Warmers: Supplies
Gather some felt that will work with your hand warmers.
For my templates I have a heart, a football, a ball (basketball, softball, soccer…), and smaller circle, and a top hat.
The smaller circle and top hat are for making a snowman!
Click here to download the templates.
Homemade Hand Warmers: Using Templates
Cut out the templates then use them to cut out the felt.
You will need 2 pieces of felt of the same shape for each hand warmer, one for the front and one for the back.
Go ahead and add any extra embellishment you want to add to the felt.
For example: I added white felt to the top piece of my football.
Anything you add will need to be completed by sewing.
No glue allowed in this project due to heating the hand warmers!
Homemade Hand Warmers: Sewing
Match up your two pieces of felt and begin stitching them together.
If your pieces don’t match exactly (see the arrow above!) just trim them down after sewing the two pieces together.
Leave a small area unstitched so you can add the filler.
Homemade Hand Warmers: Filling and Finishing
We’re going to fill the hand warmers with rice!
Make a funnel out of a piece of scrap paper and add the rice a little bit at a time.
Use your finger to push the rice into all of the nooks and crannies inside the hand warmer.
Once its filled (it will take a few tablespoons of rice), go back and finish stitching the hand warmer closed.
For my heart, I finished the stitch outside the felt by tying the thread into a bow and double knotting it so it won’t come apart later after being handled.
I think the snowman may be my favorite!
He’s just too cute.
I may have to keep him for myself!
You do want to be sure you have two of each (one for each hand!).
Of course for the sports themed ones you could mix and match them.
I made some cute printables to include with the hand warmers with directions on how to use them if you decide to make some as gifts.
You definitely want to warn people not to warm these longer than 60 seconds.
It will burn the rice and stink up the house… Trust me!
Also, depending on how full you stuff the hand warmers will affect how long the rice will hold the heat.
I used a corner rounder and a little ink to dress up the edges of the printable.
I’m excited to whip up some more of these homemade hand warmers in other shapes!
And, of course, to USE them because it is so darn chilly right now!
>> See where I party! <<
A.Rrajani Photographer
Thursday 7th of May 2020
AMAZING! THANK YOU FOR SHARING...
Pamala Smetana
Wednesday 18th of September 2019
Why do people keep saying that they will be great in their pockets? What pickets? Aren't they for inside of mittens?
JOY B WOODHALL
Thursday 24th of October 2019
hmmm? For people that do not wear mittens BUT do put their hands in their coat/ jacket pockets. When my mother was a little girl walking to school, every morning my grandmother would hard boil 2 eggs, to keep in her coat pockes to keep her hands warm for her walk to school and at snack/lunch time she would eat the eggs.
katie
Sunday 16th of November 2014
We are making these, only heating for 30 seconds. Finding rice to be stinky (not burned tho).....any suggestions? Have added essential oils and loose tea with little success in reducing stink. Using jasmine rice....does long grain or instant smell different?
Michele McDonald
Sunday 16th of November 2014
Hmmm, I used instant rice, Katie, and we did not have a smell associated with it (only if cooked too long and burned). I would suggest trying the instant.
Kara
Thursday 20th of December 2012
These are so cute, but I'm having trouble accessing the instructions document to print it out...can you repost it somewhere or link directly to a PDF? Thanks!
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe}
Thursday 20th of December 2012
Hi Kara! I have updated the post with new download links and instructions. It should all work well now! :)
Amy
Friday 2nd of November 2012
Just curious, my hand stitching looks messy, anyone run these up on a sewing machine with success?
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe}
Friday 2nd of November 2012
Hi Amy! There is no reason you couldn't run these through your machine. Just stop stitching about a half inch from where you started to leave room to insert the rice. You will probably have to finish it off with some hand stitching though.